Customer Reviews

Ghost in the Machine [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was an entertaining sci-fi thriller about a serial killer's soul that inhabits the electrical world. He continues his psychopathic work by turning computers and household appliances into deadly weapons with a mind of their own. The microwave scene was disturbing. As well as the garbage disposal and dishwaher scenes. It reminded me of the 1988 shocker "Pulse" as it is somewhat related with possessed appliances. Lots of action and suspense. If you're into sci-fi and horror you should definatly see this one.

First of all I just wanna say I'm a horror movie fanatic! I have been watching them since I was two and have probably seen a million of them. When I went to the video store to rent this I wasn't expecting much, but I was wrong! This movie is loaded with suspense! It starts off with Terry Munroe (Karen Allen) and her son Josh going to a computer store to buy a new software disk were you can scan your address book on to a computer to make it look neater. But Terry leaves her address book there and a serial address book killer works there! The killer gets in a car wreck and has to have a catscan when a storm knocks out the power and the killers soul goes online. He finds the address book on the stores files and starts killing her friends in order out of the address book in high tech. ways. With electric pool covers going over people, turning on the garbage disposal etc. It sounds lame I know, but you have to rent it to see what I mean. Trust me, from a horror expert this movie will give you sleepless nights! e-amil me your thoughts.

While it may be a bit dated, technologically and graphically, the movie is still worth checking out. Back in the day, this was one of the movies to see. To date, I still like to catch it on one of the movie channels or another channel's movie marathons or showcases... The story begs for a remake, but the movie itself is still good, if you don't get hung up on out-dated graphics and whatnot.

Ghost In The Machine is a really interesting dive into the techno-slasher sub-genre. I was really surprised when i picked up the DVD and watched the film. It's a really underappreciated piece of cinema from lest we forget, the woman behind Freddy's Dead The final Nightmare. I think she's come on in leaps and bounds from that trash. Ghost in the machine offers interesting sequences and camera shots and the acting was mostly competant. Effects-wise, some of the cyberspace CG is a bit dated but still neat and all of the practical effects such as a gruesome microwave radiation scene stand up as being very noteworthy. The situations Talahay manages to create here are really creative. One such scene involves a boy being trapped in a swimming pool as the cover closes. Along with the creativity of the thrilling sequences as Karl puts his victims through their paces as the ghost in the machine are the variety in atmosphere in the given scenes. Some, such as a crash dummy scene provoke real tension. Others, such as a cremation-gone-wrong are actualy rather terrifying whilst one in particular involving a hand dryer actually made me laugh and then scold myself for laughing as something quite horrible happened to a man who's only crime was lighting his cigar with a candle and looking like a bit of jerk doing it.
Ghost In The Machine is an overlooked cult film that is quite enjoyable if you give it a chance. Definitely look into picking this up if you are a fan of slasher movies as some elelments are akin to films such as Final Destination but also if you are someone who just wants to add some mindless fun to their collection and can sit through a movie without griping about the fact that computer signals cant manifest themselves in electrical current and overload a microwave. The film is fun and yet it works as a horror/thriller and this is most certainly one movie i would be overjoyed to see given a re-imagining.

This movie is a example of a good film doesn't need a billions of money!
With a simple tematic it gets call us to inside this world and you become part of story. very good and the Karen Allen performance is to much real. The boy, that plays hers son, convincent us to. one of the best films ever.

The concept of a serial killer's soul living inside a computer is a frightening and interesting theme. However, director Rachel Talalay doesn't infuse this movie with enough tension and surprises. Karen Allen stars as a single mother who makes the mistake of leaving her address book at the store where the serial killer works. He is planning to return it to her, and kill her of course, but he is in a horrible accident, placed in an MRI, a storm comes, and kaboom somehow his soul remains alive in the computer and he accesses Allen's address book and starts killing them off. Allen, a competent actress, does okay with her role, but it's not developed enough to place a lot of concern for her well being. Chris Mulkey (Hidden) stars as computer hack Bram Walker, whose career got halted when he hacked into the IRS and gave all the residents of each state .05 extra on their return. Mulkey has a brooding handsomeness, and a good screen presence, but isn't given a lot to do. Wil Horneff as Allen's teenage son has just reached puberty and he and his friend pay their sexy babysitter 37 dollars to unbutton her blouse. Of course, by the end of the film, Horneff is placed in jeopardy and the serial killer threatens our heroes lives in the college computer room. Ted Marcoux as the serial killer isn't given enough screen time to truly intimidate the audience, but his brief time is effective.
GHOST IN THE MACHINE is a 1993 film, and the special effects for that time period are fairly inventive.
This is certainly not a rotten tomato, but it might have been better with more assured pacing and direction.

I don't care what anybody else thinks of this movie of course its not scary but its still pretty good to watch. Karen Allen stars as Terry Munroe who's a single Mother raising a her son Josh who can be sometimes a Troublemaker. One day they decide to go to this computer store and they find this Address product that can scan your address and other people's adresses into it and so they buy it. Only the problem is they leave it and a guy named The Serial Address Book killer works there and steals it and unfortunetly he gets in a car wreck while on his way to do more killing. So he gets pulled out of the wreck, while being catscaned in the hospital lighting strikes and knocks off the power and somehow his soul gets into the catscan and into the entire computer systems and he's online. Soon enough he finds the address book store files and starts killing her friends in the order they appear in the book. I know the plot is out of it and predictable but it shouldn't be that bad and its got some pretty good effects back in 93' and some decent acting (especially by Karen Allen). My actual rating is about 3 1/2 stars but what the heck. Rent it before you buy it just in case you don't like it.

Okay, by today's standards, this film may seem dated. However, I liked it. But you may never look at computers the same way again. Karen Allen plays a mother who doesn't like modern technology...let's just say in this film, she has good reason.
There's a serial Killer loose in town, but before he can get to his next victim, he gets into an accident, and taken to the hospital....just before he dies, his soul is transferred to a computer. Still with me, so far? This movie has an interesting idea, but hardly original nowadays. However, director Rachel Talalay of Freddy's Dead, makes it look possible, yet we hope it isn't. The new murders are rather clever, the special f/x look dated but cool, nonetheless, give it a shot, you may like it.

gone bad. This film was not completely terrible but it is no horror classic, I don't even think it's much of a horror movie -- It isn't scary, or gory, or suspenseful. It had potentional but it just kind of fell flat on it's face.
Karen Allen, (Raiders of the lost arc, Scrooged, and Animal House), plays the single mother who's computerized address book is being used by the "soul" of the serial killer. he kills off her friends that are in the book.
I can see why this is a "straight to video" movie. The acting wasn't any worse than most horror movies, but the execution of the film is just poor. If you are a real horror film buff, watch Nightmare on elm street as opposed to this. The killer is actually scary! ...

Watch out! The eeevil "address-book killer" is loose! Oh no! He's been zapped by lightning while being given an MRI, resulting in his soul being sucked out and deposited into the internet! Now, he's able to track his victims down in no time, using household appliances to burn, drown, and electricute his prey! Terry Monroe (Karen Allen) finds herself on the disembodied killer's list, along w/ her family and friends. What can she do when even her toaster could be a murderous device of doom? It all sounds hokey, and it is. However, this movie is not lacking in entertainment value. The bubbling-faced, microwaved man and death-by-dishwasher scenes by themselves are worth the price of the DVD! So, pull out your brain, mail it to a faraway place, and experience the joy...