Product Details

• Actors: David Keith, Mel Harris, Leighton Meester, Douglas Smith (VI), Jake Richardson
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: March 30, 2004
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00018D41S
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,596 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Hangman's Curse" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

HANGMAN'S CURSE - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's a start, April 13, 2004

By 

Brian Reaves (Anniston, AL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hangman's Curse (DVD)

As a fan of Frank Peretti's novels, the idea of one finally becoming a movie thrilled me. While I found "Hangman's Curse" a good book, it wouldn't have been my choice for a first movie. Still, they manage to adapt it reasonably well. It's a little slow-paced in parts, and yes, some of the acting is a little off, but it has its redeeming points. It's a family film that should keep the interest of teens and kids (though the adults will probably find themselves going to the kitchen for popcorn quite often).

The Christian message isn't overt. As a matter of fact, this couldn't really be considered a "Christian movie". Yes, one of the main characters prays during a crisis, but that's what most Christians do. There is no "Romans Road to Christ" laid out in the film, and it shouldn't offend anyone who's not a Christian. The special effects are good, especially for the budget they had to work with.

All in all, this is a movie I'm glad I watched, but I doubt I watch it again any time soon. I look forward to another Frank Peretti film in the future, but I hope it's "The Oath" or "This Present Darkness", either of which would be incredible. Don't judge Frank's works by this movie. Read his books instead.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining Compromise, December 23, 2005

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Only-A-Child - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hangman's Curse (DVD)

"Hangman's Curse" is an adaptation of a book by a "Christian" author (Frank Peretti), published by a "Christian" publisher, and promoted by "Christian" bookstores. But the religious aspects of the book are soft peddled in favor of elements intended to make it appeal to a wider audience interested in a traditional mild horror film. There is an obvious agenda but it does not overwhelm the story; mostly they wanted to present a positive message for Christian kids in an uncharacteristically "cool" package and to show that being Christian does not mean a kid has to be a total dork.

The agenda does have a dark side, a simplistic message that being different and asserting your individuality is a misguided response to facing life's challenges without the assist of inner spirituality. Some may view the film's ending message as anti-diversity, although it positively portrays interracial dating it ends with a conformist message. But this is inserted in such a clumsy and contrived way that few will feel any threat of manipulation.

The compromises they made to mainstream this film have offended both extremist "Christians" and hard core horror film fans, which is not exactly a surprise. Extremist "Christians" are upset because the "Christians" in the film seem to be just like "regular" (their word-not mine) people. There has also been some objection to the wardrobe of Leighton Meesier (the actress who poses as a student to investigate the situation) although it looked pretty wholesome to me; Meesier's actual sin is just being radiantly beautiful. If your own faith does not run toward elitist religious egoism you will find almost nothing objectionable. Hard-core horror fans will find this fairly tame although the premise is clever and there are some nice suspenseful moments.

The cast is mostly unexceptional and in many cases the physical casting is way off. The jocks are anything but physically imposing, the main bully would do better cast as a fat nerd and has no business in a speaking role. Crystal and Ian, the two main "goth" kids are supposed to be outcasts, but they are the most physically attractive students in the whole school.

The performance of Andrea Morris (Crystal) is the best thing about "Hangman's Curse". She is totally convincing in the film's most difficult role. It is a great acting for the camera performance and the director showcases this with frequent tight shots on her face. Meesier is also solid and Frank Peretti himself makes an amusing appearance as an eccentrically jolly scientist.

The direction and editing is very strong. The sequencing keeps things active and interesting. Apparently they deleted material that was needed to clarify the effects of the spider bites; that the victims did not die but rather went into comas until the anecdote was discovered and administered is unclear.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good!, October 18, 2005

By 

Jeffrey Leach (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hangman's Curse (DVD)

I decided to watch "The Hangman's Curse" for several reasons. The most important of these factors, indeed the only one that really matters, involves the fact that David Keith heads up the cast list. I enjoy this actor's work, although I must say his standards have slipped over the past few years. Let's face it: going from films like "An Officer and a Gentleman" to "Sabretooth" and "Deep Shock" represents a horrific reversal of fortune on par with the dive into obscurity made by another talented actor named Joseph Cotten. Remember him? He's the chap who starred in such cinematic classics as "The Third Man" and "Citizen Kane" early in his career only to move on to such turgid schlock like "Guyana: Crime of the Century" and "Lady Frankenstein" towards the end of his life. While those of us who enjoy cheesy cinema might relish seeing the likes of mainstream actors like Keith and Cotten hamming it up in pictures far below their abilities, we must admit it's probably painful for them. Anyway, I figured "The Hangman's Curse" as another disappointing Keith project. I was wrong. The movie, while far from high art, does manage to entertain most of the time.

Keith plays Nate Springfield, husband of Sarah (Mel Harris) and father of daughter Elisha (Leighton Meester) and son Elijah (Douglas Smith). Together this family forms some sort of detective type agency that wanders around the country solving crimes. Actually, they work for some shadowy organization called the Veritas Project. Really. I'm not making this up. Their latest case brings them to a typical high school in Middle America where a series of gruesome crimes plague the student body. A long time local legend involving a student named Abel Frye, who supposedly killed himself in a now long abandoned wing of the school because of incessant bullying, seems to play a big part in the catastrophe befalling selected members of the school. The victims of the crimes tend to be bullies themselves, real jerks that like to pick on the Goth population in the school, and they usually ingest some mysterious substance that produces weird hallucinations of none other than Abel Frye himself. Hmmm. I wonder what's going on? Someone is obviously up to no good, and it falls upon the Springfield family to go undercover and crack the case. They've got their work cut out for them.

Elijah and Elisha pose as students in an effort to get the skinny on the various tensions in the student body. Dad takes a job as a janitor in the school so he can be around if things get sticky. Mom stays behind the scenes in the family's snazzy RV where she can examine any evidence that might turn up with the assistance of wildly eccentric Dr. Algernon Wheeling (Frank Peretti). Fun! We soon meet several students at the school--including geeky Norman Bloom (Daniel Farber), Goth chick Crystal Sparks (Andrea Morris), and her partner in black Ian Snyder (Jake Richardson)--who obviously will play a big role in the proceedings. We also meet a bunch of obnoxious jock types whose presence exists solely for the purposes of cannon fodder. I'm not going to provide an intricate analysis of how the plot unfolds because that would definitely spoil the fun. It's sufficient to say that the proceedings are surprisingly complex for a standard horror/thriller flick. We get several interesting twists and turns, red herrings as to who is responsible for the crimes, and a lot of spiders crawling all over the place. Even the dialogue often rises above what I've come to expect from these types of films. "The Hangman's Curse" is a fun film with lots of scares.

That's not to say the movie doesn't have moments of pure cheese, however. Exhibit A is Dr. Algernon Wheeling as portrayed by Frank Peretti. Peretti is actually a well-known and best selling author (I've never heard of him before watching the movie), and "The Hangman's Curse" is based on one of his books. He might want to consider sticking with his day job since he takes his character WAY over the top. Peretti's performance isn't bad per se, but it does often distract from the main narrative. Thankfully, Keith is in fine form, as are the young actors who play his kids. Leighton Meester deserves special attention for her beauty and her acting chops. She handles a snake in a provocative way few actresses could! The most surprising element of the film, aside from the actors and the clever plot, is the religious themes that pop up from time to time. At one point in the story, the characters get together and pray! This is such an unusual thing to see in a movie that I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. I can't remember the last time I saw religion seriously addressed in what is essentially a horror film. This element of the film is bound to take some people aback, but it's not overdone.

I recommend the movie as an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours. It's not overly gory, though, so fans of blood and guts should look elsewhere. The extras on the disc will keep you busy long after the credits roll. We get a behind the scenes feature explaining how the film dealt with all those spiders, a trailer, and a featurette that is essentially an advertisement for Peretti's other books. Another featurette, called "Frank Peretti: From Page to Screen," is a behind the scenes look at the movie containing interviews with the author and the filmmakers. If you like this movie, check out other projects from director Rafal Zielinski. His film "Fun" is about as far as you can get from this movie subject wise, but it's also worth a look. Enjoy.