The Ghostmaker (2011)

A Disappointing Continuation

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

It's a pity that this relatively original story, with a good first hour, had to take such a cretinous, totally baffling turn into dumb-thriller territory in the last third, almost completely ruining the interesting build-up. The invalid guy morphs idiotically into a silly Jason Voorhees clone, which is far-fetched and very silly, not to mention generic, made even worse by the fact that the guy playing him is a really hack actor who says his lines as if he's in a high school play. What started as a film that seemed to successfully escape its B-movie limitations ended up being just as nit-witted as the typical Z-movie flick. The movie rapidly deteriorates, as though someone tore up the last part of the original script and some clueless and confused newbie was hired to scribble something up in a rush.There are so many stupid things going on in the idiotic finale, so I will just cover the basic stuff. Suddenly the invalid becomes an all-powerful, cunning serial-killer type who somehow reaps only benefits from using the machine whereas the junkie has very few of these powers: the junkie completely fails in stopping another junkie from using the bad heroin, yet the invalid manages to pretty much do anything he wants.I can't stand movies that blatantly break their own logic, their own rules, just to advance plot-twists that a pigeon could write.

First off, I don't know from where all these nasty criticism about low budget's feelings are coming from: if you wouldn't be thinking about it .. You would not notice it, at all, since the story is deeply involving and the movie does not miss anything especially when it comes to deliver some chills with a more sinister and realistic explanation: even this later one, it has been my favorite part! But so many critics have hammered it down, and, it's quite a shame, especially when going down heavy on Domiziano Arcangeli's otherwise intense, enigmatic acting going to give life to a one of a kind sexy drug dealer in despair, a true excellent characterization in my opinion, that provides so, not only some of the more heartfelt and darkest aspects of the story itself, but, that, at the same time, also gives to this film it's more timely and gritty motive. It's a pity that, here in the States, all reviewers almost have harshly criticized one of the best parts of the film itself , while in fact, in Europe, it's been ( and rightly so) one of the most appreciated parts! I don't mean to say that this film lacks in the special effects department either, which are all mainly top notch , but that at times would risk to make the movie just looks simply a bit too "teen", lacking the depth it's instead so often trying to convey as well! Hard to believe, apparently in the States, we are just a big bunch of kids only wanting to see WB's style acting and directing, with no inventions, nor links to reality, especially when it comes to Horror! I instead very much appreciated the 2 rather organic points of view dividing a morbid story that as presented is way more adult, and accomplished than most U.S. reviewers would have apparently instead liked so much better: and so, another boring movie with the same usual supernatural clichés, and nothing else! Fortunately, instead this one can especially relate on the most emotional, and realistic parts which are all shot and performed with a vigor rare to be seen in standard Lions Gate's or common Genre's releases!

I think of all the movies where they spend millions of dollars in Special Effects laden tricks and cheep thrills.This movie is a lot more effective with a small budget and stars you've never heard of than a lot of these other films.The plot is that a stoned college kid comes across a box from the Middle Ages that allows a person's spirit to leave their body and manifest itself in the real world. He shares it with his nerdy buddy and his handicapped roommate who secretly has the hots for his girlfriend. Hilarity ensues until Death decides to start tracking these guys.Again, the movie is well paced and uses what it has effectively. Definitely worth a watch.

This movie had a very original concept that could have taken it way farther. The problem begins with the film's low budget. 1 million (USD)is really not much now days for a movie. Even with it's limited budget production still looked professional. The actors are no names in my book but did fairly well given this. Instead of making a long drawn out review I will say it's worth a look (especially compared to other Horror releases), and I would say that it deserves higher than its current 4.4 score. Special effects were alright but story-line becomes a bit cheesy as it progresses when it starts off with such a COOL concept and history. I would say it's worth a look for sci-fi/horror buffs!