Thir13en Ghosts (2001)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Steve Beck

Writers:

Robb White (story)
Benjamin Carr (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 October 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Terror has multiplied.

Plot:

When Cyrus Kriticos, a very rich collector of unique things dies, he leaves it all to his nephew and his family. All including his house, his fortune, and his malicious collection of ghosts!

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Ghost Hunter | Machine | Glass House | Magic Book

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Tony Shalhoub	...	Arthur Kriticos
Embeth Davidtz	...	Kalina Oretzia
Matthew Lillard	...	Dennis Rafkin
Shannon Elizabeth	...	Kathy Kriticos
Alec Roberts	...	Robert 'Bobby' Kriticos
JR Bourne	...	Benjamin Moss
Rah Digga	...	Maggie Bess
F. Murray Abraham	...	Cyrus Kriticos
Matthew Harrison	...	Damon
Jacob Rupp	...	Cyrus' Assistant
Mike Crestejo	...	Team Member
Aubrey Culp	...	Team Member (as Aubrey Lee Culp)
Charles Andre	...	Team Member
Mikhael Speidel	...	Billy Michaels, The First Born Son
Daniel Wesley	...	Jimmy 'The Gambler' Gambino, The Torso

Also Known As:

13 Ghosts (USA) (alternative spelling)
13 fantômes (Canada: French title)
Thirteen Ghosts (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence/gore, nudity and some language.

Runtime:

91 min | France:87 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 | Philippines:R-18 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Denmark:15 | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:R (Ontario) (video rating) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-15 (re-rating) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #37748)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

"The Withered Lover" is the fourth ghost of the Black Zodiac. She is seen walking with an IV with her. IV in Roman Numerals is equal to four.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Angry Princess lies in the tub, Kathy's sleeves are alternately up/down between shots.

Quotes:

Dennis Rafkin: Hey, Glass Family Robinson, you're wasting your breath!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Scary Movie 4 (2006)

Soundtrack:

Mirror Mirror

If you like the genre...

'Thir13en Ghosts' is a movie with lots of flashing images and loud sounds. Most of the time that is a little annoying, although there are moments it adds something to the scary events that happen. I am not a big fan of the horror-genre, although I can appreciate it when it is done good. Here you have no real story, but there are some real scares. Since it is about ghosts those things can turn up anytime and anywhere. One of the characters even explains that "they like to do that".

To explain the story would be quite pointless. What I can say is that a family without a mother but including dad Arthur (Tony Shalhboub), daughter Kathy (Shannon Elizabeth), son Bobby (Alec Roberts) and nanny Maggie (Rah Digga) inherits a strange house, created by their uncle Cyrus (F. Murray Abraham). We learn that Cyrus was a ghost hunter, of course with a purpose and a thirteenth ghost as the answer to a mystery, and that twelve ghosts are locked in the basement of the house. Two other characters are in the house as well. Dennis (Matthew Lillard) who sees future and past when he touches people and who used to work with Cyrus, and an opponent of Cyrus named Kalina (Embeth Davidtz). When the ghosts are unleashed they have to save themselves.

I realize I actually have told you the story, but that is not what this movie is about. What makes it at least interesting is the visual style of the movie. The house looks great, the effects and art direction are very admirable. That there is hardly time to notice that is a shame. The scares might be stupid but they work enough to make this a real horror movie. Yes, there are many flaws and things go terribly wrong near the end, but if you normally like these kind of movies, you must be able to enjoy 'Thir13en Ghosts'.