Where to watch Thir13en Ghosts
2 Stars
Arthur and his two children, Kathy and Bobby, inherit his Uncle Cyrus’s estate: a glass house that serves as a prison to 12 ghosts. When the family, accompanied by Bobby’s Nanny and an attorney, enter the house they find themselves trapped inside an evil machine “designed by the devil and powered by the dead” to open the Eye of Hell. Aided by Dennis, a ghost hunter, and his rival Kalina, a ghost rights activist out to set the ghosts free, the group must do what they can to get out of the house alive.
Thirteen Ghosts is a movie filled with lush production design, cinematography, and all the professional trappings of a mid-budgeted studio project from the era. Unfortunately, it also has a central story that is illogical and plot developments that border on nonsensical. When a movie looks this gorgeous and is narratively empty, it reveals that the creatives behind the process were more interested in the artifacts of the source material than in developing interesting characters. This key decision, with no relatable or intelligent characters, is the primary reason why Thirteen Ghosts fails to engage the audience emotionally.
The spiritual entities that are the villains of Thriteen Ghosts are on par with the made-up actors populating those large haunted house experiences provided by National theme parks during the Halloween season. The make-up and costume design are splendid and make one wish they were used in a better, more effective horror movie. The pairing of Tony Shalhoub with Matthew Lillard is the wackiest screen combo of 2001; Shannon Elizabeth is also present, whose beauty rivals the handsome setting.
Directed by: Steve Beck
Written by: Robb White, Neal Marshall Stevens, Richard D’Ovidio
Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Shannon Elizabeth, Embeth Davidtz