WhilePeter Jackson’s later movies were much more successful, 1996’s underratedThe Frightenerswas a funMichael J. Foxvehicle that deserved better than its box-office fate. Alook back on Peter Jackson’s moviesproves that theLord of the Ringshelmer has a unique career, even by Hollywood’s strange standards. Jackson started out making low-budget horror comedies like the classic splatter movieBad Tasteand 1989’s disturbingly gross puppet movieMeet the Feebles.
After the spectacularly gruesome gross-out zombie comedyBraindeadunder-performed at the box office, Jackson made a major tonal shift with his next outing. 1994’sHeavenly Creatureswas a devastating real-life drama about a pair of troubled teenage girls and the murder they committed in 1983.Heavenly Creatureswas an early showcase for the talents of Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey, both of whom shine in the poignant, intense drama. However, Jackson was not done with wild tonal pivots afterHeavenly Creaturesearned him widespread acclaim.
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Next, Jackson worked on what began life as a spinoff of thebest horror anthology show ever,Tales from the Crypt. Originally set to be directed byBack to the Future’s Robert Zemeckis,1996’sThe Frightenersis a morbid horror comedy with a killer premise. Michael J. Fox’s Frank is a former architect who gains the ability to see and speak to ghosts after his wife’s murder and uses this skill to scam homeowners. Frank convinces his ghost friends to haunt people so he can then charge them for expensive exorcisms.
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Peter Jackson’s dabbling in the horror genre early in his career paved the way for his successful transition into the Lord of the Rings franchise.
The Frightenerswas an expensive early misfire for Jackson, costing $26 million and earning only $29 million. AlthoughThe Frightenersreceived positive reviews upon release and has since been viewed as a cult classic, it is easy to see why the horror comedy failed to resonate at first. ConsideringBack to the Future’s Marty McFlywas never that good a guy to begin with, it is perhaps unsurprising that Fox plays Frank as a pretty dubious, cynical antihero inThe Frighteners. Combine this with a wonky, offbeat tone, and the movie was always going to struggle.
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However, viewers should seek outThe Frightenersand give Jackson’s ambitious if imperfect horror comedy a watch. After Kiwi horror comedy hits likeWhat We Do in the ShadowsandHousebound, the unique sense of humor Jackson brings to the movie’s morbid subject matter will likely be more approachable for contemporary audiences. Meanwhile, it is fun to see the earliest showcase for Weta Digital’s effects, with the future industry leader contributing some comical ghosts and memorably weird demons inThe Frighteners.
At times,The Frightenersfeels like aTales from the Cryptmovie spinoff complete with cartoonish violence and outlandish characters.
With Jeffrey Combs, Dee Wallace Stone, Jake Busey, and R. Lee Ermey among the supporting cast,The Frightenershas no shortage of star power. At times, the movie feels likeaTales from the Cryptmovie spinoffcomplete with cartoonish violence and outlandish characters, while Danny Elfman’s score ensures other scenes feel like they could be lifted from a forgotten Tim Burton project. The result is a movie that is never quite as funny or scary as theMichael J. Foxproject could be, but one that provesPeter Jacksonwas destined for great things after the disappointing debut ofThe Frighteners.
