Thir13en Ghosts: An Often Overlooked Gory Good Time
Thir13en Ghosts is an underrated horror film. Is it the best, like The Thing? Nah, but it is an entertaining watch. This movie remake(from a 1960 Castle film) came out in late 2001. The events of 9/11 made the world less hungry for horror, after seeing the real thing on their TVs and internet, and this movie got(rightfully) swept under the rug.
Thir13en Ghosts: The Plot
It is the dead of night(pun intended), and Cyrus Kriticos(F Murray Abraham) is after a Juggernaut. Well, a ghost of a serial killer nicknamed Juggernaut, He needs that ghost, and uses psychic Dennis Rafkin(Matthew Lillard) to help capture the dangerous entity. Dennis swears this is the last time he is helping the eccentric Cyrus. Dennis did not know that a truck spraying blood would be part of the equation to get the ghost riled up.
In a move decades before its time, this movie has a ghost rights advocate in Kalina Oretzia(Embeth Davidtz). Yup. You read that right. We laughed at such ridiculousness then. But now? Seems about right for the outrage over every and any thing these days.
The Juggernaut(Shayne Wyler) kills several people trying to capture him, including Cyrus.
Alexander Kriticos(Tony Shalhoub) has lost his wife to a fire. He and his two children have had to downsize their life(yet still have a nanny(Rah Digga). This movie brings up a lot of wtf questions). Overdue bills are on the table, while the tiny apartment is cramped.
A lawyer comes knocking. Cyrus has left everything to Alexander and his family, including his huge glass mansion.
What Alexander doesn’t know is that the basement is filled with ghosts from the Black Zodiac, and Cyrus needs Alexander and his teenage daughter, Kathy(Shannon Elizabeth) and young son, Bobby(Alec Roberts) to bring his plan to open the Oculus Infernum-the eye of hell-to fruition.
Matthew Lillard
The man steals every scene he is in. He plays Dennis as hammy, vulnerable, or strong exactly when Dennis needs to be.
The Ghosts
Photo credit: Shout Factory
Photo credit: Shout Factory
There are twelve ghosts trapped in the mansion, and my biggest complaint about this movie is that they do not get enough screen time. They are brilliant looking! Their expanded stories can be found here.
Recommended!
Check Thir13en Ghosts out. The mythology is fun, there are fun twists, great practical effects, mostly new takes on gore, and some great acting by Lillard.
Thir13en Ghosts is available to stream on some streaming sites, and is available on DVD and Blu-Ray.
