Top Fifteen Ghost Films of the Last 100 Years Part III

This is the third in the sequel of The Top Fifteen Ghost Movies of the Last 100 Years series. I have reviewed ten ghost movies so far. Part I dealt with: The Christmas Carol (1908, 1910, 1938, 1984, 1997, 2004 & 2006; Ghost busters I & II (1984 & 89); Ghost 1990; The Poltergeist I & II (1982 & 86); Casper (1995); Part II dealt with: The Shining (1980); Candyman (1992); The Stir of Echoes (1999); The Ring I & II (2002) and An American Haunting (2006).

As early as 1908 during the silent era of film making, Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol which is described as Victorian morality tale has dealt with the subject matter of ghosts. It used the theme as a thermometer of the moral compass of the day as it relates to everyday experiences while highlighting important values.

A movies like Ghost (1990) which is a romantic drama has left a lasting impression on its viewers. Comedies like Ghostbusters amassed over 500 million dollars in revenue, indicating that thousands of viewers worldwide have been thrilled by its comical take on dealing with the subject of ghosts.

The psychological horror genre, such movies like Stir of Echoes, The Ring and The Shining had viewers worldwide cowering in their seats. Even though the psychological horror genre of film may have less income (exception is The Sixth Sense) than the Romantic drama (Ghost) or Comedy (Ghostbusters I & II combined), there is much to be said about this genre in the quality of its work. Point in case, The Shining is considered to be the best horror movie in history.

This hub will continue to look at three psychological horror films and two comedies thrown in because they are worth mentioning.

The Others, 2001

This is a psychological horror film, directed by Alejandro Amenabar and starring Nicole Kidman. This film is based in part on the book, The Turn of the Screw by James Henry. The film is about a mother who was saddened by the death of her husband and killed her two children in a fit of psychosis. The film is done from the ghosts' perspective and cleverly weaves the storyline so that the viewers do not discover until the end of the movie who were the living people and who were dead.

This film won eight Goya Awards, including Best Film and Best Director, even though it was filmed in English. It grossed about 209 million dollars worldwide.

The Sixth Sense, 1999

This film is a psychological thriller, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starred Bruce Willis and a young Harley Joel Osment. The film is about a troubled and isolated boy who is able to see ghosts and a child psychologist who tries to help him. The film is from the ghost's perspective as at the end of the movie it is reveals the twist.

This film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It grossed over 673 million dollars worldwide, becoming one of the highest grossing films.

What Lies Beneath, 2000

This film is a supernatural thriller and was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Harrison Ford and Mitchelle Pfiffer. The film is about a university professor who killed his student lover in order to protect his marriage. His wife had a memory lapse after a car accident and soon through the ghost of her husband's former lover found out the details about his affair and her death. He is killed, supposedly by the ghost of his former lover while trying to rescue his wife who had fallen into the lake.

The film grossed about 90 million dollars.

Ghost Dad, 1990

This is a comedy film, directed by Sidney Poitier and starred Bill Cosby. This film is about a widower who died in a car accident and learns how to communicate with his children while learning the nuances of being a ghost.

This film is a comedic and was done in true Bill Cosby timing. Even though it was dubbed "Worst film of 1990", this film had many redeeming qualities and as a comedy gets two thumbs up from me. It just goes to show that one man's poison is another man's medicine.

The film grossed about 27 million dollars.

Beetlejuice, 1988

This film is described as American Comedy Horror Fantasy. It was directed by Tim Burton and starred Michael Keaton and Alec Baldwin. The film is about a couple who were killed on their way home from a vacation. They found out that they were dead because they could not see their reflection in the mirror and after confirmation from a book entitled The Handbook of the Recently Deceased. They wreak havoc on the new owners of their house as they try to get them to leave.

The television animated series of the same name was a spin off from the movie. The film also won an Academy Award for Make up. It grossed about 74 million dollars.

So what have we learned from these movies? People are very curious about ghosts movies. Sixth Sense, 1999 is one of the highest grossing ghost movies (673 million dollars) followed by Ghost, 1990 which grossed 505 million dollars. Now that's a lot of people watching!

Also see Top Fifteen Ghost Movies of the Last 100 Years Part I

Top Fifteen Ghost Movies of the Last 100 Years Part II

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