IFC Midnight's Ghost Stories

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Coming soon via Lionsgate UK (it's a UK release only at this point, though since Shout! handles a lot of IFC titles in North America, I would not be shocked if it came out here through them).

"GHOST STORIES stars Nyman as Professor Goodman, a psychologist and skeptic, who has his rationality tested when he stumbles across a long-lost file containing details of three terrifying hauntings. He then embarks on a mission to find rational explanations for the ghostly happenings.

Paul Whitehouse (“The Death of Stalin”) and Alex Lawther (“The Imitation Game”) also star alongside Freeman, known to audiences worldwide as Dr. Watson in “Sherlock.”"

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

So this is coming out in September via Shout/IFC. Press release!



“A barnstormer of an entertainment, a fairground ride with dodgy brakes”
- Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Ghost Stories

Spine-Tingling Tales of Terror Available on Blu-ray and DVD September 4th, 2018 from Scream Factory

Experience three spine-tingling tales of terror to haunt your dreams! On September 4th, 2018, the delightfully devilish horror anthology film Ghost Stories will make its Blu-ray and DVD debut from Scream Factory, in conjunction with IFC Midnight. Fans of this critically acclaimed film can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com

A debunker of all things paranormal, Professor Goodman (Andy Nyman, Black Death) has devoted his life to exposing phony psychics and fraudulent supernatural shenanigans. His skepticism is tested, however, when he receives a case file on three chilling and inexplicable incidents: a night watchman (Paul Whitehouse, Corpse Bride) haunted by disturbing visions as he patrols an abandoned asylum; an edgy young man (Alex Lawther, Freak Show) involved in a hellish car accident deep in the woods; and a wealthy former banker (Martin Freeman, Sherlock, Black Panther) visited by the spirit of his unborn child. Even more disturbing is that each of these macabre stories seems to have a sinister connection to Professor Goodman's own life. Will they make a believer of him yet?

About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory's entertainment offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast entertainment distribution network which delivers culturally relevant programming, movie and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America and across multiple platforms. Shout! Factory owns and operates Shout! Studios, Scream Factory, Shout! Factory Kids, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory TV. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Los Angeles, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.

[agent999 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close agent999]

I just watched this. Enjoyable, but the much vaunted ending was a let down. No wonder they asked the audience of the theatrical production not to reveal it, because it won't seem particularly original to most people that are fairly well versed in horror literature or films. Considering the mind fuck aspects of Nyman's work with Derren Brown, I was expecting something more surprising.

[JoeS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoeS]

Previous Thread on this movie is here: http://www.rockshockpop.com/forums/s...l=1#post170571

My Review from that thread:

GHOST STORIES follows in the long tradition of British anthology horror films going all the way back to the seminal 1945 DEAD OF NIGHT. Like most such entries, STORIES begins and ends with a wraparound tale. Here, we follow paranormal skeptic Professor Goodman (Andy Nyman; also co-writer & director) as he is on the trail for phony spiritualists. Out of the blue, Goodman is contacted by a legendary 1970s debunk-er named Charles Cameron (Leonard Byrne) who has long disappeared from public view and some have presumed dead. Cameron presents Goodman with three paranormal cases which he claims are genuine. AND -- the prime subjects of these cases are all still alive.

Two of the three cases involve a family member, while the third concerns a mysterious appearance in the woods. Goodman interviews them all, and there are re-creations of each of their tales. Without spoiling anything, I'll just say the re-enactments are well done, creepy, and finely crafted with attention to detail (hint: play close attention). The acting is solid (although some will want subtitles while Night Watchman Tony is speaking (Paul Whitehouse) with the one star of the production, Martin Freeman, featured in the last of the three segments. It's all decently mounted on a smallish budget (the faux flashback footage is particularly convincing). Even more refreshing is that every appearance of an apparition isn't accompanied by a loud crashing musical cue and jump cuts as is virtually the case for every mainstream horror film these days. There are a few of these cheap shortcuts, but, they are a virtual picture of restraint by current standards.

How much one ends up enjoying GHOST STORIES will likely rest on one's view of the wraparound story's denouement. It's so long, and comprehensive that it overtakes the trilogy of case studies to almost nullify the movie as an 'anthology'. I went along with it in it's Caligari kind of way, even if I wasn't entirely satisfied (and please with the hoary 'childhood trauma' cliches). What elevates the movie from the ordinary is it's intelligence, a rollicking mordant wit and craftsmanship. It may not be a superior example, but, it won't be out of place in a discussion of mid-level horror anthologies of the past such as those put out by Amicus and Tigon.