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Ghost Story
List Price: $14.98Our Price: $10.99 You Save: $3.99 (27%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9781417000104
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
ISBN: 1417000104
Label: Universal Studios
Languages: English (Original Language),
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
MPN: D20101D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Universal Studios
Region Code: 1
Release Date: September 07, 2004
Running Time: 111 minutes
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: December 18, 1981
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Editorial Review:
Upon its release in 1981, John Irvin's version of Peter Straub's bestselling horror novel was deemed one of the worst adaptations that the genre had ever produced. Now it's available on DVD, and for the first time in widescreen presentation, and not much has changed. It's still a nearly unwatchable dud. Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Melvyn Douglas, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. play old friends, members of the self-created Chowder Society, who get together and tell ghost tales. The scariest story of all, however, is the one they never speak to each other. Fifty years ago, the four men accidentally killed a young woman, and now she's back (with much less meat on her bones) and seeking vengeance. Sound chilling? Well, in Straub's hands it was, and the novel remains the author's finest achievement. Irvin, however, distills Staub's rich characterizations, gradual tension, and creepy atmosphere, and replaces them with aging golden oldies (only Houseman appears to be having any fun) hamming it up and hokey special-effect shots of a rotting corpse. The film moves about as quickly as its ancient cast could during a relay race. The whole thing has arthritis. --Dave McCoy
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Any real horror fan can appreciate the old school scares of Ghost Story
Ghost Story was released in 1981, adapted from a novel of the same name. Sid has never read the book, admitedly, but we really can't imagine it being better than this great movie. The film stars Fred Astaire, John Houseman and others. Sid remembered seeing this flick one late night on tv. It scared the everliving out of this young elf then, so we decided to see if it held up today. So, we settled in with a little of the sacrament, and an inordinate ammount of food, sat back and watched a great horror ... Read More
Rating:  - Not as scary as the book
I read the book years ago and found it so scary that I would often have to put it down and take a break or hold off on a chapter if late at night. It scared me so much that I was jumping at slight noises and got shivers up my spine. The book was one of the best I've ever read. (I was heavily into King, Straub, Koontz, and Crichton at the time and thoroughly enjoyed spooky books. I still do.) Then I saw Ghost Story movie that I'd so looked forward to. The movie was enjoyable and occasionally intense but ... Read More
Rating:  - "I will show you places you've never been and I will watch the life run out of you!"
For a movie made in 1981, this one still packs a whollop! For anyone not familiar with this little gem, this one is not for the faint of heart. In this day of SAW and HOSTEL, this movie still has the ability to scare the crap out of you! It isn't overly bloody or violent, but what it lacks in substance, it more than makes up
for it with it's suspenseful crawl through the ghostly heart of a woman's revenge. Based on the novel of the same name, four old men (Melvyn Douglas, John Houseman, Fred Astaire,and ... Read More
Rating: - horror drama
this was a gift to my sister who had been searching for it. she loved it.
Rating: - Go Ask Alice...
I read Straub's book AFTER seeing the movie, and I think that's why I enjoyed the film version so much. Had I done the reverse, I would have had the novel in mind all along. GHOST STORY is one of my favorite 80s movies, and a decent enough spooker. I love the Chowder Society, played by Fred Astaire (Ricky), John Houseman (Sears), Melvin Douglas (John) , and Douglas Fairbanks, jr (Edward). Patricia Neal also has a small role as Ricky's wife. Seeing them once again reminded me of how hollywood has (to its shame) ... Read More
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