TinsHeadline Touches You

Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

themonsterman-15193 Simply put, Jim Makichuk's Ghostkeeper is one of the most underrated, and undeservedly little seen horror films ever made. Set in the snow-covered Canadian Rockies, it's as chilling as the location it's set in. Some reviewers have complained about the film being "dull", having unlikable characters, mediocre acting, and a disappointing monster. As a fellow film nerd/maker, one must understand the point of each scene and performance in a film. For better or worse. That being said, I find it hard to understand the criticisms that have been given to this film. It's slow moving to be sure, but like everything in the film, it's all done with a purpose. Compared to the fast-paced horror films now-a-days, I found it a welcome relief that this film didn't rush it's proceedings. Because of that more time is spent developing its atmosphere, and characters into something that is both believable and real. The story itself is rather interesting, with echoes to both The Shining, and Psycho. Hving the main characters being forced to stay in an abandoned building is nothing new. However, the writers take this done-to-death premise and made it their own, fashioning it into something that is both mesmerizing, and hunting. The cinematography is nothing short of mesmerizing, and extremely well done, with shots of darkened corridors to ones on the cloudy, snow-covered landscape quietly building its atmosphere and mood. These shots are also helped by composer Zaza's low-key, and unsettling score, which manages to get under your skin and stay there in spite yourself. Personally, it's one of my favorite movie soundtracks, with it's low vocals, and minimalist tunes recalling John Carpenter's legendary score for Halloween. The performances are also a highlight of the film, with each character slowly fleshed out into someone that is both believable, and realistic. As in real life the film's character's are far from perfect, with very distinct flaws that give each one distinction and relatability. As the film progresses at its slow and deliberate pace, we gradually learn more about each character which enhances ones involvement in them and the story. One of the other criticisms that some people have is that on the title monster, that of the purported Wendigo. Although the film's low budget limited what the film's makers originally wanted their title monster to look like, their decision actually works for the better. According to folklore, a person who consumes human flesh or is possessed by the the Wendigo's spirit will turn into a "Human Wendigo". By having their monster being represented as a deformed man not only fits with folklore, but also (maybe unintentionally) lends it a allegorical/symbolic nature. The fact that madness, one of the major themes in the film, can twist a person into something horrible is actually quite an unnerving statement. The monster can also represent another theme that it prevalent on the film, and relocatable to its monster... That of hunger. There are several instances where one character's hunger, either sexual or the need for sustinance, results in consequences that come back to haunt them. This is also and unnerving point that can be embodies within the film's title monster. No film is perfect, and this one is no exception. Flaws such as the rare occurance of overacting at one point, are outweighted by the film's strengths. Ghostkeeper might not be for everyone. But for those who like their horror films slow and deliberately paced with a fair amount of chills along the way then this is an essential viewing.

Leofwine_draca Imagine a cross between The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, THE SHINING, and THE GHOUL, and you'll have some idea of GHOSTKEEPER's general direction. Sadly, however, it's not nearly as interesting (or entertaining, for that matter) as any of those films. Perhaps inspired by David Cronenberg's success at making effective, low-budget Canadian films, the makers spin a story of insanity and psychological torment, but only succeed in confusing the viewer with the nonsensical storyline. I don't mind films for what they are, but when one comes along claiming to be insightful and clever, it just gets my goat. The box (incidentally, the cover image has NOTHING to do with the film) claims that this film is Hitchcockian, what?! The most fun you'll have here is looking at the pretty scenery of the snow-covered mountains. With such an isolated and picturesque location surely it wouldn't have been difficult to get a little bit of atmosphere conveyed on film, but sadly there is none here. All it needed was a nice tracking shot over some icy locales, with the wind whistling on the soundtrack, and that would have been enough for me. But no.For two thirds of the film not much happens at all, it's just boring people sitting around and talking about their boring lives. In the final act it all goes a bit weird, with one man (obviously having watched Jack Nicholson in THE SHINING too many times) cracking up and going for a walk in the snow without his jacket. A blonde bimbo has her throat slashed (the only tiny bit of gore in the entire film) and then is apparently cannibalised by something living in a locked room, although we don't actually get to see any of this or know fully what's going on.The acting is poor (none of the actors or actresses are familiar, apart from one woman who appeared in RABID), the music is non-existent and the whole film makes little sense. One major twist at the end is obviously from the first moment the characters enter the hut. They're an unlikable bunch as well, breaking into a sealed building and demanding that they stay the night. With little action, poor writing, little horror, bizarre cuts (one scene goes from two characters fighting to one of the characters impaled on a fence, whether this was poor editing or some kind of cut to the video have, I'm not sure), and a total lack of drive, GHOSTKEEPER is yet another low budget misfiring film to avoid.

acidburn-10 "Ghostkeeper" remains another entry lost during the slasher cycle during the 1980's. While it was to be more than a typical slasher according to the story, it was set to be a supernatural thriller, but the funding ran out halfway through, which means that the 2nd half of the film is rather dis-jointed and unfocused.The plot = we have three people stranded in the middle of a snowy mountain and take refuge in an abandoned hotel, where only an old woman and her son lives. Then strange things begin to happen as the legend of windigo surrounds the place in mystery.Well firstly it would have been nice to see what could have been, if the funding didn't run out, but it does make it hard to judge the movie for as it stands. It's definitely an interesting concept and the director has created an eerie and unsettling horror film with a cool Gothic atmosphere, especially the hotel itself which looks stunning covered in snow in it's wintery setting. Another standout moment is the chase scene with Jenny, which was one of the only highlights of this movie, which kept me on the edge of my seat, and the final twist at the end was rather interesting but didn't make a whole lot of sense.But the movie itself is very much underwhelming, for one thing the pacing drags in several places and the main villain windigo is just totally wasted, gone is the myth and what we do get is some hairy fat guy surrounded by blocks of ice, plus the 3 main characters aren't very experienced and it shows, like the female lead just sleepwalks through the 2nd half of the movie, and the male lead starts to go insane for some reason, which never explains why, but the old woman caretaker is the only saving grace, she was truly terrifying. But the supernatural element was almost abandoned halfway through and we just end up with a slasher with a low body count.So all in all, it's a shame that we'll never see the intended vision as this had so much potential but still an interesting entry in the 80's horror cycle.

Tikkin Ghostkeeper is not as good as others would have you believe. It does have a beautiful and creepy setting, and the film itself is rather creepy, but in a rather fake way. This is achieved mainly through the use of music, and whilst this is effective for the first 30 minutes or so, you get a bit sick of hearing the same music over and over.I think this film could have been a whole lot better. You can see the potential whilst watching it, and within the first 30 minutes I had figured out several ways it could have been better. The plot is where everything falls apart. It's really about nothing much at all. The ending is a bit of a surprise, but is so shallow that you think "jeez, that's what this film has been building up to?" Despite the excellent setting, I can't really recommend Ghostkeeper. It's like a very poor mans version of The Shining. If slow pace, creepy atmosphere yet lack of plot is your thing, you may enjoy this, but otherwise I would skip it.