Horror Movie Review: Ghost Story (1981)

“I will take you places you’ve never been. I will show you things that you have never seen and I will see the life run out of you.”

Ghost Story is a 1981 American supernatural horror film directed by John Irvin and starring Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., John Houseman, Craig Wasson, and Alice Krige. Based on the 1979 novel of the same name by Peter Straub.

In a small New England town during the frigid winter season of 1979, four elderly friends—businessman Ricky Hawthorne (Fred Astaire), lawyer Sears James (John Houseman), Dr. John Jaffrey (Melvyn Douglas), and Mayor Edward Charles Wanderley (Douglas Fairbanks Jr)—form the Chowder Society, an informal men’s club who get together each week to share tales of horror. Edward’s son David (Craig Wasson), living in New York City, falls from his apartment window after seeing a girl he’s been sleeping with suddenly turn into a living corpse. His other son, Don (Also, Craig Wasson), comes home at Edward’s request.

Some time after David’s funeral, Edward sees him walking through town during a snowstorm and follows him to a bridge, where he disappears. Calling out to his dead son, he suddenly sees a female apparition and he falls to his death from the bridge. Meanwhile, two escaped patients from a mental asylum, Gregory and Fenny Bate, have taken up residence in the old Eva Galli house, now in ruins.

Doubting his father committed suicide, Don approaches the remaining three friends and tells them a “ghost” story to gain membership into the Chowder Society. In a flashback, Don tells the story of how he, a college professor in Florida, began a torrid sexual affair with a mysterious secretary named Alma (Alice Krige). The two of them immediately hit it off and before long they were engaged. Alma insisted she wanted to marry Don in his home town of Milburn, but he was reluctant, as he considered the town boring. Don soon begins to suspect that something was terribly wrong with Alma, a gut feeling that was vindicated one night when he touched her and realized she was as cold as a corpse. Don eventually broke things off with Alma, and Alma, furious, disappeared from his life.

He falls into a depression, which ends up costing him both his reputation and his job. A month later, he called his brother in New York and learned to his horror that Alma had begun dating David not long after he broke off their engagement, and that now he’s going to marry her. Don desperately tries to warn his brother to keep away from Alma, declaring her dangerous. However, his brother scoffs at the warning and hangs up. Not long after, David is killed and Don suspected her of being involved in his death. The elderly friends react to Don’s story. Sears remains very skeptical.

Don then shows the three elders an old photograph from the 1920s he’d found among his father’s possessions. In it there is a striking young woman who is a dead ringer for Alma. Jaffrey, realizing what has happened, pleads with his friends to tell the truth, but is rebuffed. The next day, Jaffrey has a nightmare about Alma and dies of a heart attack. Finally, Sears and Ricky explain to Don what happened in the spring of 1929…

Who really is Alma and what does she have against the Chowder Society? Watch and find out.

How often is a film haunting, sexy, funny, thrilling and sorrowful all in one? A film with that much emotion and depth is rare and that’s why Ghost Story stands above the rest. I’ve been looking forward to reviewing this movie as I enjoyed it so thoroughly. Filled with well-acted, fantastic performances all round with the extremely memorable Alice Krige at the centre. Ghost Story is a new firm favourite of mine and one I would definitely rewatch many times over.

Ghost Story has a TV movie feel to it, in that it’s so detailed. It covers all its bases and the flashbacks fill in the story perfectly. Additionally, the practical effects are top notch. Although there’s some dodgy CGI early on, the practical effects stand the test of time and remain superb.

Now on to the core of the movie. The twist is incredible. But, it’s unique as it’s one that will never get old. I have no doubt that even in 10 rewatches time I would still be equal parts enamoured and haunted by the twist and its flashback scenes.

This movie is like a good old fashioned camp fire ghost story. One that will linger with you and prey on your mind late at night.

Over all, an extremely underrated movie. I’m baffled as to why Ghost Story is not on everyone’s lips when mentioning some of the best horrors around as it would be deservedly so.