I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's not the destination so much as the journey that's important- an observation that, when it comes to movies (most especially fright films, unfortunately), is a valid one. Still, the fact that most production companies seem content to "play it safe" (which is an interesting dichotomy when the subject is fright films) is distressing. THE GHOST is beautifully crafted and- as is often the case in Asian fright films- boasts a strikingly beautiful leading lady, but it fails to push the envelope in any way. I would suggest aspiring horror filmmakers look up short stories like FIREFIGHT by David Drake or HOME IS THE HUNTER by Henry Kuttner or BILLY WOLF'S RIDING SPIRIT by Kevin Lyons or PIGEONS FROM HELL by Robert E. Howard or WITCH WAR by Richard Matheson or THE FEAST IN THE ABBEY by Robert Bloch or THE ASH TREE by M.R. James or THE LIPS by Henry S. Whitehead or THE OBLONG BOX by Edgar Allen Poe or FLOP SWEAT by Harlan Ellison or THE LOTTERY by Shirley Jackson or THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH by H.P. Lovecraft or WASTELAND by Yours Truly (in the xlibris book THE NIGHT RIDERS by M. Kelley) or the novels THE HOUR OF THE OXRUN DEAD by Charles L. Grant or A MANHATTEN GHOST STORY by T.M. Wright or THEY THIRST by Robert R. McCammon or I AM LEGEND by Richard Matheson or THE SUNDIAL by Shirley Jackson or TRANSFIGURATIONS by Michael Bishop or THE COLOUR OUT OF SPACE by H.P. Lovecraft or CARRION COMFORT by Dan Simmons or any one of a thousand others that deserves consideration. Filmmakers haven't even scratched the surface, yet...
Review of Dead Friend
