The Frighteners

Movie review by Charles Cassady Jr., Common Sense Media
The Frighteners Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 18+

Violent, frenzied, foul-mouthed ghost comedy.

R 1996 110 minutes
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 6 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 8 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this horror-comedy includes over-the-top violence, with glowing ghosts (some in various stages of decomposition) dismembered, squished, slashed, mashed, and shot. Abundant gunfire includes a Columbine-style massacre, with multiple fatalities. One shotgun blast blows up a head off. Nightmarish visuals include zombie-like rotting-corpse ghosts and mummies and one closeup of a recently dead, worm-eaten face. Don't-try-this-at-home stuff ranges from reckless driving to drug-induced comas and falls from high places. Swearing is pretty constant. Off-color jokes refer obscurely to sex and hemorrhoids (not at the same time, at least).

Community Reviews

Spencer H.
Spencer H. Adult
August 17, 2022
age 15+

Violence is definitely on the R level but swearing is more on PG-13 level. Fine for 15 and up

The R rating is appropriate for the violence as it does get pretty bloody at times. It will probably also scare some younger kids. However there is no sex or nudity and the language is really more on a PG-13 level. I didnt count any f-words all of the language would be acceptable for a PG-13. If you have teenagers who want to watch horror films this is a good one to start with as long as you are not offended by some over the top violence. While the profanity is frequent it is pretty tame for an R rating and everything you hear you will find in PG or PG-13 movies. Its pretty violent but it's a good movie and I would say it is a tamer and safer choice for teenagers who are interested in horror. Kids 15 and up will likely not be very scared and will laugh a little too there are some really funny scenes. Older teenagers are likely to be more entertained and find it cool than find it scary and terrifying. Not for young ones but ok for 15 and up.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
angeliaderrick
angeliaderrick Adult
January 31, 2022
age 11+

Fun and Scary Ghost Movie

I think this movie is very underrated; I wasn't expecting a lot based off the other reviews. The movie is really a PG-13 movie with one scene that feels like it hits the R for violence (but even that in today's cinema still feels PG-13). Michael J. Fox is great as a grieving ghost seeing con man who is going to be pulled into the hero role despite his insistence that he isn't a good guy. The cinematography and direction are beautiful with a great mix of different shots and techniques which make it visually very interesting to watch as well as the techniques enhancing the drama and character emotions. I really appreciated that the woman lead, Trini Alvarado, wasn't sexualized, and was complex, smart, caring, and kick ass.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A series of unexplained heart-attack style deaths have the community of Fairwater terrorized. It's a business opportunity, though, for Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox), a former architect who, after a traumatic car crash that killed his wife, has psychic mojo to see and interact with ghosts. With help of three rebellious spook cohorts Bannister stages fake hauntings at bereaved households and charges fees to perform phony exorcisms. But Bannister becomes the suspect in the ongoing deaths, especially after an occult-obsessed F.B.I. agent arrives in town and fixates on him. Frank fights to save further victims from the real menace, a robe-wearing serial-killer phantom (and Dementor-lookalike) who's so vicious he can even 'kill' other ghosts.

Is It Any Good?

Though hailing from the always-impressive director Peter Jackson, THE FRIGHTENERS makes Beetlejuice look like Jane Austen. The script and high-speed direction seem contrived to make sure audiences are too dazzled by wild f/x and boo! stuff to nitpick things, like the heroine recognizing a clue that she couldn't possibly have seen (known to the viewer only via flashback) and similar giant plot holes. How the movie's version of the afterlife really works -- who can see ghosts, grab ghosts, harm ghosts -- isn't terribly well thought out. Well, it usually isn't in such movies, but this time noticeable effort went into distracting your attention.

There are a few scenes, such as havoc at an Egyptian museum exhibit, when the madcap action pace and the macabre seem to hit the right note. Otherwise it's noisy and not quite as much fun as it's supposed to be, with the best moments provided by lead actor Fox, a calm center in all the phantasmagorical whirlwind.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of ghost stories. Ask kids if they like them straight-up scary or funny.

  • The undead villain in this movie is obsessed with serial killers, dropping the names of several and aspiring to "score" higher body counts. Why are so many people fascinated by serial killers? Do the media glamorize them?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love scary movies

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