122 reviews
Enjoyable ghost film with Nic Cage. Whats not to love.
Entertaining Not Groundbreaking
After about five minutes into the movie I thought, "Oh no, not another child that sees ghosts." Then, as though the writers heard my plea, the movie changed directions. Now, to be fair, it didn't go into unchartered territory. In fact, the movie revisited a well established premise.
Professor Mike Lawford (Nicholas Cage) loses his child at a Halloween fair right under his nose. This leads to a split between he and his wife, Kristen (Sarah Wayne Callies), as she blames him for their son's abduction. Shortly before Charlie's (Jack Fulton) abduction he had strange visions and even heard something tell him to "Pay the Ghost". All of that plays a major role in Mike's subsequent search for his son as it takes him to stranger and stranger locations.
I would call the movie eerie and ominous even but not quite scary. There is a particular frustration when a terrible thing happens to you in a desolate location because no one is around to help you. There is another, more intensified frustration when a terrible thing happens to you in New York City and there are literally thousands of people around you. That's precisely what Mike was dealing with. "Pay the Ghost" was entertaining and it held my interest but nothing groundbreaking.
Professor Mike Lawford (Nicholas Cage) loses his child at a Halloween fair right under his nose. This leads to a split between he and his wife, Kristen (Sarah Wayne Callies), as she blames him for their son's abduction. Shortly before Charlie's (Jack Fulton) abduction he had strange visions and even heard something tell him to "Pay the Ghost". All of that plays a major role in Mike's subsequent search for his son as it takes him to stranger and stranger locations.
I would call the movie eerie and ominous even but not quite scary. There is a particular frustration when a terrible thing happens to you in a desolate location because no one is around to help you. There is another, more intensified frustration when a terrible thing happens to you in New York City and there are literally thousands of people around you. That's precisely what Mike was dealing with. "Pay the Ghost" was entertaining and it held my interest but nothing groundbreaking.
- view_and_review
- Dec 31, 2015
- Permalink
Mediocre Horror-Thriller
A lot of reviews are giving this movie flack but it's not that bad. I feel like people go into Cage movies now expecting the worse and have already decided how to feel about it before they've even watched it. I'm not about to argue that this film is good (because it definitely isn't) but you could do far worse than watch this movie. Sure, the CGI is terrible and the plot is no good. But we have okay dialogue in the script and everyone in the movie (minus the child actor) does a fine job. Cage isn't hamming it up like he often does and Sarah Wayne Callies does a great job. The scene after they lose their son is rather heartbreaking when you look at her. This movie does fall apart a bit down the stretch, however.
All in all, it's very forgettable, not recommended, but not terrible either.
All in all, it's very forgettable, not recommended, but not terrible either.
- Samuel-Shovel
- Apr 27, 2017
- Permalink
Nick pays the ghost, and we pay to see Nick!
I strongly suspect that, around 2009-2010 or so, Nicolas Cage participated in a secret scientific experiment to have himself cloned, and that since then there are at least three of four Nicks walking around in Hollywood! How else would you explain the large number of Nick Cage vehicles that is getting released each year? I seems that, every time I blink my eyes, two or three titles are added to Cage's filmography here on IMDb. I don't mind, though, and it's even quite clever because I (and surely many others with me) will pretty much watch everything that Nicolas Cage stars in, regardless of the quality. And, granted, a lot of the B-type action/horror movies that he starred in lately are bad. Take "Pay the Ghost", for instance. I probably never would have bothered to continue watching if it weren't for Cage's name prominently decorating the opening credits, as it looks like just another derivative and predictable ghost story with a weak plot and an overload of fake scares. Make no mistake, "Pay the Ghost" IS a forgettable and weak supernatural horror entry, but hey, maybe I was in an exceptionally good mood because I nevertheless enjoyed it. The script is obviously trying to cash in on "Insidious", "Sinister" and every other recently released thrillers featuring ghost children, and Cage strictly acts on automatic pilot, but I was still interested in the plot of his missing son. Charlie mysteriously vanished during last year's Halloween parade and, nearly one year later, his father discovers that several children go missing every year on All Hallows Eve without ever getting found. Mike reunites with his estranged wife and together they stumble upon a harrowing tragedy that occurred nearly three centuries ago. Being a sucker for folklore/urban legend stories involving witchery and burning at the stake, I really dug the tale of Annie Sawquin, and director Uli Edel ("Christiane F.") did his best to insert a creepy atmosphere, decent special effects and eerie scenery. Certain scenes are quite brutal, like the fade of the spiritual medium, and the happy ending doesn't feel too forced. But, like I said, I was in a good mood and Cage himself probably already doesn't remember "Pay the Ghost" anymore.
Better Than I Anticipated
With its low rating on IMDb and some poor reviews I read, I wasn't expecting much from this ghost/horror flick. However, I found it to be better than I anticipated. It's presented well, and although it probably won't please the die-hard horror fans, it had just enough chills and surprises for me.
Nicolas Cage stars as Professor Mike Lawford, who takes his 7-year-old son Charlie (Jack Fulton), on Halloween night, to a local carnival in New York City. However, while buying some ice cream, Charlie goes missing, and Mike frantically tries to find him to no avail.
Fast forward one year, and Mike has found his marriage, his career, and his own psyche in a tailspin, with no definitive word on Charlie. Mike, though, gets the sense that his son is trying somehow to communicate with him, while his wife Kristen (Sarah Wayne Callies) begins to get the same type of messages from the spirit realm.
With help from a fellow professor (Veronica Ferres) and an Irish celebrant at a traditional Celtic Halloween service, Mike and Kristen begin to finally realize what might have happened to Charlie and what they can do about it.
All in all, this movie directed by Uli Edel and written by Dan Kay, based on a novella by Tim Lebbon, is not going to win any awards for plot originality, as this theme has been used numerous times in other movies. However, it kept me engaged and offered up just enough chills for me to like it.
Nicolas Cage stars as Professor Mike Lawford, who takes his 7-year-old son Charlie (Jack Fulton), on Halloween night, to a local carnival in New York City. However, while buying some ice cream, Charlie goes missing, and Mike frantically tries to find him to no avail.
Fast forward one year, and Mike has found his marriage, his career, and his own psyche in a tailspin, with no definitive word on Charlie. Mike, though, gets the sense that his son is trying somehow to communicate with him, while his wife Kristen (Sarah Wayne Callies) begins to get the same type of messages from the spirit realm.
With help from a fellow professor (Veronica Ferres) and an Irish celebrant at a traditional Celtic Halloween service, Mike and Kristen begin to finally realize what might have happened to Charlie and what they can do about it.
All in all, this movie directed by Uli Edel and written by Dan Kay, based on a novella by Tim Lebbon, is not going to win any awards for plot originality, as this theme has been used numerous times in other movies. However, it kept me engaged and offered up just enough chills for me to like it.
So very mediocre, commonplace, average, middling, undistinguished.
Pay the Ghost is pretty much as mediocre or average as they come. It's not bad, it's not good. It's just there in the middle. Right in the middle.
(In Norway we have a saying that directly translates to "in the middle of the tree", that expression describes this movie perfectly. I don't know what word in English is most suitable though)
Pay the Ghost had one jump scare that definitely did the job for me. I jumped, and got that cold chill inside my chest. But that was also the only time the movie was remotely scary. Not that it is much horror anyway. It's way more thriller/drama than horror, really.
Nick Cage is usually entertaining to watch, and also here. Sara Tancredi (you know, Prison Break) does an alright job, her character is a little annoying, but that's the scripts fault. The kid, well, he's.. OK. he has a couple of lines that sound out of place, but hey.
The effects are mostly good, except a couple of small problems here and there. The story is just interesting enough for me to wanna watch it through. But like I said, the main keyword here is mediocre. Meh. Commonplace. Average. Call it what you will. There are a couple of problems with the script, doesn't seem like a whole lot of thought went into it, at least not into all of it. But that was as I expected, really.
The movie looks pretty good. I don't know the budget, but it doesn't have that low budget-feel to it. I like it when movies look, you know, at least a little expensive.
This is one of those horror movies you can watch in the evening on a Sunday or whatever, not the kind you build a movie night around, see what I mean? It's right there smack-dab in the middle.
(In Norway we have a saying that directly translates to "in the middle of the tree", that expression describes this movie perfectly. I don't know what word in English is most suitable though)
Pay the Ghost had one jump scare that definitely did the job for me. I jumped, and got that cold chill inside my chest. But that was also the only time the movie was remotely scary. Not that it is much horror anyway. It's way more thriller/drama than horror, really.
Nick Cage is usually entertaining to watch, and also here. Sara Tancredi (you know, Prison Break) does an alright job, her character is a little annoying, but that's the scripts fault. The kid, well, he's.. OK. he has a couple of lines that sound out of place, but hey.
The effects are mostly good, except a couple of small problems here and there. The story is just interesting enough for me to wanna watch it through. But like I said, the main keyword here is mediocre. Meh. Commonplace. Average. Call it what you will. There are a couple of problems with the script, doesn't seem like a whole lot of thought went into it, at least not into all of it. But that was as I expected, really.
The movie looks pretty good. I don't know the budget, but it doesn't have that low budget-feel to it. I like it when movies look, you know, at least a little expensive.
This is one of those horror movies you can watch in the evening on a Sunday or whatever, not the kind you build a movie night around, see what I mean? It's right there smack-dab in the middle.
- Finfrosk86
- Oct 10, 2015
- Permalink
A decent horror flick
- vincentlynch-moonoi
- Feb 3, 2018
- Permalink
Simple fright for Sunday night
Having enjoyed 'vintage Cage' in The Rock, Con Air, Face-Off, Captain Correli etc, frankly, I was hoping for a comeback, but, I didn't find it. Scripting at times is woefully simple, used to stitch the scenes, 'we need to discover xyz', 'how will we do that' and into the next scene! It feels predictable, it doesn't go deep, on the plus side, there were a couple of goose-bump scares, so I was submerged well enough at points and certainly the pace picks up during the final third. If there was a blackout power cut during the film, I wouldn't even consider to go back to finish it, it is not a good film, but, its not a bad one. Sunday evening B grade fodder.
- google-742-846698
- Sep 20, 2015
- Permalink
Suspense not violence
The best part of this movie was that it was basing the intensity of the story in suspense. Most current movies of this genre seem to be based on over the top violence. Whereas this film it is kept to the bare minimum. This is definitely in the style of the good old fashioned ghost stories
Watchable but pretty bad
- jmbwithcats
- Sep 21, 2015
- Permalink
Not bad at all!
It's pretty generic "lost my son! someone believe me supernatural forces are at work! i'll go get him myself!" plot. The acting was well done. It wasn't super annoying (if you watched the Last Witch Hunter, it's that sort of quality of writing and acting but the CGI was worse in pay the ghost) Very predictable dialogue and storyline, but I am a fan of horror movies that aren't super gory or too much thriller or jump scares out of nowhere so this was PERFECT for me! I recommend entirely! I like Nic Cage movies and this is another one of his better films. I just like it when he's a dad and not a treasure hunter. I think he's getting to that age that he can't play the dad of young children anymore. He looks over 50!
- cristinaisthename
- Dec 11, 2015
- Permalink
Hey, that was quite good.
I'm completely aware of all the hate Nicholas Cage gets (which I disagree with), however I actually consider him a good actor that commonly falls into the wrong hands. In this little horror film, Nicholas Cage actually gives an acceptable performance as the main role with good, sentimental angry outbursts of rage. It's nothing special, but I enjoyed this film because of it's imaginative, dark cinematography and quietly creepy atmosphere. It's got good jumpscares, surprisingly eye-capturing visual effects and an alright storyline to keep it going, and as long as you expect little from this film you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. I have to remark, this is actually one of Nicholas Cage's better films after all the crap he's acted in previously, and it's good that he's still acting in some films worthy of your time.
A Middle Of The Road Horror Flick
Is Pay The Ghost a Cage classic like 8mm or Face/Off? Nowhere near it. Is it as bad as some people are making it out to be? No, and at least it's better than guff like Gone In 60 Seconds or Bringing Out The Dead. I mean what's better? A film that at least tries to put together some sort of a story (even if it is a bit lacking) or films that have none or are just earlier versions of Fast & The Furious? I know what I'd rather go with.
Pay The Ghost isn't that fantastic, and I'm not suggesting that it is, but for all the complaints it has received, it's altogether not THAT bad. I mean granted the story has been done a thousand times before and it's loaded with clichés (hard to find movies that don't have clichés to be honest), but this film never sets out to be a fantastic Oscar winning epic. It's a middle-of-the-road Horror film, and you get pretty much exactly what you pay for here. Nothing about the story kept me on the edge of my seat, but nothing about it wanted me to slit my wrists for something better to do either. There were a few decent moments scattered throughout, but it wasn't really all that scary.
Some people moan about him but for the most part I enjoy watching Nicolas Cage. Is he over-the-top in some films? Yes, but generally he's a pretty solid actor. You tend to kind of know what you'll get with Cage. His performance in Pay The Ghost isn't anything to write home about but I think with this type of film & story if he put any more into it, then it would have been too much. I don't generally mind Sarah Wayne Callies', but the characters she plays do tend to rub me the wrong way. Her character in The Walking Dead was like that and her character here did the same.
I'd say to give this film a shot if you like Nicolas Cage films or if there's nothing else better for you to watch, but other than that it's a bit of a watch it and forget it type of movie.
Pay The Ghost isn't that fantastic, and I'm not suggesting that it is, but for all the complaints it has received, it's altogether not THAT bad. I mean granted the story has been done a thousand times before and it's loaded with clichés (hard to find movies that don't have clichés to be honest), but this film never sets out to be a fantastic Oscar winning epic. It's a middle-of-the-road Horror film, and you get pretty much exactly what you pay for here. Nothing about the story kept me on the edge of my seat, but nothing about it wanted me to slit my wrists for something better to do either. There were a few decent moments scattered throughout, but it wasn't really all that scary.
Some people moan about him but for the most part I enjoy watching Nicolas Cage. Is he over-the-top in some films? Yes, but generally he's a pretty solid actor. You tend to kind of know what you'll get with Cage. His performance in Pay The Ghost isn't anything to write home about but I think with this type of film & story if he put any more into it, then it would have been too much. I don't generally mind Sarah Wayne Callies', but the characters she plays do tend to rub me the wrong way. Her character in The Walking Dead was like that and her character here did the same.
I'd say to give this film a shot if you like Nicolas Cage films or if there's nothing else better for you to watch, but other than that it's a bit of a watch it and forget it type of movie.
How many Clichés can you put into one movie??
- MikesIDhasbeentaken
- Sep 19, 2015
- Permalink
IT'S HERE
- nogodnomasters
- Nov 12, 2018
- Permalink
One of the better horror as well as Cage movies in a while. I surprisingly liked this.
"What if all these children, missing on Halloween, in New York City are connected. What if there's something behind it?" What starts off as a fun trip with his kid to a Halloween carnival becomes a nightmare when the child goes missing. Now Mike (Cage) will stop at nothing to find him. When the one year anniversary comes and still no sign of his son he starts to experience strange things. He hopes these clues will help him, but the more he looks the more eerie things become. There seems to be some actors that seem to be in everything you see. Nicolas Cage is one of those actors. There is a new movie with him coming out constantly, and for people like me who don't like him it seems that it happens more than it should. His last movie, The Runner, wasn't bad and I did like it. Much like that movie this is actually a pretty interesting movie that was fun to watch and did have a little Poltergeist feel to it. As far as Cage goes, much like in The Runner he didn't do anything to distract from the movie and it was good in spite of him. Overall, one of the better horror as well as Cage movies in a while. I surprisingly liked this. I give it a B.
- cosmo_tiger
- Oct 14, 2015
- Permalink
Pay The Ghost.....Attention!
- albereinstein
- Sep 19, 2015
- Permalink
Hmm
This movie was very bland. It was very average. Nothing about this movie is a "horror film". I understand this movie was "a supernatural horror film" but for me this movie just didn't cut it. This movie does not deserve to be in the horror genre. This movie is something you put on just to fall asleep around 3 am. I do not recommend. Boring, bland, average, and just overall lacked any cinematic standards.
- vnino-94666
- Mar 21, 2019
- Permalink
Nicolas is Trying
He's a great actor and I can't wait for him to get back to the old Nick but, this movie actually wasn't that bad.. Kept my attention through the entire movie.. That, "Man, what is going to happened next" feeling.. Of course it's not his finest work but, it's definitely not his worse. I liked the story, the plot was good and so was the acting.I think it's a good watch. I read many of the other reviews and many didn't like it but I think, and wonder, if it's more because we are so use to the old Cage movies, Con Air, the Rock, and my favorite FACE OFF, THAT seeing him in this type of genre is a bit different. I really do HOPE he comes back strong after this film. Again, I think it's worth it guys.
Made to pay the bills?........
- FlashCallahan
- Sep 24, 2015
- Permalink
Good old fashioned horror film
Totally entertaining- no blood no guts - just old fashioned horror that you can watch without cringing, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Watch it if you are not a fan of slasher horror.
Better than I expected!
First, I don't care for Nicolas Cage. Really only liked him in National Treasure.
However, this is a good movie! Not great, but a good movie and worth watching. It has a good plot. The plot has a purpose. The plot is believable. The Movie flows well. The movie's ending is satisfying. The acting is good and not overdone.
The special effects are good. Not many, but they are good.
These are good qualities for a movie.
It has a nice dark creepy feeling while watching the movie which I liked.
However, this is a good movie! Not great, but a good movie and worth watching. It has a good plot. The plot has a purpose. The plot is believable. The Movie flows well. The movie's ending is satisfying. The acting is good and not overdone.
The special effects are good. Not many, but they are good.
These are good qualities for a movie.
It has a nice dark creepy feeling while watching the movie which I liked.
A B movie "lovechild" of The Woman in Black and Poltergeist
I don't like it when people compare a movie to other movies; it's unfair. It should be reviewed on it's own merit. I know my heading seems like a contradiction in terms in that sense, but I'm not comparing this movie to those. Leave the comparing to the meerkats. This maybe classed as B movie, but it's definitely watchable with plenty of scares throughout. I'm not usually a fan of cheap jump scares, but in this case, although there's lots of them, they are a cut above the rest and pretty well executed, too. If you want to sit and watch a spooky seasonal Halloween movie and you're not too critical, or have your head shoved up your own a**e, then give this one a go. There's no bad language, sex or violence, so the kids could probably watch it, but they might be having nightmares for, well, the rest of their life, really. :) Be warned!
- michaelant555
- Sep 22, 2015
- Permalink
Wandering aimlessly between mystery and paranormal thriller, then lost in clichés of feeble cheap scares.
There was a time when Nicolas Cage could pull off investigation movie with stylishly dark atmosphere like he did in 8mm. Sadly, Pay the Ghost is far from such acclaim. While Nicolas Cage has a few awkward scenes, it's not entirely on him since the movie is severely lacking focus. At times it's unclear if it tries to go for crime drama or merely imitation of TV series Supernatural.
The loss of child ruins the already gloomy life of Mike (Nicolas Cage). With his deteriorating career and relationship with his wife Kristen (Sarah Wayne Callies), he tries to find the truth about the disappearance. There's a glimpse of exhilaration here and there, but in the end it's as vanilla as it gets in term of horror.
Nicolas Cage plays as the father figure, a role he has much experience on. However, as one might expect, he still occasionally delivers exaggerated acting, especially when the moments shift into more dramatic tone. It's not as bad as his more ridiculous scenes, which probably not saying much.
Saray Wayne Callies fares better. She's might not win the best mother award in The Walking Dead series, but she's convincing as the saddened mother here. The movie also opts for more direct cinematography, using New York in Halloween festivity as the background. The more grounded setting might work for investigation aspect, unfortunately it soon falters with inconsistent production.
Its horror is definitely meager, flimsily switching between uninspiring cheap scares and equally cheap CGI. Pretty much any attempt in this department ends up in overused gimmick. In fact, some of the supposed scary sequences end up in ridiculous paranormal display. The other part involves gumshoe work, and it's eerily similar to Cage's usual cop drama. Perhaps he was cast to bring this intended effect, although even the detective angle feels weak.
Pay the Ghost is not utterly bad, it's just cobbled together with flawed elements that results in a horror thriller that is neither frightening nor engaging.
The loss of child ruins the already gloomy life of Mike (Nicolas Cage). With his deteriorating career and relationship with his wife Kristen (Sarah Wayne Callies), he tries to find the truth about the disappearance. There's a glimpse of exhilaration here and there, but in the end it's as vanilla as it gets in term of horror.
Nicolas Cage plays as the father figure, a role he has much experience on. However, as one might expect, he still occasionally delivers exaggerated acting, especially when the moments shift into more dramatic tone. It's not as bad as his more ridiculous scenes, which probably not saying much.
Saray Wayne Callies fares better. She's might not win the best mother award in The Walking Dead series, but she's convincing as the saddened mother here. The movie also opts for more direct cinematography, using New York in Halloween festivity as the background. The more grounded setting might work for investigation aspect, unfortunately it soon falters with inconsistent production.
Its horror is definitely meager, flimsily switching between uninspiring cheap scares and equally cheap CGI. Pretty much any attempt in this department ends up in overused gimmick. In fact, some of the supposed scary sequences end up in ridiculous paranormal display. The other part involves gumshoe work, and it's eerily similar to Cage's usual cop drama. Perhaps he was cast to bring this intended effect, although even the detective angle feels weak.
Pay the Ghost is not utterly bad, it's just cobbled together with flawed elements that results in a horror thriller that is neither frightening nor engaging.
- quincytheodore
- Sep 20, 2015
- Permalink
Melodrama Over Horror
Pay the Ghost won't be enigmatic to find your attention. While the premise sounds simple and intriguing enough; a mystery of a ghost that kidnaps children on Halloween with a scale of a basic detective story; the movie hardly finds anything scary within this story. Sure, this story does have some interesting details that intersects both supernatural and crime movie elements. But without offering much terror, this combination just makes it all silly. Even worse is a climax that is riddled with clichés and pays off with horrible effects that could be worthy for laughter. Even for a Nicolas Cage film, this isn't the most charming suit as a guilty pleasure or a respected work.
You can't blame anyone being hooked with this premise. While it's nothing original exactly, there is still something gripping from its details. But the characters are taken as seriously as a typical domestic drama. In a story that involves a lot of ridiculous supernatural elements, these moments often feel out of place. Even the detective work seems quite grounded and the more they're figuring out what really abducted the son of its protagonist, the sillier the movie really gets. To its credit, it does take us to interesting places and shows us some campy side characters to probably spice up the atmosphere, but what really lacks here is the scares. Sure, it has jump scares, mild violence and awful darkness, but they're not quite effective.
It fails to establish its own horror, what the film only matters is the aesthetics. Yes, there's Halloween, there's evil cults, there's evil birds, there's creepy children, creepy bums (with one that somehow looked like a mop wigged Tommy Wiseau) and there's a campy old psychic. Some may find it admirable for its extreme campiness, but there's nothing to it, either. It's just fooling the sensibility of this film. It gets even kookier at the climax, where the ghost and its realm are revealed and the effects are bad enough not to scare you. And like I said before, has some special effects that are laughable, with its movements almost seem like it belongs on a Youtube Poop. Nicolas Cage is neither being over-the-top nor even trying to make his performance subtle. He's just wandering around fighting between the hamminess found in his wide eyed expressions and his supposedly affecting drama. The supporting cast are also trying to pull off a good performance, but they should have been aware of the material they are working on. I would have admired Stephen McHattie more if he does a Tommy Wiseau impression. Sorry.
I think the real problem of Pay the Ghost is it's not really that scary. It's however trying to be, but it never worked. And it gets sillier. There is nothing to fault a horror film acting like a basic crime thriller, in fact, that might have made this more interesting. Aside of its non-effective horror, this movie is otherwise a bland mystery film with an underdeveloped mythology. It also has an ending that you should be taking seriously, except you can't. The movie should have been about chewing the scenery at every campy details of this story, but again, the movie tries to be grounded in its characters, in spite of having secret portals and whatever. It's The Wicker Man all over again, minus the bees (unless we wait for the unrated version.) It's just impossible to buy into the film's gravity. It's just too ludicrous, unless of course, it's scary. That is what truly lacks here, the ability to actually scare you. If it can't, then at least be more imaginative than taking stuff that already exist in better horror films.
You can't blame anyone being hooked with this premise. While it's nothing original exactly, there is still something gripping from its details. But the characters are taken as seriously as a typical domestic drama. In a story that involves a lot of ridiculous supernatural elements, these moments often feel out of place. Even the detective work seems quite grounded and the more they're figuring out what really abducted the son of its protagonist, the sillier the movie really gets. To its credit, it does take us to interesting places and shows us some campy side characters to probably spice up the atmosphere, but what really lacks here is the scares. Sure, it has jump scares, mild violence and awful darkness, but they're not quite effective.
It fails to establish its own horror, what the film only matters is the aesthetics. Yes, there's Halloween, there's evil cults, there's evil birds, there's creepy children, creepy bums (with one that somehow looked like a mop wigged Tommy Wiseau) and there's a campy old psychic. Some may find it admirable for its extreme campiness, but there's nothing to it, either. It's just fooling the sensibility of this film. It gets even kookier at the climax, where the ghost and its realm are revealed and the effects are bad enough not to scare you. And like I said before, has some special effects that are laughable, with its movements almost seem like it belongs on a Youtube Poop. Nicolas Cage is neither being over-the-top nor even trying to make his performance subtle. He's just wandering around fighting between the hamminess found in his wide eyed expressions and his supposedly affecting drama. The supporting cast are also trying to pull off a good performance, but they should have been aware of the material they are working on. I would have admired Stephen McHattie more if he does a Tommy Wiseau impression. Sorry.
I think the real problem of Pay the Ghost is it's not really that scary. It's however trying to be, but it never worked. And it gets sillier. There is nothing to fault a horror film acting like a basic crime thriller, in fact, that might have made this more interesting. Aside of its non-effective horror, this movie is otherwise a bland mystery film with an underdeveloped mythology. It also has an ending that you should be taking seriously, except you can't. The movie should have been about chewing the scenery at every campy details of this story, but again, the movie tries to be grounded in its characters, in spite of having secret portals and whatever. It's The Wicker Man all over again, minus the bees (unless we wait for the unrated version.) It's just impossible to buy into the film's gravity. It's just too ludicrous, unless of course, it's scary. That is what truly lacks here, the ability to actually scare you. If it can't, then at least be more imaginative than taking stuff that already exist in better horror films.
- billygoat1071
- Sep 15, 2015
- Permalink