The Frighteners (1996)

Country of Origin: New Zealand / USA
Year of Production: 1996
Running Times: 110 mins     122 mins (director's cut)
Length: 3071 metres
Format: Eastmancolor     Super 35mm
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: DTS     Dolby Digital

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Universal Pictures / WingNut Films
Executive Producer: Robert Zemeckis
Producers: Jamie Selkirk, Peter Jackson
Co-Producer: Tim Sanders
Associate Producer: Fran Walsh
Production Manager: Bridget Bourke
Unit Manager: Andrew Hampton
Production Coordinators: Karyn Childs
Christchurch Production Assistant: Jacqui Wood

SCRIPT
Script: Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson

DIRECTION
Director: Peter Jackson
2nd Unit Director: John Blick
1st Assistant Director: Chris Short
2nd Unit 1st Assistant Director: Carey Carter
2nd Assistant Director: Michele Priest
3rd Assistant Director: Martin Walsh

PHOTOGRAPHY
Directors of Photography: Alun Bollinger, John Blick
Camera Operators: Richard Bluck, Alun Bollinger
2nd Unit Camera Operators: Richard Scott, Simon Riera, Mike Fuller
Steadicam Operators: Richard Bluck, Rick Allender
2nd Unit Camera Assistants: Andrew Stroud, Rachel Anderson
Clapper Loader: Adam Clark
Focus Puller: Gerry Vasbenter
Camera Assistant: Ian McCarroll
Gaffer: Brett Jarman
2nd Unit Gaffer: Greg Nalder
Electricians: Anthony Farrell, Hansel Verkerk, Ian Nicholls, Mark Newnham, Rob Kerr, Roland Ebbing
2nd Unit Electricians: Colin Hodgson, Leon Kirkbeck, Marc Mateo, Chris Matthews, Aaron Conran
Best Boy: Simon Higgins
Key Grip: Harry Harrison
2nd Unit Grip: Alex Collins
Assistant Grips: Keith Watkins, Ben Bell, Helen McNamara, Terry Joosten
Dolly Grip: Andy Reid
Video Split Operator: Bryce Swainson
2nd Unit Video Split Operator: Peter Fletcher
Stills: Pierre Vinet
Lab: The Film Unit
Timer: Lynne Seaman
Laboratory Liaisons: Grant Campbell, Colin Tyler
Cameras and Lenses: Film Facilities Ltd
Lighting Equipment: Lightin Up Film Services

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Jamie Selkirk
Associate Editor: John Gilbert
1st Assistant Editor: Emma Haughton
Assistant Editors: Josie McClutchie, Jo Priest, Eric De Beus, Hamiora Williams
Post Production Supervisor: Rick Porras
Negative Cutting: Upper Deck Film Services
Video Facilities: Go-Post; Digital Post

MUSIC
Music: Danny Elfman
Songs: Donald Roeser (Don't Fear The Reaper); Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell (Superstar)
Songs Performed By: The Mutton Birds (Don't Fear The Reaper); Sonic Youth (Superstar)
Conductor: Artie Kane
Orchestrator: Steve Bartek
Additional Orchestrators: Edgardo Simone, Mark McKenzie
Score Recorded At: Sony Pictures Studios
Music Scoring Mixer: Shawn Murphy
Music Editor: Ellen Segal
Music Editor Assistant: Zachary Cahn
Music Contractor: Patti Zimmitti
Music Preparation: Franklin Music Services

SOUND
Sound Designer: Randy Thom
Assistant Sound Designers: Susan Sanford, Scott Guitteau
Sound Coordinator: Janet Roddick
Sound Recordist: Hammond Peek
2nd Unit Sound Recordist: Grant Lawry, Brian Shennan
Boom Operators: Corrin Ellingford, Kim Shaw-Williams
2nd Unit Boom Operator: Sam Spicer
Re-Recording Mixers: Randy Thom, Michael Hedges, Gethin Creagh, John Neill
Assistant Re-Recording Mixer: John Boswell
Supervising Sound Editors: Phil Benson, Mike Hopkins
Dialogue Editor: Ross Chambers
ADR Supervisor: Richard Hymns
ADR Mixers: David Boulton, Charleen Richards, Chris Burt
Sound Effects Editors: Brent Burge, Mike Jones, Tim Prebble, Craig Tomlinson, Steve Boeddeker
Foley Artist: Beth Tredray
Foley Recordist: Helen Luttrell
Foley Editor: Chris Ward
Sound Technical Advisor: Sam Negri
Sound Assistants: Katy Wood, Jeremy P. Geor, Peter Mills
Re-Sync Editors: Mark Herman, Cindy Bowles
Re-Recorded At: The Film Unit, Wellington, New Zealand
Facility Manager: John Neill
Rushes Transfer: John Van Der Ryden
Post Production Sound: Pacific Sound

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Make Up Supervisor: Marjory Hamlin
Make Up For Michael J. Fox: Bron Roylance
Make Up Assistant: Gabrielle Jones
Hair: Gail Wilson, Jane O'Kane
Costume Designer: Barbara Darragh
Assistant Costume Designer: Jane Holland
Costume Assistant: Rachael Broad
Costume Cutters: Marion Olsen, Peter Rigby
Machinists: Brigitte Boys, Elizabeth McGregor
Wardrobe Assistant: Sarah Hope
Standby Wardrobe: Emma Harre

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: Brent Baker, Roger Borelli, Mitch Devane, Jurgen Heimann, Todd Heindel, Denise Leibee, Jim McLoughlin, Gary Pawlowski, Brian Penikas, Mark Setrakian, Bill Sturgeon
Judge Make Up Designer: Rick Baker

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects Coordinator: Steve Ingram
Special Effects Assistants: Blair Foord, Clint Ingram, Darryl Richards

VISUAL EFFECTS
Digital and Creature Effects: WETA Ltd
Digital Effects Producer: Charlie McClellan
Visual Effects Supervisor: Wes Ford Takahashi
Digital Production Manager: Alyson McRae
Digital Effects Film Coordinator: Matt Holmes
On-Set Supervisor: George Port
CG Supervisors: Gray Horsfield, Wayne 'Taz' Stables, John Shiels, Matt Aitken
Character Animators: Christian Rivers, Peter Bailey, Kyle Balda, Lynne Cartwright, Dale McBeath, Paul Hunt, Emily Scher-Goodman
Digital Paint Artist: Alex McLeod
Rotoscope Coordinator: Yvonne Cuthbert
Rotoscope Paint Artist: Sandy Houston
Rotoscope Artists: Michael Hyndman, Alan Bauchop, Elliot Rock, Paul Story, Mark Bowen, Cameron McKechnie, Kara Vandeleur, Joyce Young, Adam Larkin
Scanning / Film Recording Supervisor: Paul McGhee
Technical Directors: Bruno Chauffard, Paul McInnes, James Goodman, Robert Weaver, Karen Ansel, Wendy Rogers, Jean Marc Furio, Fernando Benitez, Amelia Chenoweth, Brian Van't Hul, Buckley Collum, Ron Moreland, Laurent Hugueniot, Stephen Regelous, Allen Edwards, Arnaud Hervas, Scott Kilburn, Mark Tait, Stephen Coren
Digital Compositors: Janice Jones, James Bell, Melany James, Simon Allen, Lee Bramwell
Systems Administrator: Jon Labrie
Systems Assistant: Milton Ngan
Video Compositor: Tim Capper
Main and End Title Designers: Nina Saxon Film Design
Film Opticals: Pacific Title, Brian Scadden
Production ASsistants: Jeanne Stuart, Joolz McKenzie
Runners: Tim Haigh, Nick Booth, Simon Pattison

CREATURE, MAKE UP AND MINIATURE EFFECTS
Designer: Richard Taylor
Coordinator: Tania Rodger
Technicians: Dominic Taylor, Bill Thompson, Paul McInnes, Richard Dolan, Vance Hartwell, Andrew Beattie, Michael Asquith, Patricia Whalan, Brian Rae, Sean Foot
Miniatures: John Baster,MaryMcLachlan, Bruce McNaught, Mike 'Outlaw' Hansen, Simon Jones, James Benson, Peter Hutchinson, Dan Andeson, Stephen Ruscoe

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Grant Major
Art Director: Dan Hennah
Set Finisher: Kerry Dunn
Assistant Set Finishers: Chris Ramsay, David Cleary, Valentine Maher, Brian Campbell, Clayton Sheridan
Set Dresser: Jill Cormack
Prop Buyer: Kirsty Clayton
Prop Makers: Matthew Mellor, Scott Harens
Props Assistant: David Turner
Stand-By Props: Brad Mill
Construction Manager: Ed Mulholland
Construction Foreman: Norman Willerton
Carpenters: Mike Heffernan, Bryan Wakelin, Johno Morton, Anton Buys, Karl Anton, Neil Blannin, Brett Blenkin, Chris Morrison, Graham Sang, Dave Richards
Scenic Artist / Blue Screen: Mark Hill
Art Department Coordinator: Chris Hennah
Art Department Assistants: Tanea Chapman, Simon Bright, Jean-Paul Beckhoudt, Mark Hawthorne
Art Department Advisor (USA): William Pomeroy
Conceptual Illustrator: Christian Rivers
Greensmen: Brian Massey, Ken Turner

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Merrin Ruck
2nd Unit Continuity: Karen Alexander
Production Accountant: Linda Klein-Nixon
Assistant Accountants: Stephen Bayliss, Mike Beaudin
Production Assistants: Jan Blenkin, Jeanne Stuart
Christchurch Production Assistant: Shelley Parker
Unit Assistants: Reg Gibson, Damon Selkirk, Alex Sutherland, Erina Fon, Aaron Gibson
Assistant to Peter Jackson: Vivienne Kaplan
Assistant to Michael J. Fox: Liz Mullane
Dialogue Coach: Leslie Pomeroy
Set Runner: Danny Milne
Production Runners: Tim Haigh, Matthew Martin
Cast Runners: Josie Leckie, Eleanor Gibson
Safety Officer: Augie Davis
Security For Michael J. Fox: Dean Buttar
Set Security: Jack Valance, Peter Tonks, Malcolm Campbell, Peter Corkery, Barry Thompson, Roy Hurndell, David Sa'ena, Maurice Newport, Eric Ngan
Set Manager: Mark Ashworth
Unit Publicist: Sue Rogers
Assistant Unit Publicist: Jeremy Peet
Vehicle Wrangler: Robin Allen
Assistant Wrangler: Paul Fleming
Driver: Russell Klein
Michael J. Fox's Chef: Kevin Bourke
Catering: Mel's Diner
Caterers: Mel Anton, Kim Garland, Craig Guthrie, Joanna Gould, Seru Mar
US Legal: Peter Matin Nelson, Nelson Guggenheim Felker and Levine
NZ Legal: David Gascoigne, Rudd Watts and Stone
Film Insurance: RHH / Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services Inc
NZ Representative: Willis Corroon Ltd
Completion Guaranty Provided By: International Film Guarantors Inc, represented on location in New Zealand by Rob Fisher / F.A.C.E.
Production Services Provided By: The Frighteners New Zealand Contractors
Financial Services Provided By: Richard Reiner

LOCATIONS
Locations: Lyttelton, New Zealand; Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
Studio: Camperdown Studios, Miramar, New Zealand
Location Manager: Bryce Campbell
Christchurch Location Manager: Graham Thompson

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Producers Wish To Thank: The Garbett Family; The Residents of Miramar; The Wellington City Council; The Residenst of Lyttelton; The Lyttelton City Council; The NZ Hibernian Society; The Museum of New Zealand; Air New Zealand
Special Thanks To : Steve Starkey

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Bruce Brown
Michael J. Fox's Stuntman: Charlie Croughwell
Stunts: Aaron Lupton, Mark Prowse, Joanne Strong, Jenny Harris, Steve Doherty

CASTING
Casting: Victoria Burrows, Vivienne Kaplan
Casting (New Zealand): Liz Mullane
Extras Coordinator: Lee Harris

CAST
Michael J. Fox (Frank Bannister)
Trini Alvarado (Dr Lucy Lynskey)
Peter Dobson (Ray Lynskey)
John Astin (The Judge)
Jeffrey Combs (Milton Dammers)
Dee Wallace-Stone (Patricia Ann Bradley)
Jake Busey (Johnny Charles Bartlett)
Chi McBride (Cyrus)
Jim Fyfe (Stuart)
Troy Evans (Sheriff Walt Perry)
Julianna McCarthy (Old Lady Bradley)
R. Lee Ermey (Sergeant Hiles)
Elizabeth Hawthorne (Magda Rhys-Jones)
Angela Bloomfield (Debra Bannister)
Desmond Kelly (Harry Sinclair)
Jonathan Blick (Steve Bayliss)
Todd Rippon, John Sumner, Michael Robinson, Jim McLarty, Anthony Ray Parker, Paul Yates, Melanie Lynskey (Deputies)
John Leigh (Bryce Campbell)
Nicola Cliff (Young Patricia)
Ken Blackburn (Dr Kammins)
Stuart Devenie (museum curator)
Genevieve Westcott (TV presenter)
K.C. Kelly (doctor)
Leslie Wing (Mrs Waterhouse)
Leslie Klein (Sylvia)
Frank Edwards (resuscitating man)
Alan O'Leary (the waiter)
Danny Lineham (Barry)
Charlie McClellan (reporter)
William Pomeroy (Jacob Platz)
George Port (orderly)
Billy Jackson (baby in bouncer)
Sophie Watkins, Taea Hartwell, Max Grover, George Grover (nursery babies)
Tony Hopkins, Lewis Martin (hospital patients)
Clay Nelson, Robert McNeill, Matthew Chamberlain (passers-by)
Vivienne Kaplan, Liz Mullane (nuns)
Peter Jackson (man with piercings - uncredited)

Stand-Ins: Jon Paske, Deannah Mayhew, Jamie Oliver, Jolyon Stewart, Matthew Spicer, Steve Keig, Ben Northrop, Tim Pearson, Trish Jacobson, Chrissy Hill, Denise O'Connell, Astrid Breach, Phil Harris, Grant Hickman, David Bertram, Shane Broadbent, Chris Clapp, Ross Lane, David Backler (Reaper), Alice Capper-Starr (gatekeeper)

PLOT SUMMARY

A psychic private detective runs a scam with a group of obliging ghosts. But then they become involved in a real-life mystery in a small town where people are dying mysteriously.

Australia
Video Distributors: CIC-Taft Home Video
DVD Distributors: Columbia Home Video

Brazil
Video Distributors: CIC Vídeo

Germany
Theatrical Distributors: United International Pictures GmbH
DVD Distributor: Universal (31037)

Spain
Theatrical Distributors: United International Pictures y Cía. S.R.C.

UK
Laserdisc Distributor: Pioneer (PLFEB 36301)

USA
Theatrical Distributors: MCA / Universal Pictures
Laserdisc Distributors: MCA / Universal Home Video (42969); MCA / Universal Home Video (42970); MCA / Universal Home Video (43274)
DVD Distributor: Universal (20286)

Argentina
Rating: 16

Australia
Rating: M

Chile
Rating: 14

Finland
Rating: K-16

Germany
Rating: 18 (nf)

Italy
Rating: VM14

Norway
Rating: 11

Spain
Rating: 13

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: 15
Cut by 4 seconds – the scene in which Agent Milton is shot in the head has two separeta 2 second cuts.

USA
Rating: R (for terror / violence)
On television, the shot of Dammers' head being blown off is replaced with a shot of him being blown into the chapel doors.

1996
Catalonian International Film Festival, Sitges, Spain
Best Special Effects (Richard Taylor) - winner
Best Film (Peter Jackson) - nominated

1997
International Horror Guild, USA
IHG Award Best Movie - nominated

TIMELINE

1996
July
19: USA – theatrical release

September
1: Italy – shown at the Venice Film Festival

November
12: Spain – theatrical release
21: Hong Kong – theatrical release

December
17: USA - laserdisc release (MCA / Universal Home Video (42969))
26: New Zealand – theatrical release

1997
January
3: Poland – theatrical release
24: UK – theatrical release
29: France – theatrical release

February
15: Japan – theatrical release

March
13: Australia – theatrical release
27: South Africa – theatrical release

May
28: Italy – theatrical release

July
19: South Korea – theatrical release

November
1: Denmark – theatrical release
13: Hungary – theatrical release
28: Norway – theatrical release

1998
January
Day Unknown: UK - laserdisc release (Pioneer (PLFEB 36301))
1: Germany – theatrical release
28: USA - laserdisc release (MCA / Universal Home Video (43274))

August
18: USA - DVD release (Universal (20286))

November
24: USA - laserdisc release (MCA / Universal Home Video (42970))

2000
January
2: Sweden – television premiere

February
1: Germany - DVD release (Universal (31037))

2004
December
19: UK - television broadcast (on Sci-Fi)

POSTER TAGS

No Rest for the Wicked.

Dead yet?

Your number's up!

Frightening, isn't it?

When your number's up, its up.

Death is no way to make a living!

Agárrame esos fantasmas - Spanish title
Chasseurs de fantômes - French Canadian title
O Espíritos - Brazilian title
Fantômes contre fantômes - French title
Kummituskopla - Finnish title
Sospesi nel tempo - Italian title
Törjön ki a frász! - Hungarian title

LINKS

SEE ALSO
Bijo to ekitainingen (1958)
Braindead (1992)
Carrie (1976)
Casper (1995)
The Dead Zone (1983)
The Exorcist (1973)
Ghost (1990)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Poltergeist (1982)
Psycho (1960)
The Shining (1980)
The Sixth Sense (1999)

MAGAZINES

Empire February 1997 p.34 (UK)
review (by Adam Smith)

Film Review February 1997 p.26 (UK)
review (by Ian Calcutt)

Imágenes February 1997 p.118 (Spain)
review (by Ángel Sala)

Première February 1997 p.29 (France)
review (by Gerard Delorme)

Studio February 1997 p.12 (France)
review (by Denis Parent)

Total Film February 1997 p.86 (UK)
review (by Daniel Rosenthal)

architects, astral projection, fbi, ghosts, haunted houses, hell, serial killers

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008