Flashback: The Frighteners (1996)

FlashbackMoviesComedy
Written By Chris Well

The 1996 horror comedy The Frighteners starred Michael J. Fox as Frank Bannister, a man running a kind of “Ghostbusters” scam. Yes, he can see real ghosts, but they’re actually his accomplices: They haunt a place until someone pays Bannister to, um, “bust” them. But when the spirit of a mass murderer can attack the living and the dead, Frank and his ghost friends have to stop him.

The Frighteners was directed by Peter Jackson and co-written with Fran Walsh. The film also starred Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson, John Astin, Dee Wallace Stone, Jeffrey Combs, R. Lee Ermey, and Jake Busey. The Frighteners was Fox’s last leading role in a live-action feature film.

More Flashbacks
That “Godzilla” song—How many cover versions are there?
Music, Giant Monsters, Flashback
That “Godzilla” song—How many cover versions are there?
Music, Giant Monsters, Flashback

In the 1970s, rock band Blue Oyster Cult released their light-hearted tribute to Japan’s legendary monster. Since then, there have been MANY cover versions, including rock, bluegrass, rap, and more.

Music, Giant Monsters, Flashback
John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Keith David talk 1982’s ‘The Thing’
Flashback, Movies, Aliens
John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Keith David talk 1982’s ‘The Thing’
Flashback, Movies, Aliens

New documentary The Thing Expanded‍ ‍explores the history of the 1982 horror classic—with more than 30 interviews! In-depth analysis will feature memories, facts, and theories about the movie.

Flashback, Movies, Aliens
How giant bug movie THEM! changed monster movies forever
Movies, Giant Monsters, Flashback
How giant bug movie THEM! changed monster movies forever
Movies, Giant Monsters, Flashback

The first big bug feature, Them! is often considered the greatest of the genre. We share two videos that discuss the impact of the groundbreaking giant-bug-movie.

Movies, Giant Monsters, Flashback
Reading (most of) Robert Sheckley’s classic sci-fi series AAA online free
Books, Comedy, Flashback
Reading (most of) Robert Sheckley’s classic sci-fi series AAA online free
Books, Comedy, Flashback

SF author Robert Sheckley’s only series featured an interplanetary decontamination service. “Basically Ghostbusters in space,” noted one reader. “What more could you want?”

Books, Comedy, Flashback
“We belong dead!” Saluting the 1935 ‘Bride of Frankenstein’
Movies, Universal Monsters, Flashback
“We belong dead!” Saluting the 1935 ‘Bride of Frankenstein’
Movies, Universal Monsters, Flashback

Maybe the greatest monster movie ever, Bride of Frankenstein (1935) was directed by James Whale, and starred Boris Karloff and Colin Clive. The sequel also starred Elsa Lanchester in two roles.

Movies, Universal Monsters, Flashback
Remembering Robert E. Howard: Creator of Sword & Sorcery and Conan the Barbarian
Books, Flashback
Remembering Robert E. Howard: Creator of Sword & Sorcery and Conan the Barbarian
Books, Flashback

Celebrating the 120th birthday of one of the most influential authors of all time! Most remembered for Conan, but REH typed out more than a hundred stories for many more pulp categories.

Books, Flashback
New comic book coming from Thundarr the Barbarian: When Conan meets Star Wars!
Comics, TV, Flashback, Animation
New comic book coming from Thundarr the Barbarian: When Conan meets Star Wars!
Comics, TV, Flashback, Animation

The 1980s sword & sci-fi & sorcery cartoon show Thundarr the Barbarian is returning as a comic book by Jason Aaron and Kewber Baal. Find out about the history of the original TV show—and what to expect from the comic book series!

Comics, TV, Flashback, Animation
9 Monster Sci-Fi TV Episodes to Devour for Thanksgiving
Flashback, TV
9 Monster Sci-Fi TV Episodes to Devour for Thanksgiving
Flashback, TV

Celebrating Turkey Day with The Incredible Hulk, The Munsters, Mr. Spock, and more! After that big dinner, this is your chance to gouge on some fun genre TV mixing together fantasy with Thanksgiving…

Flashback, TV
Celebrating the classic TV show ‘The Munsters’ (with lots of links)
TV, Comedy, Flashback
Celebrating the classic TV show ‘The Munsters’ (with lots of links)
TV, Comedy, Flashback

1960’s monster family sitcom The Munsters continues to reach new fans. To celebrate the classic show, we’re sharing several links to find out more about the show, or to watch the original series.

TV, Comedy, Flashback
H.G. Wells: Celebrating the Father of Science Fiction
Books, Flashback
H.G. Wells: Celebrating the Father of Science Fiction
Books, Flashback

Remembering H.G. Wells as we mark his birthday—born September 21, 1866. A productive writer in lots of topics, today he is mostly remembered as the father of science fiction.

Books, Flashback
Featured
Get to know Milestone Comics in new editions with Static, Hardware, Icon, more
Get to know Milestone Comics in new editions with Static, Hardware, Icon, more

Classic Milestone superheroes are available again in new collections—plus a brand-new comic book. “There wasn’t a company like Milestone before, and there hasn’t been one like Milestone since.”

Q&A: Why Heroic Signatures makes “the best damn Conan comics” and more
Q&A: Why Heroic Signatures makes “the best damn Conan comics” and more

How Heroic Signatures is bringing new life to the sword-wielding legend. “We had no other goal other than to just make the best damn Conan comics we could that would appeal to Conan fans.”

That “Godzilla” song—How many cover versions are there?
That “Godzilla” song—How many cover versions are there?

In the 1970s, rock band Blue Oyster Cult released their light-hearted tribute to Japan’s legendary monster. Since then, there have been MANY cover versions, including rock, bluegrass, rap, and more.

SF & Fantasy TV: Free on Tubi
SF & Fantasy TV: Free on Tubi

Here’s a list of just SOME of the TV shows you can watch free on Tubi. (These are just titles that had my interest—either because I like them or have heard good things.)

Remembering Charles R. Saunders—the father of “Sword & Soul”
Remembering Charles R. Saunders—the father of “Sword & Soul”

The late author created a version of Sword & Sorcery steeped in African myth and history. A new biography helps us better understand the impact he left behind. 

John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Keith David talk 1982’s ‘The Thing’
John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Keith David talk 1982’s ‘The Thing’

New documentary The Thing Expanded‍ ‍explores the history of the 1982 horror classic—with more than 30 interviews! In-depth analysis will feature memories, facts, and theories about the movie.

Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy #4: Can They Make it Work?
Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy #4: Can They Make it Work?

Universal has people excited that Fraser and Weisz are coming back. But can the next sequel respect the original Mummy trilogy—and also build something workable for the future?

X-Files: 17 Comedy Episodes—which ones made YOU laugh the most?
X-Files: 17 Comedy Episodes—which ones made YOU laugh the most?

While X-Files regularly touched on horror and conspiracies and the like, there were also several episodes that made us laugh. (Including some I just want to watch again and again.)

Prove to DC Comics they should publish more Milestone
Prove to DC Comics they should publish more Milestone

DC Comics is bringing Static and company back into the DC universe. “You’re seeing the birth of one universe within a well-established universe,” says co-writer Joseph Illidge, “and that confluence and collision.”

Molly Tanzer: Reviving the first heroine of Sword & Sorcery
Molly Tanzer: Reviving the first heroine of Sword & Sorcery

The challenges of bringing back sword & sorcery legend Jirel of Joiry, what elements are still the same (and which are different), and how MTV got the author started. (Wait—what?)

Chris Well

Chris Well been a writer pretty much his entire life. (Well, since his childhood.) Over the years, he has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio, and books. He now is the chief of the website Monster Complex, celebrating monster stories in lit and pop culture. He also writes horror comedy fiction that embraces Universal Monsters, 1960s sitcoms, 1980s action movies, and the X-Files.

https://chriswell.substack.com/
Previous

60+ Special Vampire Book Series—from Anne Rice, L.A. Banks, Charlaine Harris, more
Next

Anne Rice’s ‘Vampire Chronicles,’ ‘Mayfair Witches’ At AMC