Horrific Inquiry: THIR13EN GHOSTS (2001)

Welcome back to the newest, and at times goriest, column here at Film Inquiry: Horrific Inquiry. Twice a month, I will be tackling all things horror, bringing two films back into the spotlight to terrify and frighten once more. And occasionally looking at those that could have pushed the envelope further. Join us as we dive deep into the heart of horror, but warning, there will be spoilers.

What would a horror column be without a little haunting to fill in the year? As I was ruminating on this month’s selection, I found myself scanning the offerings on a variety of streamers. Celebrating its 20th anniversary next month, and with Halloween just around the corner, it seemed the perfect time to return to Basileus’s Machine and the tormented souls within Steve Beck‘s Thirteen Ghosts.

Thirteen Ghosts is a cheesy horror film that blends ghosts, gore, and lore within a limited space confined to the walls of a labyrinth. Likening itself to the cult classic The Cube and the TV adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone, the film boasts both failures and success, all while culminating in a horrific form of entertainment. It may not be the best horror film out there, but it is definitely an enjoyable one.

Enjoyable Horror Experience

Thirteen Ghosts immediately sets its intrigue and ghostly mythology early. Opening the film in a scrap yard, viewers are immediately introduced to Cyrus (F. Murray Abraham) and Dennis (Matthew Lillard) working to capture what is revealed to be the 12th and final ghost. With an agreement between them almost ended, the night takes a deadly turn as the final ghost appears, savagely murdering the team attempting his capture. As the expectation for gore is set early on one body at a time, the mystery of the “12th ghost” and the reason for his capture begins to form. And with the death of Cyrus following the massacre, answers are not offered easily.

Contrasting the opening, viewers are brought into the vibrant and warm view of children playing just outside a window, a mother and father looking on fondly. As the camera slowly spins around the room, the characters are replaced with voiceovers. As the vibrancy is slowly leached from the room, the segmented voiceover reveals the devastation that befalls the family, the loss of wife and mother forever changing their lives. As the camera settles on Arthur (Tony Shaloub), he is alone, the euphoric sound of children playing no longer present outside the window.

While a bit cheesy in display, the voiceover feeling detached from the film, it is effective in bringing the audience up to speed while also avoiding flashbacks that might have lessened the effect of the film’s opening scene. As Arthur engages with his children and Nanny (Rah Digga) in the kitchen, you are given snippets into the mental stability the family’s devastation has left each of them. It further explains the family’s lack of questionability when a lawyer arrives informing the family of Cyrus’ death and the will he has left behind – and the incredible home left when the family fortune had supposedly been squandered. With the trauma still lingering, the family embraces the chance for hope.

Horrific Perspective

While the first third of the film is the setup, filler scenes such as Kathy (Shannon Elizabeth) repeatedly putting water on her face in the exquisite bathroom attached to her new room, it does find a way to move Thirteen Ghosts along. Sprinkles of gore litter the film, while the purpose of the house, once the family is inside, is set into motion. And while the humor infused between the family and in their lines of dialogue feel overly cheesy and cliche at times, others infuse the fantastical feeling of the film further.

What truly drives the reverberating tension is Thirteen Ghosts‘ editing style. In the opening scene, viewers are introduced to a specially designed pair of glasses that allow the wearer to see ghosts. Flashing between both the perspective of a wearer and a non wearer presents a heightened sense of unknowing, limiting the viewer’s knowledge of the ghost’s movement, as well as limiting our full perspective of the horror they encompass. While this use of editing is limited as the family explores the home following the film’s opening scene, it comes back full force as the action accelerates and the film races to its climax.

Potential and a Scene Stealer

Watching Thirteen Ghosts again for the first time in awhile, I found myself thinking to its potential. While an acceptably cheesy horror film at the time of its release, with strong graphics and gore, I found myself considering the success of Thirteen Ghosts as a limited TV series, its potential only partially tapped by the film’s runtime and the limitations of the time period. There was such a depth that is only grazed upon that a broader form could further expand and explore. Though, the success could not be totally achieved without the inclusion of the film’s true star.

While Thirteen Ghosts boasts some intriguing kills, it is its psychic that truly steals the show. Matthew Lillard was no stranger to horror or ghosts at the time of filming Thirteen Ghosts, his previous performances in Scream and Scooby-Doo making him a household name. And while Thirteen Ghosts may not be of the same caliber, Lillard does not hold back on his performance. Embracing the awkward and unique aspects of the film and his character, he steals the spotlight any time he is onscreen. His character is torn between his morality and greed, Lillard embracing this tension and always just out of reach for a chance of redemption. Beyond the ghosts and the film’s gore, it is Lillard’s performance that is the most memorable.

Conclusion: Thirteen Ghosts

No this is not the best horror film, but it is definitely an enjoyable one. From the ghosts that inhabit the home to the outstanding performance of Matthew Lillard, Thirteen Ghosts is sure to have a little something for all horror fans to enjoy. And with a strong potential for revival in a world of miniseries, a potential lingers for a deeper and darker reboot.

Have you seen Thirteen Ghosts? what did you think? We want to know!

Watch Thirteen Ghosts