Are you sensing a feeling of dread in your basement or attic?

I have to say it has been a long time since I have seen a descent ghost or haunting movie. There was a rash of them for a while, then they died off and now are back yearly in multiple sequel form.

I do love a good ghost story, the problem is that a good one is rare. There are multiple from my youth I hold near and dear. In the more modern era there are a few standouts, but not many. Why the problem? Well a good ghost/haunt movie should be a one shot deal. It has some creep, revenge, weirdness, cheap scares and maybe a cool Cracker Jack-esque surprise. I haven't watched any ghost movie that is current, but the kids these days love the Para-abnormal Doings films, but I have strayed away, since the trailers and commercials for these movies do nothing for me.

What ghost films do I enjoy then?

The Fog

Oh John Carpenter your early movies were fun! The Fog is overlooked by many, but it holds a special place for me. I saw it way too young and living in the middle of nowhere didn't help when it was a dark and foggy night. Sure the movie is based on an island and is about a boat of lepers that is purposefully sunk to save said island from the disease. However, the anniversary of this island, and the horrible event, approaches and so does a mysterious fog bank that holds the spirits the lost ship. They are angry and of course want revenge, like all good ghosts. This has all the hallmarks of a good ghost story: revenge, odd happenings, spirits, a fog bank that acts as a mode of transport and as a character too.

There were many foggy nights as a child that I was afraid something was lurking in that mist, just waiting to get me.

Poltergeist

This was another film I saw way too early. When a house is haunted and the ghosts want your kid what can you do? When you have: a tree who wants to eat your son, a closet that is a doorway to the spirit world and it decides to gobble up your daughter, giant faces that scream out of closets, illusionary monsters, steaks that move, spirits that cause you to peel your face off in the sink, more energy and lights than a lazer Zepplin show and the dead rising in numbers throughout your house and yard why are you still living there? Also what do the neighbors think?

Poltergeist gave me the chills for a few years as a youth, mostly due to the face peeling and the hungry tree. It doesn't hold up as well as a I thought and seems to have borrowed all the effects and a ton of props that they didn't need for Raiders of the Lost Ark. Still, it is a descent ghost story and is worth a watch you know nothing about it. 

A bonus if you notice the neighborhood and the similarities to another film with which Spielberg had dealings.Well I think they are ten miles apart, but they are very similar looking neighborhoods.

The Ring/ The Grudge

These are different yet similar. They are both Japanese horror films that were cut and pasted for the U.S. They both have a very similar feels. Sure one is about a haunted video tape and the other a haunted house. They both have angry grey and black ghosts that kill whomever crosses their path.

The Ring was great the first time since had some great creep and method that was just too weird (watch a pointless film, phone rings and you die five days later). However, the plot is a bit meh, but the first time through the ghostly stuff is fun. The antagonist is also creepy, but suffers from the now over used wet Asian grey/black ghost syndrome.

The Grudge is about a house haunted by spirits of a dead family and cat. They go after the tenants of the house and really aren't nice to them. Then they go after any friends and family they have. These ghost go all scorched earth on people. The Grudge has a better plot and there is a bit more creep (ghosty movements/appearances and grey cat voice boy is never pleasant).However, this movie suffers from grey/black ghosts that are this time nice and dry.

Sadly these both spawned unneeded sequels, and thankfully I stayed away from them both. The originals are fun and really worth a watch.

The 6th Sense

I passed on this film for a long time. It wasn't that I didn't want to see it, it was the fact I missed it in the theaters and then had the ending spoiled before I ever watched it. The ending makes this movie. By now though, everyone knows what happens and what is going on in this film. If you don't, then go watch this right now! Talk to nobody about it!

There is a ton of wonderful creepiness in this film: the kid, events and Bruce Willis's hair. A minor divergence here....This is also the only M. Night Shamalan film I can recommend. I have viewed two others, and they are steaming piles. He blew all his talent on this movie. A great ghost story and some delightful disturbing visuals as well.

The Others

Much like the 6th Sense, the ending makes this story work. A typical haunted house tale set in the civil war era. The tension and eeriness build very slowly and the end result is fantastic! There is not a lot of scary or gross here, just an all around weird and eerie events surrounding this mother, children and their house. if you haven't seen this, much like the 6th sense, go watch it now! Speak to no one about this film. I'll accept your thanks later.

The sad thing is, as with the majority of ghost films, after one view it is hard to go back for another view.