Paramount Ghost Town

After briefly dying during an operation, misanthrope dentist Bertram Pincus (Gervais) finds he can see and hear the dead. They make his life hell, but the late Frank Herlihy (Kinnear) promises to keep the rest away if Pincus helps his widow (Leoni).

Horror-westerns are in short supply, so there isn’t much to which “Ghost Town” can be compared, but the film makes good use of a dead horse storyline by punching it up with some savory supernatural moments.

This mixing of genre elements has been around since Billy The Kid vs. Dracula or Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, both from 1966. It was strictly for fun then, and it’s strictly for fun here. If you try and take it too seriously, you end up with Cowboys & Aliens and more than a little egg on your face. Best to enjoy the simple pleasures of a few good friends and some inexpensive schlock in the Blu-ray player. Otherwise you start asking questions about being able to melt gold on a pot-belly stove in just a few minutes to make “special” bullets. And honestly, “no good can come of that “.

There's nothing very surprising about Ghost Town , other than how long it takes Langley to figure out what the frell is actually going on, and the film's predictability tends to undercut any dramatic momentum or suspense. There are a couple of gruesome kills in the film which may satisfy horror fans who have set the expectations bar appropriately low. Luz makes for an appealing hero (even if Langley is a bit dunderheaded), and Skaggs is certainly a memorable villain. Technical merits are generally very strong for those considering a purchase, though some may wonder why this film wasn't coupled with something else per Scream's typical "double feature" approach for these niche horror titles.

Ghost Town isn't a masterpiece but it's an interesting and occasionally very effective mix of the horror and western genres. The movie is plenty atmospheric even if it does wear its low budget on its sleeve, and it features some pretty fun set pieces. Shout!'s Blu-ray won't blow you away with its transfer, but it looks decent enough and the audio is strong. No extras, sadly, not even a trailer. Still, if you remember this one from the eighties, you might be surprised just how entertaining it remains. Recommended for that reason.