"Ghost Story," which is airing on Retroplex at 9:40pm, isn't a particularly good horror movie, but I'm listing it here as an excuse to recommend the book it was based on on, "Ghost Story" by Peter Straub, which is easily one of the best horror novels of the past 40 years. It's a book I always get a hankering to revisit come Halloween, but even more so when winter hits; if only San Francisco had blizzards that forced us to stay indoors with nothing but a good novel to entertain us. Alas, a thick fog is the best we can hope for on that front.
I'm not sure a good movie can be made from the book, as its structure, complete with ghost stories within the Ghost Story, a myriad of small town characters, and flashbacks within flashbacks, is more suited to the printed page. That said, the movie has its moments. Alice Krige is quite good as the ghostly Alma Mobley, and seeing all those screen legends, including Fred Astaire, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, and John Houseman acting together is a kick. But the movie ultimately relies too much on gross out effects, and the ending is absolutely preposterous.
Watch the trailer, then read the book.
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