Ghost Ship (2002)

Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Julianna Margulies, Ron Eldard
Director: Steve Beck

Rating: R

Studio: Warner Bros.

Review Posted: 4.02.03

Spoilers: None

By John Teves.

Originally appeared on DVDFreak.net

In this horror film directed by Steve Beck, salvagers discover a long-lost 1953 passenger ship floating lifeless on the Bering Sea, and the crew of the Arctic Warrior (including Gabriel Byrne and Julianna Margulies) is sent to patch up the boat and bring it to shore. But once the crew boards the vessel, they notice a bizarre series of occurrences and soon become trapped inside the ship … which they quickly realize is far from abandoned.

GHOST SHIP appears in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 on this single-sided, double-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. The picture transfer was absolutely brilliant. Sharpness was crisp and well-defined. Colors looked clear and vibrant. Black levels were deep and rich, and shadow detail was properly heavy but never terribly thick; contrast was positive, and all low-light scenes came across clear. As a whole, I felt the video transfer of GHOST SHIP looked remarkable.

GHOST SHIP is presented in a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The track boasted a broad and engaging sound field that kept me involved throughout out the presentation. Audio was accurate. Surround usage was excellent; the track swallows you up me into a fairly flawless environment. The movie contains some standout sequences, but the entire package seemed deep and engaging nonetheless. Effects were exceedingly clean and exact and they showed strong dynamics. All in all, GHOST SHIP presented a very solid auditory experience.

• Unlock the Secrets of the Antonia Graza Featuring Spectacular Never-Before-Seen Footage & Frightening Untold Tales and more

• Go On Location With These Masters Of Maritime Macabre in Max On Set: Ghost Ship

• 3 Shivery How-They-Did-It Pieces: A Closer Look At the Gore, Designing the Ghost Ship and Visual Effects

• Mudvayne Not Falling Music Video

• Theatrical Trailer

The film isn’t that terrible, opposite to what you’ve probably heard. I felt that GHOST SHIP was particularly enjoyable and somewhat appealing. Of course, for those of you who are not addicted to ghosts or the supernatural, then clearly this film will not satisfy your free time. On the other hand, fans of the supernatural, gore horror genre will find GHOST SHIP to be graciously entertaining. GHOST SHIP is a terrific, creepy, enjoyable horror film. I recommend it.

Film Rating: 3 out of 4

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