'Ghosts of War' Is An Action-Packed Horror-Filled Ride Set During World War II
GHOSTS OF WAR
Films set in World War II, while plentiful (certainly in the video game sphere), are sorely lacking in the horror genre, which is sad, really, since there is quite the fertile soil to be tilled. Films such as The Devil’s Backbone, Outpost, and the recent Overlord have shown that the setting and mood can be conducive to a good horror flick, while games such as Wolfenstein and the epically hyperbolic and just downright fun Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army have shown that it can be fun, awesome, tense and scary - all these ingredients can be combined to create a compelling horror story set in the what is arguably humanity’s darkest period and greatest triumph.
Ghosts of War is the newest entry into the sadly overlooked WWII horror sub-genre, and it is a welcome breath of fresh air. Not reliant upon lingering shots of landscapes, or boring and pretentious character studies through oblique dialogue, Eric Bress (Writer / Director) has delivered a tight, claustrophobic horror tale that also manages to have action and grit. This film scratches an itch I never knew I had, and I daresay many of you reading this will feel the same way.
A competent, original story presented in traditional fashion, and yet welcome. At no point was I bored. Gore, blood, gunfights, evil old mansion, secret diaries - this movie is a well-planned and executed haunted house story set in WWII, while also having elements of a siege/assault on precinct 13 feels. There is constant tension and dread pulsing throughout the narrative of the picture, with every actor portraying their roles capably and competently. There are no amateur flourishes in this, and in fact, is one of my favorite viewings this year.
The synopsis reads better than anything I could try to type, so here you go: “Five battle-hardened American soldiers are assigned to hold a French Chateau near the end of World War II. Formerly occupied by the Nazi high command, this unexpected respite quickly descends into madness when they encounter a supernatural enemy far more terrifying than anything seen on the battlefield.”
As I mentioned earlier, there are no wasted seconds, no lingering shots for snobbish auteur points, and no stupid sequences of doldrums exposition - you grow acquainted with these characters as the movie unfolds, and that is precisely what I want in a film. To say that it moves at a brisk pace is a slight disservice, as there is plenty of compelling mystery and horror in this thing, but again, I am not going to spoil anything in this movie.
Suffice to say that while the story may not have been exactly what I crave in a WWII horror film, I must say it was still fun and engaging to behold, and that is truly the sign of a good tale, if you can actually interest and intrigue a patron who began the journey as an uninterested party. If you find yourself still searching for something to scratch that nazi zombie monster itch, or if you just want a good ol’ fashioned haunted house story that is also set in WWII with plenty of gore and tension, then Ghosts of War may be just the thing you’ve been looking for.
AVAILABLE ON DEMAND AND DIGITAL July 18, 2020
Written and Directed by: Eric Bress (The Butterfly Effect, The Final Destination).
Starring:
Brenton Thwaites (The Giver, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales)
Alan Ritchson (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series)
Skylar Astin (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” Pitch Perfect series)
Theo Rossi (“Luke Cage,” “Sons of Anarchy”)
Kyle Gallner (American Sniper, The Finest Hour)
Billy Zane (Titanic, Dead Calm)
Shaun Toub (“Homeland,” Crash)
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