Greetings And Salutations, and welcome to my review of Death Ship. Before we get into it, here are my ratings:
Story - 1.25 Direction - 1.25 Pace - 1.00 Acting - 1.25 Enjoyment - 1.25
TOTAL - 6.00 out of 10
Just when you thought it was safe to get back on the water, the death ship turns in your direction. I have to admit I truly admire this story of a ghost ship on the lookout for its next prey and a new captain. Had there been a novel, I would be rushing to seek it out as I believe this story deserves more space. There are lots to like about this slow boil horror, even if all the elements aren't fully utilised. That said, what is there is enough to do the job. When the cruise liner sinks, a nice mix of characters makes it to the makeshift lifeboat. The film and story would be improved had they shown the passengers escaping the sinking ship. Leaving it out disjoints the narrative, when you see them aboard the lifeboat, you wonder where everyone else is, especially when nobody ever mentions the crew and passengers again. Luckily you soon forget about them too, as our survivors come across the hulking black ship. From here on, the tension starts subtly and builds to the movie's climax. I particularly liked how the frigate began to insinuate itself with Captain Ashland. For the rest, the boat becomes a deadly and dangerous playground as it tries to keep its secrets hidden.
The director gives the audience an enjoyable and compelling account of the tale of the death ship. There are even a few unpleasant visuals towards the end. It's not a gorefest, so the gorehounds won't like it. However, it's not the rotting crew that gives you the worst scare, it's the realisation of their new purpose which sends that cold shiver deep into your bones. They don't come out and tell you what the secret is until the end, by then, the penny should have dropped; if it hasn't done so with this scene. Overall the director does a good job. He even adds a couple of nervous laughs into the mix, and this isn't an easy thing to accomplish. Sadly, not everything is terrific. Towards the end, things get messy. It starts in the cinema room, and that scene is fine. Nick and Trevor are subjected to Nazi propaganda footage. But that isn't all a strange and tortuous buzzing begins. Trevor is reduced to cowering lump while Nick starts to lose his mind. Suddenly, without reason, Nick is down in the cargo hold while the captain amuses himself by torturing him some more, and Trevor is in the captain's quarters chatting with the captain about the boat's secrets. These disconnected scenes annoyed the hell out of me. After enjoying the film to this point, having this awkwardness thrust upon me was terrible. If I wasn't so close to the finish line, I would have turned off the video in disgust.
Luckily, the cast holds the film together through its rough waters. George Kennedy is perfect as the disgruntled Captain Ashland. He's indifferent to his passengers because his job is not to entertain or please them. He's employed to pilot the cruise liner, on its incessant circular route for the pleasure of the vacationers. His growing disdain for his work makes him the ideal man to navigate the Death Ship. But what is so good about his performance is his change in demeanour. At the start, you can see he dislikes his job, and his temper is boiling under the skin's surface. By the end of the film, the guy is physically carrying people and throwing them overboard - no more simmering for the bad Captain Ashland.
By and large, Death Ship is an above-average Horror flick that contains some interesting ideas. I would happily recommend it for one watch. However, because of the awful ending sequences, I would also suggest not rushing to it. It's playing on Amazon Prime at the moment, so if you have nowt better to watch, this makes a respectable way to waste an hour and a half.
Please feel free to visit my Absolute Horror list to see where I ranked Death Ship.
Take Care & Stay Well.
Story - 1.25 Direction - 1.25 Pace - 1.00 Acting - 1.25 Enjoyment - 1.25
TOTAL - 6.00 out of 10
Just when you thought it was safe to get back on the water, the death ship turns in your direction. I have to admit I truly admire this story of a ghost ship on the lookout for its next prey and a new captain. Had there been a novel, I would be rushing to seek it out as I believe this story deserves more space. There are lots to like about this slow boil horror, even if all the elements aren't fully utilised. That said, what is there is enough to do the job. When the cruise liner sinks, a nice mix of characters makes it to the makeshift lifeboat. The film and story would be improved had they shown the passengers escaping the sinking ship. Leaving it out disjoints the narrative, when you see them aboard the lifeboat, you wonder where everyone else is, especially when nobody ever mentions the crew and passengers again. Luckily you soon forget about them too, as our survivors come across the hulking black ship. From here on, the tension starts subtly and builds to the movie's climax. I particularly liked how the frigate began to insinuate itself with Captain Ashland. For the rest, the boat becomes a deadly and dangerous playground as it tries to keep its secrets hidden.
The director gives the audience an enjoyable and compelling account of the tale of the death ship. There are even a few unpleasant visuals towards the end. It's not a gorefest, so the gorehounds won't like it. However, it's not the rotting crew that gives you the worst scare, it's the realisation of their new purpose which sends that cold shiver deep into your bones. They don't come out and tell you what the secret is until the end, by then, the penny should have dropped; if it hasn't done so with this scene. Overall the director does a good job. He even adds a couple of nervous laughs into the mix, and this isn't an easy thing to accomplish. Sadly, not everything is terrific. Towards the end, things get messy. It starts in the cinema room, and that scene is fine. Nick and Trevor are subjected to Nazi propaganda footage. But that isn't all a strange and tortuous buzzing begins. Trevor is reduced to cowering lump while Nick starts to lose his mind. Suddenly, without reason, Nick is down in the cargo hold while the captain amuses himself by torturing him some more, and Trevor is in the captain's quarters chatting with the captain about the boat's secrets. These disconnected scenes annoyed the hell out of me. After enjoying the film to this point, having this awkwardness thrust upon me was terrible. If I wasn't so close to the finish line, I would have turned off the video in disgust.
Luckily, the cast holds the film together through its rough waters. George Kennedy is perfect as the disgruntled Captain Ashland. He's indifferent to his passengers because his job is not to entertain or please them. He's employed to pilot the cruise liner, on its incessant circular route for the pleasure of the vacationers. His growing disdain for his work makes him the ideal man to navigate the Death Ship. But what is so good about his performance is his change in demeanour. At the start, you can see he dislikes his job, and his temper is boiling under the skin's surface. By the end of the film, the guy is physically carrying people and throwing them overboard - no more simmering for the bad Captain Ashland.
By and large, Death Ship is an above-average Horror flick that contains some interesting ideas. I would happily recommend it for one watch. However, because of the awful ending sequences, I would also suggest not rushing to it. It's playing on Amazon Prime at the moment, so if you have nowt better to watch, this makes a respectable way to waste an hour and a half.
Please feel free to visit my Absolute Horror list to see where I ranked Death Ship.
Take Care & Stay Well.