Although the special effects for a ghost (of a woman in white that haunts the location of the episode named Lenore (played over the top by Terres Unsoeld)) and a faint "composite" of a visitor who looks at a ghost "from a different perspective" are merely adequate, I enjoyed parts of this episode regarding a researcher in the paranormal (obsessive in his quest to capture a spirit entity's image in photographic form) played by Frank Hamilton, who purchases a haunted house in the hopes of finally proving to his skeptical friend (Richard Clarke) that his long-time efforts to photograph a spirit aren't in vain. Hamilton's Algie has a machine that "attracts spirits" which is pooh-poohed by Clarke's Harry as the final straw in a futile life served and dedicated to a lost cause. Perhaps, though, Algie has finally found a way to prove Harry wrong. I liked the music underlying the episode (equal parts eerie and melodically optimistic), and I was fond of Frank's performance. I like that his character gets a *proper send off*, and the irony of hearing Harry admit how wrong he was to Algie during a unique goodbye (the machine attracts spirits but drains the life of the living in doing so) kind of has a poignancy I found rather satisfying. There's something romantic about Algie--so devoted to the paranormal and his visual document of a spirit's existence, proving to his cynical, disbelieving buddy in a way not quite planned but nonetheless successful--finally being able to conclude a journey with evidence he spent so long pursuing. There's this bittersweet feeling I had as the episode ends because it offers a positive outlook for Algie although it comes with a price
the pursuit isn't without sacrifice, but what lies ahead doesn't have to be viewed as grim. At least, Algie embraces his fate with a smile and an enthusiasm. That and Harry can now put aside his unbelief and recognize his friend's pursuit wasn't for naught.
5 Reviews
Photographing ghosts
Leofwine_draca25 June 2015
As an episode of the TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE TV series, THE SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHER manages to summon up a little of the appropriately spooky atmosphere here and there. The story involves a paranormal investigator who purchases a house with a haunted reputation. His goal is to get some photographs of actual ghosts, but of course there's a twist in the tale.
Like most episodes of this show, not a lot actually happens during the running time, at least until the end, which you can put down to a lack of budget and the limited imagination of the scriptwriter. Saying that, this is still better than many other episodes, as it actually features ghosts (in a few effective scenes) and has some creepy bits here and there. It's also a little more original than most, which gives it some charm.
Like most episodes of this show, not a lot actually happens during the running time, at least until the end, which you can put down to a lack of budget and the limited imagination of the scriptwriter. Saying that, this is still better than many other episodes, as it actually features ghosts (in a few effective scenes) and has some creepy bits here and there. It's also a little more original than most, which gives it some charm.
Decent
shellytwade18 February 2022
This is a pretty harmless episode that flirts with a cool idea. I don't think it's entirely original (I've seen the idea riffed on by a few different movies before) but it's pretty inoffensive and a good watch for a 9-10 year old as a good entry point into the horror genre.
Didn't do much for me at all.
poolandrews18 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Tales from the Darkside: The Spirit Photographer is set in New Haven where famed spirit photographer Algernon Colesbury has brought the infamous Jackson townhouse, the most haunted property in New Haven. Having spent twenty years trying to get irrefutable proof on film that ghosts, spirits & apparitions exist Algernon has invented a device called a 'spirit attractor' which gives life to ghosts as it were. Algernon intends to use the spirit attractor in the haunted house to attract the ghosts therein & photograph them giving himself & the rest of the world proof that ghosts & spirits are real...
Episode 3 from season 4 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during October 1987, directed by Bill Travis one has to say that The Spirit Photographer is one of those quaint little stories that pass the time but don't really stay in the memory that long. The script by Mark Patrick Carducci & Brian Thomas Jones is alright, it's not particularly horror orientated but it does have supernatural elements like Ouija boards & is about ghosts so it does fit into the series quite well. The twist at the end is pretty easy to see coming to be honest & the ending is also a little sombre & sad especially if you have grown to like the character's. At only twenty minutes in length at least it's short, it passes the time & while the story isn't amazing or that memorable it's worth a watch if you like these supernatural themed anthology show's although the actual horror content is zero.
There's a few basic transparent ghost effects in The Spirit Photographer but not much else, it's not scary, it doesn't really have any suspense or tension either. It's just a quaint little tale that will probably please those who like their horror & supernatural themed viewing very light. This one has a huge cast of three although they all do alright.
The Spirit Photographer is a passable Tales from the Darkside episode that some will probably enjoy while other's won't. I certainly didn't think it was anything amazing & I personally like my horror with bite & an edge to it unlike The Spirit Photographer which has neither.
Episode 3 from season 4 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during October 1987, directed by Bill Travis one has to say that The Spirit Photographer is one of those quaint little stories that pass the time but don't really stay in the memory that long. The script by Mark Patrick Carducci & Brian Thomas Jones is alright, it's not particularly horror orientated but it does have supernatural elements like Ouija boards & is about ghosts so it does fit into the series quite well. The twist at the end is pretty easy to see coming to be honest & the ending is also a little sombre & sad especially if you have grown to like the character's. At only twenty minutes in length at least it's short, it passes the time & while the story isn't amazing or that memorable it's worth a watch if you like these supernatural themed anthology show's although the actual horror content is zero.
There's a few basic transparent ghost effects in The Spirit Photographer but not much else, it's not scary, it doesn't really have any suspense or tension either. It's just a quaint little tale that will probably please those who like their horror & supernatural themed viewing very light. This one has a huge cast of three although they all do alright.
The Spirit Photographer is a passable Tales from the Darkside episode that some will probably enjoy while other's won't. I certainly didn't think it was anything amazing & I personally like my horror with bite & an edge to it unlike The Spirit Photographer which has neither.
Sturdy episode
Woodyanders20 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Obsessive paranormal investigator Algernon Colesbury (well played by Frank Hamilton) invents a camera that can capture images of ghosts on film as well as make them disappear. He uses this camera to exorcise a particularly malevolent spirit from a famously haunted place.
Director Bill Travis keeps the absorbing story moving along at a snappy pace and does a commendable job of crafting an appropriately spooky mood. The clever script by Mark Patrick Carducci and Brian Thomas Jones not only makes a valid point about the potential danger found in following through with an unusual obsession, but also comes through with a genuinely surprising and even touching oddball ending. Richard Clarke lends sound support as Colesbury's loyal and concerned friend Harry Bainbridge. Terres Unsoeld offers a truly eerie and unsettling portrayal of miserable moaning ghost Lenore. The charmingly lo-fi special effects do the trick. An on the money show.
Director Bill Travis keeps the absorbing story moving along at a snappy pace and does a commendable job of crafting an appropriately spooky mood. The clever script by Mark Patrick Carducci and Brian Thomas Jones not only makes a valid point about the potential danger found in following through with an unusual obsession, but also comes through with a genuinely surprising and even touching oddball ending. Richard Clarke lends sound support as Colesbury's loyal and concerned friend Harry Bainbridge. Terres Unsoeld offers a truly eerie and unsettling portrayal of miserable moaning ghost Lenore. The charmingly lo-fi special effects do the trick. An on the money show.
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