Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) is a con man whom poses as a paranormal investigator whom cons people to thinking they're being menaced by ghosts so he can finish constructing his unfinished house. But, what everybody doesn't know is that Frank has the ability to communicate with ghosts and with help from the ghosts, he uses them as part of his con game by spooking Frank's victims and forcing them to call him. As snobbish newspaper editor Magda Rees-Jones (Elizabeth Hawthrone) sets out to bring Frank down. Eccentric, mad and paranoid FBI agent Milton Dammers (Stuart Combs) arrives in town to assist the local police in investigating the random deaths of local residents whom appear to be dying from fatal heart attacks and Dammers believes they did not die of heart attacks, but were murdered by Frank and he believes Frank is a killer and that Frank murdered his wife Debra (Angela Bloomfield) whom died in a tragic car accident 6 years earlier. As Magda-Rees Jones also dies from a fatal heart attack and Frank is arrested and interrogated by Dammers whom doesn't believe Frank's claim that he can communicate with ghosts. Dr. Lucy Lynskey (Trini Alvarado) one of Frank's victims whose arrogant and hostile husband Ray (Peter Dobson) also died from a fatal heart attack believes Frank is innocent and believe Frank can communicate with ghosts visits Frank. But, Frank and Lucy soon discover that deceased serial murderer Johnny Bartlett (Jake Busey) has returned as a Grim Repeaer-like demon and is continuing his legendary murder spree and is behind the fatal heart attacks of Ray Lynskey, Magda-Rees Jones and the other residents and with help from his ghost friends, Frank sets out to stop Bartlett and protect Lucy whom is one of Bartlett's intended victims and Patricia Bradley (Dee Wallace Stone) Johnny's mentally unstable lover whom is under house arrest and is frequently haunted and tormented by Bartlett.
First of all, there's the well-known R-rated theatrical version but in the UK Peter Jackson's cult classic got censored in order to avoid the BBFC 18 rating. Two scenes were slightly altered. Unfortunately, this master was used for several European DVD releases as well. All cuts were waived for the Director's Cut release.
After its cinematical release Peter Jackson created a special Director's Cut that was for many years only available on a special Laserdisc version. Fortunately, this version was later on released on DVD and features a cut that runs around 12 minutes longer and offers several extended story sequences.
After its cinematical release Peter Jackson created a special Director's Cut that was for many years only available on a special Laserdisc version. Fortunately, this version was later on released on DVD and features a cut that runs around 12 minutes longer and offers several extended story sequences.
Peter Jackson states on the Director's Cut commentary that Frank was driving up the road near the house where Patricia and her mother lived, and it was actually Patricia who engineered the car crash by placing a log in the middle of the open road, forcing Frank to swerve and crash. Jackson said he couldn't remember why it was never fully explained in the final film what had happened but this was the concept behind Frank flashing back to to his wife's dead body and seeing Johnny and Patricia standing over her. He finally remembered that they were responsible for the crash.
Dammers is severely psychologically damaged because he's sacrificed his personality for the good of bringing down the most notorious criminals. He's spent many years going undercover with different cults and sects including spending months with the notorious Manson family, and in between missions he hasn't been de-programmed from his traumatic experiences. He's had no breaks or therapy from his bizarre assignments and emotionally it's taken its toll on him.
In the Director's Cut, Cyrus is shown helping to stretch Stuart through the front door and explains that his ectoplasm has become too tight and stiff.
It's very possible and there've been many recorded cases of people being brought back from the dead, either due to hypothermia or other conditions, after a few minutes, but it would be impossible for it to happen the way it is depicted in the film. Frank is dead for at least ten minutes, and even in the unlikely event that he would survive, his brain would probably be severley damaged from a lack of oxygen. But as the film is a supernatural fantasy anyway, it's not a huge leap in logic.
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