High Spirits

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Khaliel P The 1980s were full of fantasy comedies, and 1988 marked a turning point for the genre. While Tim Burton redefined ghost stories with the quirky Beetlejuice, Neil Jordan attempted something similar with High Spirits. Set in rural Ireland, the film follows Peter Plunkett, the desperate owner of a failing castle-turned-hotel, who fakes hauntings to attract tourists—only to discover the place is genuinely haunted by a tragic couple trapped in a time loop. Despite a promising setup, the film bombed at the box office and it’s clear why: poorly written characters, unconvincing gags, flat romance, and scares that rarely work (except for the terrifying ghost nuns). Even Steve Guttenberg’s energy and Daryl Hannah’s star power couldn’t save it—she even received a Razzie nomination. The film feels disjointed, starting strong with Irish atmosphere but quickly losing pace, with Peter O’Toole’s character inexplicably vanishing midway through. According to Jordan, this was the result of producers re-editing the film without his input, essentially altering the story he intended to tell. As a child, I remembered High Spirits as a fun comedy, but watching it years later reveals a film that no longer holds up. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/21/25 Full Review Shawn G I absolutely love this movie, takes me back to a simpler time, for a short two hour adventure it’s a must see. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review Dave C Creative, imaginative, playfully written and directed, with an experienced cast, this is of its time amusing and entertaining, with a lot of that still shining through now Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/07/24 Full Review Anton H Imaginative and delightful, this macabre joyride has all but been forgotten with time. Have fun with witty characters, ghosts, and a haunted castle in a story that makes its own rules. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/08/24 Full Review Sumit S This was one of the most boring and unfunny movies I’ve ever seen. It literally misfires on all accounts. It feels like it could have been a great Tim Burton-type movie with some slapdash comedy (like Beetlejuice) but just falls flat. The love story was interesting, and there are some great, well known actors, but the rest of the movie drags the whole thing down. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/20/24 Full Review Elizabeth V One of my favorite movies of all time. Always cracks me up. Was the first movie I saw Liam Neeson in, so many good characters. Just ❤️ Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews

High Spirits

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