261. Ghosts of War; movie review

GHOSTS OF WAR
Cert 18
95 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong violence, gore.

I feel as if I have seen Billy Zane in scores of movies but I can only remember one specific role - as Kate Winslet's rich and ruthless fiance in Titanic.
He crops up again in Ghosts Of War - a film which I doubt will linger long in the memory.
This is a tale of ghoulish goings-on in during the latter days of the Second World War.
It stars Brenton Thwaites as the leader of a band of American soldiers who are rostered to look after a stately home which had been occupied by the Germans.
The previous group can't get out of the building quick enough and it soon becomes obvious why - because a family are haunting it.
So, there are mysterious scratches on the floor, doors lock and open of their own accord and malevolent spirits emerge.
And, if that's not bad enough, the German army is never very far away.
But the problem is that it is just not scary. Gory? Maybe. But it only prompts one jump and that is very early on.
And then something very surprising happens which results in the movie's rating going up a notch or two.
I shall not expand further for fear of spoiling its finale.
Suffice to say that Eric Bress's picture would have scored worse than it's 5/10 had this new life not been breathed into it.
At least this gives it a eyebrow-raising element which the first hour was so painfully lacking.

Reasons to watch: Very surprising finale.
Reasons to avoid: Doesn't scare enough

Laughs: None
Jumps: Yes
Vomit: None
Nudity: Very brief
Overall rating: 5/10

Did you know? Ghosthunter NRWup, a group of paranormal enthusiasts based out of Wuppertal, have tried to prove that a villa near Cologne that was the site of a notorious killing by the Gestapo is haunted.

The final word. Eric Bress: "I was really tired of all the horror movies where the innocent family movies into a haunted house and you know the rest. I just thought it would be so much cooler to see what would happen if kick-ass soldiers came to a haunted house and yet, they were still outmanned, outgunned, and facing (something) they were totally unprepared for." Syfy Wire

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