The Frighteners
1996
Not currently streaming on CaSTV
Synopsis
Once an architect, Frank Bannister now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his "special" gift is the result of a car accident that killed his wife. But what he does not count on is more people dying in the small town where he lives. As he tries to piece together the supernatural mystery of these killings, he falls in love with the wife of one of the victims and deals with a crazy FBI agent.
Key facts
Cast
Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson, John Astin, Jeffrey Combs, Dee Wallace, Jake Busey, Chi McBride
Original language
English
First release
July 19, 1996 (United States)
Production companies
WingNut Films, Universal Pictures
Home video distributors
MCA Universal Home Video (United States), Universal Home Entertainment (United States)
Setting
California
Filming locations
New Zealand
Crew
Screenplay
Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson
Producer
Jamie Selkirk, Peter Jackson
Cinematography
Alun Bollinger, John Blick
Editing
Jamie Selkirk
Music
Danny Elfman
Québec / French
Québec classification
13 years and over
Classification date
January 20, 2016
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- HorrorFest International 2026 generic - Feature Films: Old Haunts
- Gérardmer International Fantastic Film Festival 2025 - Histoire de fantômes
- Fright Night Film Fest 2013
- Fantasy Filmfest 1997 generic - Premieren / Previews
Titles
| Original title | The Frighteners | |
| Alternate title | Opération peur | |
| Alternate title | Fantômes contre fantômes |
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | MCA Universal Home Video (cat. no. 82830) | 1996, United States, slipcase |
| VHS | Universal Home Entertainment (cat. no. 83333) | 1997, United States, slipcase |
Soundtracks
| CD | The Frighteners (Music From The Motion Picture) - Danny Elfman (1996) | 3 releases, 1996-1997: MCA Soundtracks |
| Cassette | The Frighteners (Music From The Motion Picture) - Danny Elfman (1996) | 1 release, 1996: MCA Soundtracks |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | July 19, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Spain | November 12, 1996 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | January 24, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | January 24, 1997 |
| Theatrical | France | January 29, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Australia | March 13, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | May 29, 1997 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | July 19, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | November 13, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Germany | December 31, 1997 |
| Television | Netherlands | August 31, 2002 |
| Streaming | France | August 5, 2017 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 15 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Home video VHS | United States | 1996 82830 |
| Home video | Finland | July 18, 1996 |
| Home video VHS | United States | 1997 83333 |
| Home video | Sweden | April 22, 1997 |
| Home video | Czech Republic | August 27, 1997 |
| Home video | France | January 20, 2000 |
| Home video | Sweden | February 16, 2000 |
| Home video | Netherlands | September 4, 2003 |
| Home video | Germany | December 8, 2005 |
| Home video | Netherlands | September 29, 2011 |
| Home video | Sweden | October 19, 2011 |
| Home video | France | November 15, 2011 |
Full credits
| Director | Peter Jackson |
| Cast | Michael J. Fox (Frank Bannister), Trini Alvarado (Lucy Lynskey), Peter Dobson (Ray Lynskey), John Astin (The Judge), Jeffrey Combs (Milton Dammers), Dee Wallace (Patricia Bradley), Jake Busey (Johnny Bartlett), Chi McBride (Cyrus), Jim Fyfe (Stuart), Troy Evans (Sheriff Perry), Julianna McCarthy (Old Lady Bradley), R. Lee Ermey (Hiles), Elizabeth Hawthorne (Magda Rees-Jones), Angela Bloomfield (Debra Bannister), Desmond Kelly (Harry Sinclair), Jonathan Blick (Steve Bayliss), Todd Rippon (Deputy), John Sumner (Deputy), Michael Robinson (Deputy), Jim McLarty (Deputy), Anthony Ray Parker (Deputy), Paul Yates (Deputy), Melanie Lynskey (Deputy), John Leigh (Bryce Campbell), Nicola Cliff (Young Patricia), Ken Blackburn (Dr. Kamins), Stuart Devenie (Museum Curator), Genevieve Westcott (TV Presenter), K.C. Kelly (Doctor), Leslie Wing (Mrs. Waterhouse), Leslie Klein (Maid), Frank Edwards (Resuscitating Man), Alan O'Leary (The Waiter), Danny Lineham (Barry), Charlie McClellan (Reporter), William Pomeroy (Jacob Platz), George Port (Orderly), Billy Jackson (Baby in Bouncer), Sophie Watkins (Nursery Baby), Taea Hartwell (Nursery Baby), Max Grover (Nursery Baby), George Grover (Nursery Baby), Tony Hopkins (Hospital Patient), Lewis Martin (Hospital Patient), Clay Nelson (Passerby), Robert McNeill (Passerby), Matthew Chamberlain (Passerby), Vivienne Kaplan (Nun), Liz Mullane (Nun), Peter Jackson (Man with Piercings (uncredited)), Fran Walsh (Passerby (uncredited)), Matt Aitken (Cowboy Ghost (uncredited)), Grae Burton (Guest (uncredited)), Michael Elsworth (Undertaker (uncredited)), Jason Te Patu (Dr. Thomson (uncredited)), Paul Kingdom (Museum Guest (uncredited)), Nic Farra (Ray's Friend (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson |
| Producer | Jamie Selkirk, Peter Jackson |
| Executive producer | Robert Zemeckis |
| Cinematography | Alun Bollinger, John Blick |
| Editing | Jamie Selkirk |
| Music | Danny Elfman |
| Production design | Grant Major |
| Visual effects | Wes Takahashi |
| Sound | Randy Thom |
| Costumes | Barbara Darragh |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
Source: Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec (CC0-1.0)
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
