Ghost Rig (2001)
Also known as "The Devil's Tattoo"
Evil has found a new home.
Starring: Jamie Bamber, Jaason Simmons, Noel Fitzpatrick, Kerry Norton, Heather Peace, David Rae, Richard Norton, Juliet Diamond, Bryan Carney, Rory McCann
Director: Julian Kean
Running Time: 90 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 15
Horror, Thriller
On DVD Jaason Simmons as Vincent and Noel Fitzpatrick as wheelchair-bound ex-oilman Crawford are the leaders of a group of environmental activists who have boarded a North Sea oil rig in protest at plans to sink it to the bottom of the sea. Having arrived by helicopter, they begin setting up to broadcast to the outside world, and start looking for the maintenance crew who they plan to send away with their aircraft. They are a little puzzled to find that no crew seems to be there, but they are soon distracted when one of their number is found dead, apparently from natural causes.
Their nervousness increases when Tom (Jamie Bamber) is discovered to be a spy who has infiltrated their group, and suspicions mount that he may have killed their friend. Tom is placed under guard, but is soon released when the radio is damaged and another more sinister death takes place. Trying to find out more about what they are facing, they discover that the rig's last workforce had been dabbling in the occult. They also learn that those oilmen met their deaths in much the same way as the current victims, and that a mysterious quarantine was in place over the rig.
This is the first feature from the new independent UK production company, KCD films. Originally to be titled "The Devil's Tattoo", it was made mostly in Scotland in association with Scottish Screen with the help of funding from the National Lottery. That being said, it actually stands up extremely well in comparison with horror thrillers from much more experienced and better-funded sources. The entire ensemble cast work well together, the abandoned rig rivals any expensive set, and its humble origins are really not overly apparent.
DVD Extras: A few extras have been included with this basic release.
Extras: Trailer, Gallery.
It's Got: The ability to make you forget that this is a low-budget film.
It Needs: To reach a wider market.
Alternatives: Virus, Deep Rising, The Thing.
Summary: This first-attempt British film is a commendable effort at a horror thriller - it shows plenty of potential and stands up very well in comparison with its better-funded American cousins.
Review by Andrea Chee
Review Date: 6th May 2003
External Links
Ghost Rig at the IMDB
Comments1 Comment |
| I watched the first 40 minutes of this movie, and it was absolute torture. The writing is non-existent, the suspense is non-existent, character development (there IS none)... Where are we? We're sadly never reminded, visually, that we're in an isolated rig that's towering above a dark, threatening, swirling ocean in the middle of nowhere; no "atmosphere" shots. The lighting is often too bright, the images too sharp, the acting is some of the worst I've seen, and that wheelchair-bound guy and his useless video diary...annoying and so obviously trying to create "fear" in the viewer...NOT! This is a waste of time. Deep Rising, The Thing, Alien, Pumpkinhead, Cube (even Ghost Ship and Virus) are good sci-fi horror flicks to see. Avoid Ghost Rig...it just plain old sucks! |
| Comment by:- Cryogenix | | 08 February 2004 | ip: logged |
