-via IMDb.com

I decided to go with a ghostly comedy instead of a horror film as part of my Hallowe'en thought processes. Like I've stated previously, horror is an underrated genre but not one I enjoy all that much. So 1988's High Spirits it is!

Written and directed by Neil Jordan, High Spirits is one of those group comedies that brings strangers together in one location and hijinks ensue. In this case, the locale is an Irish castle, Castle Plunkett, a failing hotel that is going to seed and imminent foreclosure. Peter O'Toole plays Peter Plunkett who conspires to advertise the castle as haunted and get American tourists to come for that authentic ghostly fun. What he and his employees don't plan for is that their ghostly fakery wakes up the real ghosts living in the castle. What follows is two parallel stories, that of Peter and the guests and employees being harassed by ghostly craziness and a love story between guest Jack and ghost Mary.

What's good:

The concept behind the story is great. I love the idea of ghosts being upset that the living are messing with their set up.

Peter O'Toole is a lot of fun. Steve Gutenberg, as Jack, is also good, as is Beverly D'Angelo as his wife. The cast, as a whole are all good. Peter Gallagher as a pre-vow priest and Jennifer Tilly as the woman who wants to take advantage of him are fun.

The visual style of the film is interesting.

What's not so good:

I was underwhelmed by Daryl Hannah, as Mary, and Liam Neeson as her equally dead husband. They seemed miscast and out of place.

The ending to the Jack/Mary storyline didn't make a lot of sense.

The overall film was too slapsticky and just felt awkward. The idea is good, the film itself just doesn't work all that great despite some great performances.