High Spirits (film)

High Spirits

Original theatrical poster
Directed by Neil Jordan
Produced by David Saunders
Stephen Woolley
Written by Neil Jordan
Michael McDowell
Starring
Music by George Fenton
Cinematography Alex Thomson
Edited by Michael Bradsell
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release date
 18 November 1988 (1988-11-18)
Running time
 99 minutes
Country Ireland
United Kingdom
United States
Language English
Budget $17 million
Box office $8,578,231 (USA)

High Spirits is a 1988 fantasy comedy film directed by Neil Jordan and starring Steve Guttenberg, Daryl Hannah, Beverly D'Angelo, Liam Neeson and Peter O'Toole.

Set in a remote Irish castle called Dromore Castle, Co. Limerick, High Spirits is a topsy-turvy comedy with thematic leanings towards Ireland's rich folklore regarding ghosts and spirits, where the castle starts to come to life with the help of such denizens.

Plot

Peter O'Toole is Peter Plunkett, the owner of a dilapidated Irish castle which has been converted to a bed and breakfast supplying the only employment for the local villagers. Owing money to an American businessman, Plunkett has the idea to turn the castle into "The most haunted castle in Europe" for the tourist trade. He and his wacky staff of Irish characters set about creating ghost costumes and effects for their first group of American lodgers.

At first annoyed by the inept hauntings, the American guests (including Steve Guttenberg, Beverly D'Angelo, Connie Booth, Peter Gallagher and Jennifer Tilly) soon get what they paid for as the genuine ghosts of Castle Plunkett take umbrage with being cheaply exploited and stage a full scale paranormal event.

The ghosts of two dead people, Mary Plunkett and Martin Brogan (played by Daryl Hannah and Liam Neeson) become romantically entangled with Guttenberg and D'Angelo's characters. This romantic twist is the focus of most of the plot.

Cast

Reception

The film received negative reviews from critics, as it currently holds a 17% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 12 reviews. Daryl Hannah was nominated for a Razzie Award as Worst Supporting Actress, but lost to Kristy McNichol for Two Moon Junction.

Release

Scream Factory released the film for the first time on Blu-ray Disc in 2015.[1]It was packaged as a double feature with Vampire's Kiss on February 13, 2015.[2]

See also

References

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