John Pogue

This underrated film of a ship found adrift at sea is a blend of modern horror and old-fashioned storytelling. It moves the familiar haunted house story to the ocean with more emphasis on atmosphere and story than most present day horror films. Other than a somewhat gory opening scene the viewer must see as background, there is an understated atmosphere and old-style performances which make this one work well.

When a close-knit salvage crew led by Gabriel Byrne agree to go treasure hunting based on photos of an unknown ship drifting deep in the remote Bering Sea, they have no idea what lies ahead. Even the hardened Murphy (Byrne), who has seen strange things at sea, is shocked when what appears and disappears in the dark chilly sea on their radar screens turns out to be the Italian luxury liner Antonia Graza, drifting like a dark and elegant ghost. She is a maritime mystery, vanishing without explanation or trace decades before.

Epps (lovely Julianne Marguiles) is the first of the crew to realize something aboard the ship is very wrong, when she sees a sweet young girl who cannot possibly be there. Director Steve Beck does a nice job capturing for the viewer the sense of eerie wonder and anticipation exploring a dark, drifting ship deep in the ocean, thousands of miles from nowhere. As the crew begin to explore the Graza, tension builds and we feel a sense of doom. So does the crew, but just when they are ready to boogie out of there, gold is discovered.

The elegance and style of the original voyage is nicely captured in flashbacks, and adds dimension to the dreary present day salvage operation. Despite the fact this is a horror film of sorts, it is set design rather than special effects which drive it, and make it fun to watch. Marguiles does a nice job, as does Italian beauty Francesca Rettondini in her all-too-brief flashbacks. Emily Browning, as the young Katie, trying to protect Epps and her crew because she is not like the “others” is also very good.

The gory flashback which opens the film is more shocking than bloody, but still way too much for younger audiences, as is some language and the overall atmosphere. The opening scene does, however, elicit in the moviegoer empathy for young Katie, who may be the only hope for the salvage crew.

Ghost Ship has style and is told in an almost — minus some language and the aforementioned gory scene —old-fashioned manner. While some elements en route to an uncomfortable ending may be predictable, it is done with understatement and visual flair for the most part, making this a scary-fun film in the genre for those who enjoy a good ghost story set at sea.… (more)