Before producer/director Charles Band switched things up by
renaming his company Full Moon he had a nice enterprise going with his company
Empire Pictures. Band saw what Roger Corman had done by making quick product that
went straight to drive-ins across the country. He turned around and did the
same thing heading for the direct to VHS market instead. Churning out one movie
after another with few name stars to mention in them, he created a business for
himself that has lasted to this day.
The nice thing that happened with this rapid release of
numerous films was that it gave different people a start in the business. It
also produced some incredibly well made movies that often entertained and in
the early days of video that was a major plus. Not all mom and pop stores could
carry 50 copies of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, but they could always pick
up a low budget movie for the shelves at less expense. And on occasion, as with
GHOST TOWN, they got more than they bargained for, a solid movie with decent story
and acting.
The movie opens with a convertible driving full speed down a
desert highway containing a runaway bride tossing her veil to the wind and
laughing. This is Kate (Catherine Hickland) and she’s just left her beau at the
altar on another wild adventure. That all changes when her car breaks down on a
side road. Things get stranger still when a sand storm heads her way containing
an old western outlaw in its midst. As the wind wraps around her she’s swept up
in the dust and disappears leaving behind nothing but a car with claw marks in
it.
Enter Deputy Langley (Franc Luz), a quick draw competition
winner and all around nice guy who takes a call from the Sheriff to head out in
search of Kate at her last known location. Fortunately nearby he heads over to
find her car and the scratch marks. He radios it in and then sees something in
the distance. Following this ghostly image he soon finds himself drawn into a
similar sandstorm like the one that took Kate. When he gets his bearings he
finds himself standing over a long forgotten grave. As he reaches down to clear
the tombstone a skeletal hand pops up to grab his and tells him to finish the
job. This is the body of an old western sheriff and Langley takes his badge
with him while he continues walking.
Eventually he ends up in an old ghost town, long ago
abandoned. But then he starts seeing things out of the corner of his eye. He
hears things as well. It’s not long until he meets some of the inhabitants of
the town. Not realizing these are ghosts, he hears the story about what
happened in the past. Most of us can put two and two together before he does
and we understand that this town is cursed, destined to live under the heel of
Devlin (Jimmie F. Skaggs), an outlaw who murdered the sheriff in cold blood
while they all stood by.
Having taken Kate captive only Langley can save her from a
fate worse than death. Kate resembles the long lost love of Devlin’s life. He
intends to keep her here with him through eternity. That is unless Langley can
put a stop to this whole haunting.
The locations are extremely limited, the story simple and
yet it all works when brought together for this wonderful little film. Western
stereotypes are played for full effect and the acting is far beyond what you
would expect in a movie of this budget. Credit goes to the cast, the director
and the writers who use a combination of wit, mystery and just a touch of
horror to make this movie as fun as it is. I’ve seen big budget films that
didn’t offer as much as this one does and that makes it special.
Shout/Scream Factory has once more rescued a lost gem and
made it available on blu-ray. Extras are nearly non-existent with this but that
doesn’t matter. It’s the end product that deserves our full attention here and
chances are as unknown as the actors and the rest were at that time there
wouldn’t have been much behind the scenes information to gather. Instead have
fun with this one. Fans of westerns, of ghost stories and of the inventive
nature of low budget film making will be sure to enjoy.
Click here to order.
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