The early 2000s kind of hit a wall in terms of horror movies. We went from a renaissance in the 90s to a slump of blue-toned snooze fests (with the exception of those first few Japanese originals and remakes). Ghost Ship premiered early in that trend, marking the ghostly whodunit craze with a big bloody handprint. Today, most people don’t think of Ghost Ship when asked of their favorite 2000s horror flick. But I’m here to say it’s one to be remembered.
A group of ship salvagers are roaming the seas for their next big catch when they come across the legendary MS Antonia Graza, a cruise liner that mysteriously disappeared in the 60s. The ship is completely abandoned, except for the load of gold and other valuables still in the ship’s cargo hold. The crew take on the challenge of salvaging the ship for a cool stack of cash, led by a stranger they met days before who told them about the fated cruise in the first place. But the abandoned rooms and hallways hide deadly secrets that the salvage team falls prey to.
We’re not arguing that Ghost Ship doesn’t have cool parts. Two sequences come to mind, both having to do with the fate of the passengers on the 1962 cruise. We’re shown the murder and debauchery that befell the patrons — everything from poisoning the food, hanging a child in a closet, mass poolside shootings, and the infamous wire-snap that cuts a group of dancers in half. It’s a bloody mess that is sung in praises on every “cool sequence” list there is. Unfortunately, those seem to be the only parts of the movie that people like.
I on the other hand was enthralled with pretty much everything. How often do we see a movie about ship salvagers compared to the “white family moves into a haunted house” or “priest does his last exorcism,” or even “teen counselors get murdered?” That alone is what sets Ghost Ship apart from the rest. It also has a satisfying reveal of who the perpetrator is at the end, and their motives. Sure, it’s not the hardest thing to guess, but it’s not bad either.
I also am a big fan of the ghosts and effects. We don’t see too many “specters” per se; the ghosts appear human — The Shining-style. Then they are revealed to be monstrous, showcasing how they died. In another scene, some of the crew are helping themselves to leftover food, which quickly turns into maggot-filled rot right in their mouths. Gross! And talk about gore… Ghost Ship is full of it. It’s done in a “clean” manner though, where any slice of viscera is beautifully placed and not vomit-inducing at all.
Ghost Ship isn’t a fast-paced movie. I can see how some people would get tired of the blueish-green hue and leisurely stroll to the end, but not all movies have to be fast-paced action adventures. Like the calm waters of the Bering Sea they find the Antonia Graza in, Ghost Ship reflects that feeling back on screen. I wouldn’t necessarily put it in the slow-burn category, but it does give you ample time to digest what’s happening, especially after seeing people getting bisected into little pieces.
And with an all-star cast including Emily Browning, Gabriel Byrne, Julianna Margulies, Isaiah Washington, and Karl Urban, Ghost Ship was sure to garner some attention based on the cast alone. It’s a shame that so many people put this movie to the wayside in favor of other — not as entertaining — films of this era. From what I remember the first time watching, I thought Ghost Ship was scary and refreshing. It’s remained so to this day. It’s just another case of the popular vote being to hate on something that’s actually endearing and cool once you get past the pace.
What are your thoughts on Ghost Ship? Let us know in the comments!
