IMDb RATING
4.7/10
4.3K
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An electric surge causes a serial killer's soul to end up in a computer system.An electric surge causes a serial killer's soul to end up in a computer system.An electric surge causes a serial killer's soul to end up in a computer system.
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I know that's probably a horrible thing to say about the movie, but everytime I see it on one of the premium channels, I usually watch it just to see the babysitting scene with Shevonne Durkin. That said, this isn't a good movie at all. It hits its mark throughout. The idea is a nice one, but it's too much. It was made to shock with lots of gorey scenes, but it doesn't do so well on the horror side. The acting is decent, and I like Karen Allen and the two young boys in it, but the plot is off. If you see it on tv, you might check it out, but don't rent it. A movie with the best scene being the babysitter showing her bra is one I wouldn't spend money on!
I had never seen it before and the premise seemed interesting. Was available on HBO so figured why not give a try. I'd say it's an interesting ride, nothing special, but worth a watch if you're into suspense/horror. Good reminder of how fun the 90s could be with tv and film.
"Ghost in the Machine" provided the best entertainment in years. The special effects were phenomenal and the acting was superb. I was on the edge of my seat the entire movie. The best part was when the dishwasher was put on the command "EXPLODE"! Wow, I was flabbergasted and appalled. The men and women involved with this movie are geniouses. I applaud them for their creativity and hope to see a sequel to this movie in the near future.
Much was based on,special effects/science fiction..
Regardless..
Showed ideas of,how technology can be.
Good cast & overall storyline,lead this movie.
Watched it years back & now in 2020,it was a rather advanced concept.
I thought THE NET with Sandra Bullock was pretty over-the-top in the way her identity was so completely stolen, but it made a smashingly interesting thrill flick. However, THE NET was nothing compared to the overripe imagination of the screenwriter for THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE.
Computer tekkies will love all the computer graphics involved here in showing how a serial killer, during an MRI power surge, gets his killer soul inserted into a network of computers so that he becomes the hacker from hell. KAREN ALLEN is his main victim, since he was an employee in a store where she was looking for a computerized address book. He has designs on her the moment he sees her with her young son (WIL HORNEFF).
But she's not the only victim he seeks from her address book. Several others meet their imaginative deaths because of his stalking them through his computer wizardry (in most improbable and highly unlikely ways). But logic is the ingredient missing from the entire concept of this horror story that has fun devising various gruesome deaths for at least four or five people. CHRIS MULKEY is good as a computer wizard who helps her combat and ultimately destroy the virus which takes human form in the shape of graphic bits.
Not really as bad as it sounds but all the graphics become a bit tiresome after awhile. I thought one of the best scenes had the automatic awning on the swimming pool covering almost the entire pool in ominous fashion, until the boy decides to swim underneath it to adjust the controls. That bit of natural horror was scarier than some of the computer graphic nonsense.
Summing up: Not bad as these sort of things go. Holds the attention but demands complete suspension of logic.
Computer tekkies will love all the computer graphics involved here in showing how a serial killer, during an MRI power surge, gets his killer soul inserted into a network of computers so that he becomes the hacker from hell. KAREN ALLEN is his main victim, since he was an employee in a store where she was looking for a computerized address book. He has designs on her the moment he sees her with her young son (WIL HORNEFF).
But she's not the only victim he seeks from her address book. Several others meet their imaginative deaths because of his stalking them through his computer wizardry (in most improbable and highly unlikely ways). But logic is the ingredient missing from the entire concept of this horror story that has fun devising various gruesome deaths for at least four or five people. CHRIS MULKEY is good as a computer wizard who helps her combat and ultimately destroy the virus which takes human form in the shape of graphic bits.
Not really as bad as it sounds but all the graphics become a bit tiresome after awhile. I thought one of the best scenes had the automatic awning on the swimming pool covering almost the entire pool in ominous fashion, until the boy decides to swim underneath it to adjust the controls. That bit of natural horror was scarier than some of the computer graphic nonsense.
Summing up: Not bad as these sort of things go. Holds the attention but demands complete suspension of logic.
Did you know
- TriviaApproximately 40 minutes into the movie, a computer is scrolling through a list of names in a phone book, in search of its next victim. The names listed are mostly Hollywood producers. Going through the list slowly reveals Caryn Mandabach (listed as "Caryn Mandab"), Wink Martindale, Lorne Michaels (of Saturday Night Live (1975)), Bill Melendez ("Charlie Brown" specials), Neal Marlens (Quoi de neuf, docteur ? (1985)), Thomas L. Miller (La fête à la maison (1987)) and a host of others. The name the computer is searching for is Terry Munroe, which (maybe by coincidence) happens to be the birth name of actor Stepin Fetchit.
- GoofsAt Terry's ATM and on the computer address search, her last name appears as Munroe. When her son Josh signs in to use the Virtual Reality gear with his friend, he signs as Munroe. On her son's computer info, his name is spelled as Monroe which is what the credits show, recently as December 2020.
- Quotes
Phil Stewart: You don't think a hacker did this do you?
Bram: Well, when you leave it out in the open no self-respecting hacker is going to pass it by.
Phil Stewart: [grits teeth and pulls hair out] Auugghhh! God Damnit!
[tears out of room]
Phil Stewart: Get the hell out of my way!
Bram: You know you don't handle stress very well, Phil.
Phil Stewart: Jesus Christ.
- SoundtracksDon't Call Me Nigger
Performed by Schoolly D (as Schoolly D)
Written by Schoolly D (as Jesse Bond Weaver, Jr.)
Courtesy of Jive Records
- How long is Ghost in the Machine?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $12,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $5,086,909
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,854,431
- Jan 2, 1994
- Gross worldwide
- $5,086,909
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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