The Mystery of Spoon River

During this film, I mostly laughed! But this was not supposed to be a comedy. I am not sure how a half cocked plot like this even gets the funding to be put on film. Keeping in mind that Ghost's is not a big budget movie, but a bargain bin cast in the back woods of Central Illinois... I still have a hard time giving it a break. Bad Acting, Poor Plot, plus some racial and social stereotyping that have to be seen to be believed. All contribute to making this film barely watchable. There were a few special effects that surprised me with good quality.

If your favorite movies are in the Genre of "Mystery Science Theatre" fare... Then this is your movie. Otherwise, go rent Blaire Witch again, and see how far decent acting, and a good plot can take a low budget movie.

I Know I Love Pizza... I Know I Don't Like Coffee... I Know I Think I Like this Movie...

There is so much here. Maybe too much. Maybe not enough. Maybe it should have been a 6 hour miniseries or maybe a TV series along the lines of 'Twin Peaks'. It is based on a little known, but critically acclaimed book. I've watched this film four times and each time I have picked up more minutiae. More subtle things that are linked and that make the story more appealing.

The film is about many things... A mysterious death. Simple midwest farm community life. Midnight racism. Ghosts and a long forgotten cemetery. Family history. In the end, it is about coming home.

This film is NOT for everyone. Many will not like it or see the subtle depth it has. It will, however, treat those who 'get it' to a hidden little gem.

I seen this movie a while back on VHS and what I have to say about it is not good. First off the movie is just plum bad and I'll tell you why. First the plot was god awful. In fact I long forgot what it really was a bout. The audio was poor and you couldn't hear half the things they were saying. There was no suspense or good effects. The actors were just awful. The worst acting I've seen in years in fact ever. The plot was so boring that gigli (with Jennifer Lopez)looks like a frigging masterpiece. My advice is if you want a dull crappy movie then by all means rent it. If not don't waste your time. Its not worth the three bucks renting it. The really sad part is I am from Fulton County where this piece of crap supposedly was filmed. Its a disgrace not only for my county but for the whole movie industry.

A big-city lawyer is called home to defend a local man accused of murder.

This movie is something of a lie. Called either the "mystery" of Spoon River or the "ghost" of Spoon River, it seems to project itself as either a thriller or something supernatural, and it is neither. If you are watching this for a horror film, you will be sadly fooled.

But even if you watch it for the "right" reasons (whatever those might be), trying to pin it down is hard to do. Is it historical? A drama? A commentary on race? Perhaps a comedy, as the police in the beginning are rather funny. Nobody really seems to know, and you end up with a mush of lumpy, uneven film.

There seems to be something good in here. Or maybe a lot of good, but all working in different directions. I would call this a misfire.

If you carefully look on the cover to the movie it says 'based on spoon river anthology'. Though the movie is very amateur, to really appreciate this film you need to have read Edgar Lee Master's classic book 'Spoon River Anthology'. The main character represents Masters digging up the past that nobody likes to hear about. The ghost that pops up all the time is what the book is attempting to make it's point at. The story isn't about anything in specific, just like the book. Every person in the book tells a monologue of greed, sorrow, pity, deception, etc.. The movie has people telling monologue that are exactly along those lines. An interesting thing about the heartland, ignored by big cities (and Hollywood especially), it has a richer base of conspiracy and silent secrets than any big thriller that comes out of LA,Chicago, or NY.