The Frighteners

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Artwork by Christopher Lovell Printed on our super soft 4.5oz 100% pre-shrunk ringspun cotton shirts Custom Printed on Demand About The Frighteners (1996) Peter Jackson's The Frigh teners (1996) was the most effects-heavy film ever produced at the time of its release, featuring over 500 visual effects shots created by Jackson's Weta Digital—a company he essentially built for this film and which would later bring The Lord of the Rings to life. Michael J. Fox stars as a psychic con artist who uses actual ghosts to drum up business as an exorcist, until a malevolent spirit begins killing people by literally squeezing their hearts to death. The film started as a Tales from the Crypt spin-off before evolving into its own original property, and Jake Busey's terrifying performance as the serial killer Johnny Bartlett channels genuine menace. Despite underperforming at the box office, The Frighteners demonstrated the visual effects capabilities that convinced New Line Cinema to entrust Jackson with their most ambitious franchise. Show more