The Movie

"Based on a true story"... this does nothing – nothing – to impress me anymore. Especially when it comes coupled with an inane, clichéd piece of tripe as Sightings: Heartland Ghost.

The film, which was made for cable television (and believe you me, it shows), tells the story of the haunting of a Kansas home. A young couple, Jeff and Pam Mason, has moved into an old, creepy house, and before long strange things are afoot. Objects start moving by themselves. Strange noises are heard everywhere. In one of the single most laughable scenes ever committed to film, a group of twenty-somethings are left jaws agape and arms akimbo, as a silly-looking stuffed duck begins to levitate by itself. Soon, Jeff starts having dreams and visions about a young girl who may have lived in the house. Naturally he is a masterful illustrator, so he begins to pencil his visions onto paper with stunning talent and clarity that would rival Alex Ross.

Enter the "Sightings" group. Led by director Derek (Beau Bridges), "Sightings" is a reality-television show that investigates and debunks all things paranormal. Derek and crew, cameras in hand, visit the Masons to film the proceedings at the so-called haunted house. They even call in their psychic buddy Allen (the great Miguel Ferrer), who comes over to scope out the house. Sure enough, he "sees" the little girl and pronounces that the house is "haunted". Soon after, paranormal investigator Jamie (Rachel Hayward) and her team are sent over to "ghostbust" the house. And as time goes by, secrets about the house's sordid past are revealed, culminating in some rather spooky revelations!

*Cue scary music*

Every single cliché from every single haunted house movie is represented here. Consider Sightings: Heartland Ghost to be Poltergeist-lite. Very lite. Although the film was given an R-rating, due to some brief nudity, sexuality, and some slight gore, there's nothing here that seems remotely scary or creepy to anyone who has seen more than five-minutes of your average, would-be horror film. I like a lot of the talent in this film, especially Bridges, Ferrer, and the always lovely Nia Long, but a lot of the acting is weak and unconvincing. And aside from the insipidness of the plot and familiarity of the story contrivances, Sightings: Heartland Ghost is saddled with some of the hokiest and most silly-sounding dialogue possible, even for a made-for-television horror movie!

I might be coming down too hard on the movie, but it is only because Sightings: Heartland Ghost doesn't even try to present anything truly compelling. Does it tell an adequate story? Yes it does. Is it one that we've seen before? Many times. Is the story told in a new and innovative style? Not at all. Maybe I just expect more, but I cannot imagine any horror-film fan getting anything worthwhile out of Sightings: Heartland Ghost.