Deadline has a new meaning.

A tendency exists in the home video marketplace for distributors to engage in subterfuge, marketing offbeat films in a manner that doesn't reflect what they really have to offer. Ghost Writer's DVD art is a prime example. Genius Entertainment is clearly trying to market this low budget indie flick as a horror / thriller movie. Even the title was altered: originally christened Suffering Man's Charity, director / star Alan Cummings claims early in his commentary track that he doesn't know why it was changed. I think I can take a guess - marketing? From the tagline quoted above to the cover art centered upon the menacing visage of David (Bones and Angel) Boreanaz to the blurb that describes the film as "an intense and over-the-top thriller [that] will leave you at a loss for words," one would expect Ghost Writer to be a suspenseful little yarn.

But it isn't. At least, not really.

Ghost Writer attempts to be several things: an arthouse mish-mash of black comedy, character study, and torture porn with a heavy dash of Poe and O'Henry. Its script penned by Thomas Gallagher tries too hard at being clever and what one is left with is a movie that disappoints despite its promise.

Oh, and it's something that the horror crowd will scratch their heads at.

Despite the prominence of Boreanaz on the cover, this movie is really about Alan Cumming's character. Cumming plays John, an opera-loving gay music teacher who has a habit of supporting young struggling artistic men. He's taken in a freeloader and straight sex addict named Sebastian (Boreanaz) who claims to be writing a novel. Fed up with Sebastian's waywardness, John claims revenge.

To say more would reveal plot twists. However, it must be stated that Ghost Writer seems almost schizophrenic in its genre-blurring. It starts off promisingly. Alan Cumming is darkly humorous as the pompous instructor, and his interplay with a young student (Alison Guh) are cute and nicely done. Intertwined with these early scenes are scenes of the freewheeling Sebastian, who seems quite competent in his womanizing and con artistry. Henry Thomas is also good as Eric, John's former protégé, and the two have some humorous scenes together as they wait to confront Sebastian.

Ghost Writer's second act, however, plunges Sebastian and John into an exercise in the torture porn genre. Think Misery meets The Cellar Door. This just doesn't work. The tone shift is jarring, and John's overpowering and humiliation of Sebastian doesn't seem plausible. The third act, then, becomes something akin to Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," with Cumming and Boreanaz's acting going well over-the-top.

Ghost Writer has a string of notable actresses in supporting roles - mostly as cameos. Anne Heche, Carrie Fisher, Karen Black, and Jane Lynch all show up for a couple minutes of screen time. They're all good, especially the always reliable Lynch who plays a professional photographer, but none are on screen long enough to really make an impact on the movie.

The best that can be said about Ghost Writer is that it's quirky, and it's a film that you'll want to like much more than you probably will. There's some good ideas and a great cast here, but the parts don't add up into a unified whole. Rent it, if you're interested.

The DVD

Video:

Genius Entertainment gives Ghost Writer an anamorphic widescreen presentation that it claims "preserve[s] the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition." Colors were okay, but the movie had a slightly fuzzy look to it. Video noise was present throughout as well.

Sound:

The sole audio track was a strong Dolby Digital 5.1. Ghost Writer has a staged set-bound manner to it, so there's not much to provide a surround sound presence. However, dialogue is represented very well and clearly.

No subtitle options were available.

Extras:

Trailers precede the main menu for Savage Grace, Anamorph, Show Business: The Road to Broadway, and Tin Man. No link for these trailers exists in the menu system.

The only Ghost Writer-related extra is a feature-length commentary track with Alan Cummings. He sounds relaxed and is observant about the movie's production. Some dead air between comments, however, suggests the track could have used the participation of a second individual involved in the making of the film.

Final Thoughts:

Ghost Writer seems a little mismarketed by Genius Entertainment. Despite a good cast, the movie is weighed down by an awkward fusion of dark comedy, torture film, Poe-ish supernaturalism, and indie sensibilities. It's a misfire with some nice moments, but only worth a rental if you're curious.

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