The Wraith

Customer Reviews:

Timeless...in an odd way.......2007-09-11

This film raises questions at every turn: Where are all the parents? How old is Packard Walsh supposed to be? If it is a magic car, how come it has a Dodge logo on it? And where do the lovebirds drive off to in the end, outerspace or spring break? This is from the era where HBO just ran the same 8 bad teen films over and over again. You know, Alien from L.A., Lucas, Teen Witch, Solarbabies and so forth? It doesn't matter because it holds up over time. Upon viewing it for the 1st time this year, my husband proclaimed it the greatest movie ever made and watched it over and over. Being that it is only an hour and 20 minutes long, it sits just right with you.

Still A Good View.......2007-07-29

I once watched this 5 times in one day. I was young and stupid....not to mention really bored at the time. Luckily, it was a pretty good movie, so it was not such a chore to get through.

The plot is basic: new kid moves to town, and gets interested in a local girl, Keri. The local hot rod gang leader also has an interest in her and decides to protect those interests. Jake, the new guy, finds himself on the other side of death with a new machine and serious axe to grind. The revenge starts with challenges to races, and as the gang dwindles, so the panic increases.

By today's standards, the effects are on the cheesy side, though that does not entirely detract from the movie's charms. The acting is pretty much what you would expect from a fairly low budget movie, though it is certainly not the worst about. Sheen makes a good impression with his portrayal of the Wraith/Jake, with his "boyish charm".

It is a cult classic, and that is what "The Wraith" will probably always be. It appeals to a particular taste, but if you are into unusual films, this could be worth a look. I still enjoy it, a decade and more later. Still a great film to kick back and zone out with.

Clint Howard's finest moment.......2007-06-20

Yes friends, this is the legendary movie 'The Wraith', or just 'Wraith' to those of us in the 'Wraith Fan Club'. Following in the line of Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart, Clint Howard gives the performance of a lifetime in his long and prestigious career.

It seems someone was murdered while having sex. His dead body is resurrected as motorcycle riding Charlie Sheen. Charlie wants revenge against the gang that murdered him. The gang is lead by a 30 looking year old man who who has a thing for switchblades. His gang memebers with interesting names like 'Skank' (who enjoys huffing WD-40 and drinking brake fluid), and 'Gutterboy' like to race cars and cheat to win. Apparantly they stop cars, hold women hostage, and force people to drag. The gang cheats at the races, so you wonder why they even bother to race at all. It would be much easier just to carjack people. But then again, playing Ozzy Osbourne's song 'Secret Loser' is much better to listen to during a high speed highway drag race.

But what people should really focus on here is Clint Howard and his Flock of Seagulls haircut. He starts every race, and is the mad scientist auto mechanic. I do not know why he did not get the starring role, but the producers picked Charlie Sheen instead for some reason.

So you get high speed races and chases, wanton destruction, explosions, a shotgun barrel that blows apart like in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, and the most important thing of all, 1980s Boobies!!!!! How can you not love the gravity defying teenage bobbies from the 80's??

Randy Quaid also plays the sherrif. Randy rocks the house, but like I said, Clint steals this show.

old school.......2007-06-18

I always loved this movie! Especially when sherylynn fenn was hot like that!!!but i loved the car as much & here we are in 2007 & the car is still up to date!!!

CLASSIC! Must HAVE for 80's flick gurus.......2007-02-08

Yup you know the story, I don't need to reiterate it. Fantastic make out scenes. Great 80's themed punk bad boys - you know the ones that are so ambiguous that they're cute and tough but would never be considered tough now-a-days. . . .Maybe not even tough back then either! All the stereotypical 80's stuff in here! Hot cars, colored hair, one earring in one ear, big clothes, off the shoulder wear, great special effects that even today make you wonder in awe.

TOTALLY frames up the cool 80's the way it should be. Wish it was like that today!

Average customer rating:

Trick or Treat/The Wraith
Starring: Trick Or Treat , and Wraith
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007N1JR8
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Average customer rating:

Did anyone get the license of that VEHICLE?!?!?
Argento Saves The Day for This Director
Psychologically Scary

Shadow of the Wraith
Starring: Kozue Ayuse , Hitomi Miwa , Eri Kanuma , Shirô Namiki , and Hyoei Enoki
Director: Toshiharu Ikeda
Manufacturer: Adness
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00080EV9S
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Amazon.com

J-horror fans and curiosity seekers may walk away slightly disappointed by this ho-hum entry by prolific Japanese director Toshiharu Ikeda. Drenched in straight-to-video atmosphere featuring doppelgangers, walking backwards in slow-motion, and lots and lots of echoing dripping water, Shadow of the Wraith is told in two very loosely conjoined parts. Part 1 involves a mysterious enigmatic beauty (Asaji ) who's in love with Yoshino, the cutest, most popular boy in school (oh, he's also in a boy band). There's only one problem; he already has a girlfriend. Strange things start to happen as Asaji forces her way into Yoshino's life with supernatural effortlessness. Well, you can guess what lays ahead, a little dab of Carrie, just a splash of Fatal Attraction. The second portion of the movie is slightly more interesting, involving a haunted apartment building linked to a mystery of the past.

The entire movie lacks coherency and is rather nonsensical, essentially low-grade horror that doesn't offer anything new in the way of thrills or chills. Still, there's enough spooky moodiness to keep things interesting, and a few decent scares. Fans seeking to "take it to the next level" should check out Ikeda's Evil Dead Trap, a violent cult classic and a must-see for any horror aficionado. --Matt Wold

Customer Reviews:

Did anyone get the license of that VEHICLE?!?!?.......2006-05-13

Ikisudama is a pair of supernatural thrillers told in two seperate parts...go figure ay? Part One takes place in one of the many fine Japanese schools that Asian horror fans have come to recognize, and by now, may be able to recognize on sight. It begins as Ryoji and Mariko, a pair of high school 'lovers' get to know each other in a vacant gymnasium. When, during class, another student, Asaji, mistakes an act of kindness from Ryoji as as some sort of declaration of love and begins to follow/stalk Ryoji around school. Asaji's behavior quickly extends beyond the walls of their school. Ryoji becomes suspicious of Asaji's intentions and it doesn't take very much longer for Mariko (Ryoji's girlfriend) to join that club. But as they say, two's company and three's a crowd, but Asaji is not the type to take a hint.

The second story is a loose continuation of the first story involving Ryoji's brother and band-mate Kazuhiko, who moves into their older sister and husband's apartment. Someone else is also moving into Kazuhiko's building; a young girl named Naoko. They briefly meet outside the building as he is in the courtyard taking photos. She and Kazuhiko find themselves in the same school and the same class where she tells her class the story of her old neighborhood where a curse had consumed family after family on her street, and Kazuhiko warns her that there are similar event taking place in apartments that share the number 5. Naoko has moved into Apartment 505.

***

Shadow of the Wraith does happen in two loosely connected parts with two seperate titles; Part One: Shadow of the Wraith, and Part Two: The Hollow Stone. The director obviously favored a two-part system rather than integrating the stories into a single story. Why? Only he may know. The stories might've been more compelling as one. There's seemingly little or no time issues to prevent this other than they needed a separate story for the other "star". The juxtaposition of the two story-lines would have most assuredly held my interest better.

Ikisudama plays like the candy-coated thrillers of yesterday such as Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and so many other tame MTV-style suspense films. Style over substance. With a partial reprieve for The Hollow Stone 'episode', as it was the more actualized and convincing of the two. Part One plays more like a Twilight Zone episode, but not a classic Rod Serling episode; more like one of the new Forest Whittaker hosted, remade, regurgitated episodes with today's "stars". Or more precisely, like Fatal Attraction. I think I rolled my eyes so many times that it must've looked as if I just hopped off of The Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags! Low budget special effects, manufactured and transparent suspense aside, the final nail in the coffin for Part 1 was the cheesy pop song that robbed the music from 'I Only Want To Be With You' as we get a look at the JPop any-band Marshall Law, which in real life is an actual brother-brother duo known as Doggy Bag. Who by the way, get top billing in the end credits and individual, widely spaced mentions. Something their agent(s) probably insisted on.

This movie was clearly a vehicle for the duo. There's very little positive about Ikisudama other than one short, tense scene in Part One and the premise in Part Two is interesting but not fulfilling. Horror fans will want to see it just to see it, but they shouldn't expect anything new or exciting. Or maybe just pass on it all together.

Argento Saves The Day for This Director.......2006-04-02

Obviousely influenced by Dario Argento, the director's imaginative camera work and stylistics were wasted on the trite subject matter of this teen-horror flick. Nevertheless, the performance by actress Hitomi Miwa (from the original "Ju-On") is quite spooky and helps the first segment of this film immensely. As the striking Asaji, she virtually runs circles around the girls vying for the attention of the coveted "teen dream" at school, making you wonder what he sees in them in the first place.

The second part of this film is actually much more chilling in story content. The strong influence of "Suspiria" is evident throughout, especially in the day-glo colours, the atmospherics (even the soundtrack is Goblinesque), and that interesting scene in the apartment when the apartment itself assaults the protagonist a la Jessica Harper. I am grateful for that, and happy to see that Argento's works have done some good in the international world of film after all. For those not familiar with Argento's work, his films are very surreal and mesmerizing, and "Shadow of The Wraith" is actually quite surreal in various instances (except the "rock concert"
scene, which was saccharine and silly).

All in all, not a *great* film per se, but good enough to watch more than once. I would recommend it only if you are a fan of obscure Asian horror or Argento.

Psychologically Scary.......2005-06-30

It was my extreme luck to stumble upon this charming work of sticky horror only the other day. Although Japan is well known for it's clever, sometimes gut-wrenching horror, Toshiharu Ikeda stands out above the status quo, especially in his latest skein of scares, "Shadow of the Wraith".

This movie is made special in that it cleverly appeals to a young adult audience, yet it avoids using gore to do it (utilizing only three blood scenes throughout the entirety of the film). Rather, the younger crowd is attracted by the two male leads who (aside from being aesthetically pleasing) are also members of a famous pop duo from japan. However, for those unfamiliar with Doggy Bag, Ikeda has another draw for die-hard psychological horror fans.

Ikeda cleverly draws on inherent fears and discomforts that plague all genders from childhood into their adult years throughout the film's two parts. In the first, he cruelly preys upon the adolescent insecurities surrounding relationships and the failures that may or may not be associated with them. In the second part, Ikeda illustrates the childhood fear of dark, unknown spaces (closets), especially when they are found in a new home.

Overall, Ikeda cleverly frightens audiences by creating stories based on his viewers' deepest childhood fears and the perpetuating insecurities of adolescence.

This film is recommended for horror fans over the age of 16 due to violence in part one and themes of terror.

The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment (2 Disc Set)

Average customer rating:

Promising
WOW! THIS WAS AWESOME!!! BUY THIS MOVIE!!
Indy work at its finest

The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment (2 Disc Set)

Manufacturer: CustomFlix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000F3ZTFS
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Product Description

The Dread Avenger of the Underworld comes alive onscreen in this faithful adaptation of the Australian comic, The Wraith, published by Trinity Comics. The Wraith protects and fights for the citizens of Metro City against crime and corruption. Robert Latham, respected business mogul and corrupt criminal mastermind, puts the city in danger once more as The Cobra emerges to rival Latham's empire and destroy his only opposition...The Wraith. Sir Reel Films pulled talent from all aspects of filmmaking to bring this comic book adaptation to life through film. Featuring a digital 5.1 sound mix from Voodoo Studios, The Wraith film is one to surely test the capacity of your home theater. Featuring music from Emmy Award Winning Composer Larry Groupe, stunts from Oscar Winner Scott Leva, and an original song performed by Mandi Leigh, The Wraith will please even the most casual fan of comic books.

Customer Reviews:

Promising.......2007-08-11

My love of comics sure does lead me down strange corridors. When I came upon this film while browsing the products at Amazon, I was surprised I had never heard of it. And unfortunately, it didn't seem available for me to view unless I plunked down my hard earned cash and bought it. I had it tagged as a wish item for the longest time, but I finally committed myself to its purchase. But is it worthy of buying?

Its not an excellent film by any standard. Its is of an extremely low budget quality, and the acting is absolutely horrendous. But the final effect of it all is undeniably impressive. I anxiously await the future work of director Stephen Semones.

Semones had a distinct vision, and its represented clearly on screen. There is attention to detail with the story and characters, though its the action that stands out. The fights are well-choreographed, and proper use of slow motion adds effect to what would otherwise be a high-school play performance.

And as bad as the acting is, I can't fault the actors. The entire cast are committed to translating their roles, they just seem to lack experience in making their performances realistic. They spout lines from rote memorization.

The true testament to the film's success is that it left me wanting more. Eyes of Judgment is an origin tale, and there's a lot of build-up with no final confrontation or resolution. And I want a sequel. Hopefully, one is on the way, and hopefully Semones gets a bigger budget, because the man definitely has the chops to make a great a superhero flick.

Is it worth buying? Well, I don't regret my purchase, because its definitely worth watching.

WOW! THIS WAS AWESOME!!! BUY THIS MOVIE!!.......2006-04-11

What can I say? I review films on other notable websites and came across this film. I love comic books and this looked original enough for me to pick up. I noticed that it had Oscar and Emmy Winners attached, and for an indie film, that's truly amazing.

I got the DVD and was immediately impressed with the packaging. How many indie filmmakers release a 2 disc set of their work and actually have it worth every penny and rival most Hollywood produced DVD's? I can tell you this, The Wraith is the first indie DVD I've seen that is actually more impressive overall than big budget blockbusters I've bought. In fact, Sir Reel Films made me feel ripped off with all the big name DVD's I've bought. They prove that you don't need a budget to make a good movie and DVD. You just need to be creative.

The movie itself is impressive, not to mention all the special features. It features 3 audio commentaries, deleted scenes, trailers, interviews, a making of documentary, premiere footage, and much, much more. I did not expect nor imagine that a film like this could be made with what Sir Reel Films had to work with. Having aquired the rights from Trinity Comics, they set out to make a comic book film based on an indie comic book from Australia. Bringing The Wraith to life onscreen was a painstaking process in which you see and hear throughout both discs in the set. Both DVD's are mixed in incredible sound and have AWESOME menus.

As a comic book fan, to be honest, I've never heard of The Wraith. After randomly picking up this film and finding out that there's also a novel and comic book based on The Wraith, and that the film has a Scriptbook & Movieguide companion book, I was shocked at how much Trinity Comics and Sir Reel Films have done for the indie scene.

Who are these guys and where did they come from? I ask this because Hollywood is about to get blindsided. This film is totally worth the purchase, and had I known about this film sooner, I would have personally submitted it to my own sites for review. There comes a film once in a while that changes your outlook on how things are done with filmmaking. I can list several examples, but trust me, The Wraith: Eyes of Judgment is one of those films. I was completely in shock at how amazing, creative, and talented the driving force behind this film was.

Long live Sir Reel Films and Trinity Comics! You guys now have a withstanding fan.

BlAcK dEvIl AsSaSsAiN

Indy work at its finest.......2006-04-04

Sir Reel Films took an indy comic book and brought it to life. Many thanks to the group for putting something fantastic together. Keep an eye on them they are going places.

Prom Night/The Wraith/Trick or Treat/The Gate

Average customer rating:

Prom Night/The Wraith/Trick or Treat/The Gate
Starring: Prom Night , Wraith , Trick Or Treat , and Gate
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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Mystery & Suspense | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0007CEXW2
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Average customer rating:

JParis - A Punks Eye View
Director: Joseph Pattisall
Manufacturer: Emanon Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Includes "A Punks Eye View," as well as the video for "Here We Go Again."

Average customer rating:

The Wraith

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Color. Running Time 92 minutes

ASIN: B000IAPK5W

Product Description

He is a phantom- a wraith. He is a mysterious, other worldly stranger...........

Average customer rating:

News at Eleven/The Wraith
Starring: Sheen 2pak
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000VV4J0
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Average customer rating:

News at Eleven/Wraith
Starring: Martin Sheen & Charlie
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000A2W7EA
Release Date: 2004-04-05

Average customer rating:

Timeless...in an odd way
Still A Good View
Clint Howard's finest moment
old school
CLASSIC! Must HAVE for 80's flick gurus

The Wraith [Region 2]
Starring: Charlie Sheen , Nick Cassavetes , Sherilyn Fenn , Randy Quaid , and Matthew Barry
Director: Mike Marvin
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00004L8KM

Customer Reviews:

Timeless...in an odd way.......2007-09-11

Still A Good View.......2007-07-29

Clint Howard's finest moment.......2007-06-20

old school.......2007-06-18

I always loved this movie! Especially when sherylynn fenn was hot like that!!!but i loved the car as much & here we are in 2007 & the car is still up to date!!!

CLASSIC! Must HAVE for 80's flick gurus.......2007-02-08

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