GHOSTS OF GOLDFIELD

2007 / Director. Ed Winfield.
Review by Glenn Cochrane.

With the success of the 1998 slasher film URBAN LEGEND came two sequels. The first was a slight deviation with loose connections to the original characters whereas the second was an entire shift in genre and storyline. It was called BLOODY MARY and it abandoned the slasher formula in favour of a supernatural ghost story. Based on the strength of its home-entertainment sales a fourth film was made, which continued the supernatural themes and was based on a real hotel in Nevada that is a popular destination for ghost hunters. Due to complications with the franchise's ownership the URBAN LEGENDS moniker was dropped and the film was released separately as a stand-alone movie. The association with the popular franchise is a curiosity and aside from it starring Roddy Piper and Kellan Lutz there is little other reason to watch it. A group of amateur filmmakers bluff their way into the notorious hotel under the guise of a History Channel crew. Naturally they fall victim to all of the usual ghost movie tropes and every "spooky" corner reveals a new cliche. The film has the occasional moment of technical competence but for the most part it is a cheap, contrived and clunky attempt at being scary. Roddy Piper is touted as the movie's draw card but his performance appears to be delivered with the assistance of cue cards and dictation. I could honestly pick this one apart for ages and reduce it to ridicule but that would be wasting my time and it would also be wasting your time. Thankfully I picked the DVD up for just $1... it's a debt I am willing to bare but not one I would recommend you risk.  

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