More Ghost Movies for a Rainy Day

How many ghost movies are out there? Plenty, from what I've seen. In fact, I discovered so many when I was writing my first lens, Ghost Movies You'll Love, that I decided to write another. These ghostly tales run the gamut from family-friendly to truly frightening, from comedy to horror. If you like Ghost Movies, you're bound to find something you'll enjoy on this page. Although any time is the right time for a good ghost movie, rainy days make it even spookier.

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This remake of 1963's "The Haunting" (both based on Shirley Jackson's novel "The Haunting of Hill House") stars Liam Neeson as a paranormal researcher who brings together a group of people for what he tells them is a sleep study. As they uncover the house's disturbing history, filled with rumors of evil spirits, they learn the doctor may have an ulterior motive. Although not nearly as highly regarded as the original film, this one still has chills aplenty. I have to say, I found it extremely creepy. Perfect!

More ghostly hijinks from our favorite paranormal psychologists. This sequel takes place five years after the original and finds the Ghostbusters have fallen on hard times, the result of a court order against their once thriving business. When an ancient sorcerer attempts to possess the baby of Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), the boys jump in to investigate and, once again, find that the world is on the brink of a potentially apocalyptic disaster.

Another movie based on a Disneyland ride (albeit not nearly as successful as "Pirates of the Caribbean"). In this comedy adventure, Eddie Murphy and Marsha Thomason star as husband and wife real estate agents whose business is thriving, but their marriage is not. They contract to sell a broken down old house and, when the family arrives to check the place out, they discover it is inhabited by 999 ghosts who have no intention of leaving. The family has to work together to save the house and themselves.

There was a rumored remake directed by Guillermo del Toro. I imagine that one will have quite a different tone than this one.

To me, this is one of the most chilling movies of all time. Not only are there visual surprises, the feeling of dread and psychological terror is palpable. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is a struggling writer who takes a job as the winter caretaker at a spooky, isolated inn in the mountains. He wants to use the time to write uninterrupted, while his wife (Shelley Duvall) and psychic son (Danny Lloyd) occupy their time the best they can. For Danny, this means riding around the hotel on his Big Wheel until murderous visions of the hotel's ghostly past and frightening future become all too real.

If you're like me, you'll watch this one with all the lights on.

This tale based on a story by Oscar Wilde has been re-made several times since the original feature film starring Charles Laughton. Most of the remakes have been for television, including versions in 1987 starring Sir John Gielgud, and in 1996 starring Sir Patrick Stewart. No matter, the basic story is the same. Sir Simon is a 400 year old ghost who has been doomed to existence in his family's ancestral home until his fatal mistake can be redeemed. When an American family moves in, he is befriended by the daughter, who may just turn out to be the key to his salvation. These TV versions are much more family friendly than the original.

Peter O'Toole plays the owner of an Irish castle who tries to turn it into a tourist attraction to save it from foreclosure. His plan of fooling people into believing the castle is Ireland's most haunted works a little too well when a pair of real ghostly beings show up. Directed by Neil Jordan ("The Crying Game," "Interview with a Vampire") "High Spirits" may not be one of his best but it's still highly entertaining with a great cast. In addition to the always fascinating O'Toole, it includes Daryl Hannah, Liam Neeson, Steve Guttenberg and Beverly D'Angelo.

This sweet tale about everyone's favorite friendly ghost stars Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci as a father and daughter who move into a dilapidated old house. Pullman is a paranormal psychologist who has been hired to rid the place of spirits. You see, the place was inherited by a woman who believes a treasure may be hidden there but has so far been thwarted in her search by the ghosts. The youngest of them, Casper, bonds with the daughter and together they try and save the house from the evil Miss. Carrigan.