I Can’t Believe An All-Time Great Ghost Movie Only Has 28% On Rotten Tomatoes

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Despite a low 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the greatest ghost movies ever made deserves its status as a beloved cult classic. Horror films often face criticism, and many now-classic titles weren’t initially well-received. This is often because the genre explores themes that are ahead of their time and challenge conventional thinking.

Horror movies dealing with the supernatural are tough to make work because they rely on things that aren’t possible, aiming to frighten viewers with the impossible. While ghost stories are consistently popular, a particularly good one from the 1980s has been largely forgotten. Unfortunately, it currently has a surprisingly low rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which doesn’t reflect its quality.

Ghost Story Is One Of The Best Hidden Gems Of The ’80s

The 1981 film Ghost Story is a well-known, modern-day Gothic horror movie based on Peter Straub’s novel. It follows four elderly friends who meet annually to share ghost stories, but their own history unexpectedly comes back to haunt them.

Despite strong acting and impressive visual effects, the movie Ghost Story wasn’t a big success with critics or at the box office. While it only received a 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many feel that score doesn’t accurately reflect the film’s quality.

This movie is beautifully haunting, which is exactly what a great ghost story needs. Unlike many horror films from the 1980s, Ghost Story still feels fresh and hasn’t aged at all in the four decades since it came out. It doesn’t rely on jump scares, instead building suspense slowly and effectively – it’s a true hidden gem.

Initial reviews of the film on Rotten Tomatoes were generally unhelpful, with critics mostly reacting with indifference and comparing it unfavorably to the original novel. Many reviews at the time labeled it as a forgettable horror movie, which was typical of how critics viewed the genre then. However, more recent reviews have begun to appreciate the film’s qualities.

Roger Ebert Gave Ghost Story A Solid 3 Stars

While many critics disliked Ghost Story, the famous Roger Ebert surprisingly gave it a positive review. Even though he wasn’t usually a fan of horror, Ebert rated the film three stars and simply called it “a good movie.” Interestingly, he dismissed the original novel but enjoyed the film adaptation – a reaction that differed from most other reviewers.

Roger Ebert recognized the cleverness of the film, understanding it aimed to recapture the suspense of old-fashioned storytelling. It featured a fantastic cast and subtly explored tragic themes while leaning into Gothic horror traditions. Despite being a strong film, Ghost Story remains underappreciated and deserves to be discovered by a new audience.

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2025-10-26 15:29