Ghost Story is a feature film based on the book of the same name by Peter Straub. It stars Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Melvyn Douglas, Alice Krige and Craig Wasson (in a dual role). The film was rated R for scary images, nudity, sexual content and violence. It was directed by John Irvin and released in 1981 by Universal Pictures. It won the 1982 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. It was the last film to feature Astaire, Fairbanks and Douglas, and the first film to feature Michael O’Neill. It is available on DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
Plot
The plot is taken from the novel of the same name by Straub.
A group of elderly gentlemen in their New England hometown have formed a group called “The Chowder Society”. Together, they spend their evenings telling ghost stories to one another. However, they begin to experience an actual ghost who wants revenge. The members of the group start dying in mysterious ways, as does the son of one member, who falls to his death after seeing his new bride’s face as she really is. His brother attempts to prevent any more deaths. As the story progresses, the audience learns more about the mysterious woman and her relationship with The Chowder Society members.
