Sometimes They Come Back (1991)
Plot: Based on a story by novelist Stephen King, this Heartland-set chiller stars Tim Matheson as high school teacher Jim Norman, who returns to his quiet hometown only to find himself haunted by malign spirits spawned by a tragedy from his childhood. With his students expiring — and ghouls of thugs past showing up in their place — Norman realizes the horror won’t stop until he sends his tormentors back to their graves, or further.
My Review: I had seen this movie many many years ago, and its sequels but I can honestly say I didn’t remember a thing about it. And like so many Stephen King films, I assumed the ending was going to suck balls. Well, it didn’t. The whole movie stayed true to itself throughout. Nothing completely weird happened, no twist. Just a classic little ghost story. The type you might tell around a campfire.
The movie starts off with this man – Jim – coming back to the town he left as a kid. He’s taken a job as a teacher at the high school. Through a series of flashbacks we see that he and his brother had an accident with some bully greasers and a train back in the early 60s. (I’ve always loved the looks of greasers. I like just about anything dealing with the 1950s.) In the accident many people die, including Jim’s own brother, Wayne. As soon as Jim starts teaching his students start showing up dead. Their seats in class are soon filled by the very greasers that died 30 years earlier.
It’s a great little ghost story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I watched it streaming through Netflix and sadly there are no longer video stores in the area so Netflix is my only option and they do not own the sequels yet, so unfortunately I can’t continue watching the series. However, from the looks of the trailers to the other film, they don’t continue with the same storyline or characters. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
One thing I’d like to point out is that the movie is directed by Tom McLoughlin. The director Friday The 13th Part 6. His wife Nancy has a small role in this film as a Doctor. She also had a role as a camp counselor in Friday The 13th part 6.
There isn’t much to say about the movie other then what I’ve already stated without giving anything away. Its pretty simple and fun.
Gore/FX: There wasn’t any gore really. Its mainly just a ghost story. However a few times throughout the movie you can see the mangled faces of the greasers. Their makeup is great.
Sexual Content: None.
Acting: Its great acting, something that just about every Stephen King movie has. Its expected of his movies. Tim Matheson plays the teacher Jim. The head greaser is Robert Rusler, who played the role of Ron Grady in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2. I loved Robert as the greaser in this, he played the role of a cruel greaser well, and looked hot doing it.
Overall: I’d gladly rewatch this movie next week. I had fun with it and hope I can track down the sequels. I recommend it.
[rating:4/5]
View The Trailer
