The scars of war are often explored in drama, but how does that translate to horror? “Ghosts of War” ventures into a work of supernatural terror set against the very real backdrop of WWII atrocities. Far from the first genre film to blend the concepts, this project uses its ghosts as an echo to the past while also creating the canvas for villainy still talked about today.
Set at the end of the war, “Ghosts” places its protagonists in an isolated French chateau. The location acts as a buffer against a far too perilous outside world. Instead of the expected break from their traumas, the story locks them into a nightmare scenario. Suddenly, it’s a fight to survive psychological and physical terrors inflicted by some surprising sources.
The film comes from Eric Bress, a writer and director all too familiar with the genre. While more commonly known for his contributions to “The Butterfly Effect,” Bress should be recognized for one of the most popular installments in the ‘Final Destination‘ series. In “Final Destination 2,” he crafted a fun and suspenseful adventure centered around an impending car crash. “Ghosts” gives Bress the chance to build on those multi-character stories while also establishing the narrative depth needed to tackle war based horror.
Brenton Thwaites, Alan Ritchson, Skylar Astin, Theo Rossi, Kyle Gallner, Billy Zane, and Shaun Toub create an interesting cast for the project. Thwaites and Ritchson both come from the DC Universe streaming service where they’ve been portraying popular characters on the series “Titans.” Astin is seeing success on NBC’s “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” While not in as large of a role, having Billy Zane in the credits more than piques curiosity.
“Ghosts of War” comes to VIrtual Screenings, On Demand, and Digital on July 17. DirecTV subscribers can see the film beforehand on June 18. Get a glimpse of the film’s first trailer below.