Lighthouses and ghost stories are a current hot commodity. Tales of unspeakable nightmares and hauntings have been a consistent favorite.
Much like The Lighthouse and the Conjuring series, Widow’s Point continues that tradition.
It’s based on the 2018 book from Billy and Richard Chizmar. Widow’s Point follows an author’s ill-conceived plan to deliver another bestseller. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter the cost.
Thomas Livingston (Craig Sheffer) has a history of writing about spirits and demons. Through multiple best selling books, Thomas has found a niche in the macabre.
With an eager publisher in his ear and an expensive divorce on the horizon, Thomas sets his sights on a lighthouse with a disturbing past.
Located in Harper’s Cove, Widow’s Point Lighthouse lives up to its name. A bloody curse brings death to anyone who stays in the Lighthouse.
From entire families massacred to sudden suicides, Widow’s Point stands in infamy.
However, Thomas, A healthy skeptic, doesn’t buy into the hype.
Riding on the wave of shows like Ghost Adventures, Thomas decides to spend the weekend in the Lighthouse. He ropes in his publicist Rosa (KateLynn E. Newberry) and right-hand man Andre (Dominic Luongo).
They go to Widow’s Point to show the world what waits in the haunted chambers.
As the hours turn into days, the history of the lighthouse unravels in horrifying detail. Moreover, it turns the author’s world upside down.
With a prolific career in horror, director Greg Lamberson puts together an admirable adaptation of the Chizmar’s ghost story. By cultivating an uneasy feeling of distress, Lamberson is able to tell the story without overtly relying on cheap scares.
The tension begins through subtle hints of the paranormal before taking a firm hold of the audience. Building off an eerie soundtrack, the movie is able to capture the frightening mood as you walk in Thomas shoes.
Ghost movies usually focus on one location and Widow’s Point is no different. Quietly perched on the coast, the lighthouse stands unassuming in its structure.
By setting the story here, you can understand why Thomas would not take its history serious.
Each ghost story told is different in its own right yet are connected through a singular vision. We soon discover the lighthouse has a certain power impossible to escape from.
Craig Sheffer delivers a tense performance as the bewildered writer. The lighthouse sends Thomas into a fit of paranoia clawing away at his being. It’s a daunting task to convey these emotions.
Luckily, Sheffer is able to resonate exactly what Thomas is feeling. Unfortunately, outside of Sheffer’s performance, the supporting cast lacks the same highs.
In ghost films, a sense of dread is important. You fail to relate with the full impact of the story due to the little sense of urgency around.
Through a series of consistent scares, Widow’s Point delivers a simple ghost story with a surprising conclusion. If you enjoy horror movies without an overabundance of excess, check out this haunting thriller.
Widow’s Point is available on Blu-ray now.
