Low-budget horror fans – this is for you. Ghosts of the Ozarks is set in the late 1860s in post-civil war Arkansas. We follow James “Doc” McCune (Thomas Hobson) on his journey to a remote fortress-like town called Norfork. Before he even makes it inside the front gate, he is surrounded by a red fog and is chased by “something” – something we soon learn the locals refer to as “the ghosts.”
It seems Doc has been summoned to town by his Uncle Matthew (Phil Morris) to become the resident physician, and from there, as they say – the plot thickens. A blind barkeep, a mysterious sleeping potion and very little detail about the things that go bump in the night mean that Ghosts of The Ozarks is everything a low-budget horror should be.
Sure, there are a few plotholes, but we’d never let that get in the way of a good story. The story itself is solid, and the script is well-paced. As a horror fan, I often ask myself, “can we just get on with it!?” That certainly wasn’t the case here. There’s plenty of meat to the story with multiple layers and plenty to keep you guessing as to what’s REALLY going on in Norfork.
While a spectacular appearance from David Arquette as the local tailor/photographer is a true joy, I found Thomas Hobson’s portrayal of “Doc” a little two-dimensional. All that said, I’ve always found that true horror fans are very forgiving and will find plenty to love in this hidden gem. You can find “Ghosts Of The Ozarks”.
Overall, as a b-grade horror film, there are lots to appreciate here, including a solid story and a well-paced script. Sure, the film has a few plot holes, but I also could not predict the ending, which I found myself appreciating. The side performance from actor David Arquette is a true joy. Those who are true horror fans will find plenty of entertainment within this hidden gem.
6.0/10
4th July 2022
Written by Amanda Rosazza
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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