There should be a support group for all the early aughts horror fans traumatized beyond belief after watching Ghost Ship for the first time. Now more than ever, since it’s the number one horror film streaming on HBO Max.
Steve Beck’s horror on the high seas has arguably one of the best openings of all time as Emily Browning’s Katie Harwood narrowly dodges death while dancing aboard the MS Antonia Graza, an Italian cruise liner. A wire cord whips across the floor, bisecting and beheading everyone in its path. The terror is perfectly encapsulated in its opening beat as Katie flees through the ship, encountering one gruesome tragedy after another until she meets her own demise. What a way to start a movie.
Luckily, fans all over have been revisiting (and solidifying) the horror since Ghost Ship is presently the number one horror movie streaming on HBO Max. As a capstone to the 2000s’ trifecta of Dark Castle Entertainment ghost stories (including House on Haunted Hill and Thirteen Ghosts), Ghost Ship was a deeply digital (and deeply silly) oceanic delight. In Ghost Ship, “The crew of a salvage boat discovers that an abandoned liner they’ve found it actually a floating house of horrors.”
While it never quite recaptures the gruesome thrills of its opening beats, Ghost Ship is a lot better than its contemporaneous reception suggested. It’s no masterpiece, but it’s got a stellar cast, including both Gabriel Byrne and Julianna Margulies. Plus, there’s something to be said for haunting an entire ship. It just doesn’t happen as often as it should. Alvin Rakoff’s Death Ship, anyone? Check out what fans are saying below.
Ghost Ship was ahead of its time
— long bitch, small attention span (@frankietries) March 9, 2023
Ghost Ship is on HBO this is not a drill.
— Amityville Amber (@ElementalAmber) March 13, 2023
ghost ship is on hbo, suddenly I’m ready to settle in for the night
— 𝔏. (@daddylennox_) March 12, 2023
Ghost Ship is on HBO oh my god this is my comfort movie fr y’all
— Germ (@drpeppertallboy) March 10, 2023
not them having ghost ship on hbo max, love that movie fr
— PrettyGirlz 🌸 (@iam_ur_senpai_) March 15, 2023
If you have HBO Max you're in luck. GHOST SHIP is streaming there. If you haven't watched it you must!! It has the best horror movie opening scene. @galtsgirl
— 🐻 Mary #FlyTheW ⚾️ (@mchastain81) March 14, 2023
It’s snowing outside and HBO Max just added Ghost Ship so if you need me, tough luck because I’ll be too busy being twelve again. pic.twitter.com/RreYBfjPHf
— KaitKat (2023 version) (@KaitHorrorBreak) March 13, 2023
Ghost Ship is on HBO max so I’m going to just watch it on repeat for a week because for some reason that movie has the weirdest fucking comfort hold over my brain….
— Sharp Teeth (@z_til) March 6, 2023
Opens hbo to watch another episode of last of us.
*watches ghost ship for the 50th time*
— britteney 𝔹𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕖 kapri (@gogogadgethoe_) March 8, 2023
What do you think of Ghost Ship? Has it held up? Let me know over on Twitter @ChadisCollins. And, if you’re planning a cruise anytime soon, just keep an eye out, yeah?
