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Michael Douglas, Val Kilmer, Tom Wilkinson, John Kani, Om Puri ... see more see more... , Bernard Hill , Brian McCardie , Henry Cele , Emily Mortimer

A man bringing modern transportation to the ancient jungles of Africa discovers one of man's oldest enemies lays in wait for him in this period adventure drama. John Beaumont (Tom Wilkinson) is the ow... read more read more...ner of a British railroad firm who is building a rail line through Uganda. A bridge is needed so that the tracks may cross a large river, and engineer John Henry Patterson (Val Kilmer) is summoned to the African nation to supervise construction. While Beaumont has placed Patterson under a strict deadline, the bridge designer is certain that with his guidance, the local laborers will be able to complete the job in time. However, when several workers are killed in an attack by a lion, Patterson is forced to deal with the animal; while he bags a lion who invades the work site one evening, it soon becomes obvious that there's more than one predator in the nearby jungle. The lion attacks continue, eventually claiming the lives of 130 men, and Patterson and Beaumont finally agree to call in Charles Remmington (Michael Douglas), an expert hunter who understands the nature of the man-eaters and knows how to lure them into his trap. The Ghost and the Darkness is based on a true story, which was previously brought to the screen in 1953, in Arch Oboler's pioneering 3-D adventure Bwana Devil. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

71% liked it

51,142 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

46 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Stephen Hopkins

Release Date: October 11, 1996

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DVD Release Date: December 1, 1998

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Stats: 2,052 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,052)

  • FilmFanatik
    February 26, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    I have to say I really enjoy The Ghost and the Darkness, but not because it's a fantastic film. It's actually a bad film with good elements to it, but there are things about it that fascinate me. First of all, it's directed by Stephen Hopkins, whose film output has been hit and m... read moreiss but mostly miss. This film did make a profit, but then again, I don't think it had all that much competition at the time. Second, Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas are really bad in this. Val Kilmer is his usual stoic self, even when he's trying to be outraged or scared about something. Michael Douglas just sticks out like a sore thumb, and I don't understand how he got top billing when he doesn't enter the story until about halfway through and then disappears before the film's climax. When you read up on it and realize that his character wasn't even a part of the real-life events you begin to understand why he sticks out so much. His acting is also terrible, not to mention his outfit and extensions. Third, even though this is a Jerry Goldsmith score, I find it really annoying, particularly the chanting bits. It's definitely not one of his best works, and there's too much of it in the movie if you ask me. The film is also terribly uneven and feels longer than it actually is. There are some enjoyable bits in it, and it's nice to see Bernard Hill and Tom Wilkinson pop up in small parts (the latter being a pretty nasty character, laughably so), but it's not a great movie. I like it for the crap that surrounds it, and because I'm a fan of Stephen Hopkins who I think is a talented visual director with a gusto for delivering shlock stories.
  • ironclad1609
    January 19, 2012
    ironclad1609
    This African hunting adventure seems to come right out of the era of great Hollywood films with similar themes. It is old-fashioned in the good sense. Two men, their guns and two lions, that terrorize a bridge-building camp in Uganda. That simply premise is delivered well here, w... read moreith decent acting, enthralling lion attacks and action scenes and great cinematography. When the camera lingers on the sea of dry grass and you expect to spot a lion in there somewhere, the film is particularly strong. Sadly, it wastes its rather interesting minor characters a little too easily. But overall, it's an entertaining and well made film.
  • fb1576983399
    December 6, 2011
    fb1576983399
    This movie is unintentionally hilarious with its cheesy lines and horrible acting. Michael Douglas turns in a hilariously bad performance while Val Kilmer is tolerable. The only thing that makes this movie interesting is that it is true (with Hollywood exaggerations of course).
  • kenstachnik
    February 7, 2011
    kenstachnik
    A fun little film with every one doing excellent work EXCEPT Michael Douglas who is in fact terrible. Matter of fact the only thing worse than his performance is his really bad extensions
  • imrealgod
    March 22, 2009
    imrealgod
    I thought it'll be something interesting, something thrilling. However, it turned out to be a hunting adventure which interests me the least.
  • puffchunk
    October 4, 2007
    puffchunk
    Okay. The lions were good at least.
  • sanjurosamurai
    September 29, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    very good movie based on a true and scary story
  • fb619846742
    September 16, 2007
    fb619846742
    Seen 3/4 of it, not bad, but quite forgetable.
  • skactopus
    June 7, 2007
    skactopus
    This is one of my favorite movies starring Michael Douglas. The plot is based around a true story of killer lions and it is told really well. It is a slow paced movie with minimal action but the cinematography and scenery does wonders to help move the story along. Although the... read more lions are killers the gore is also kept to a minimum so you won't have to worry about turning away from the screen if you're not a big gore fan.

    There are basically 2 big characters in this film. As you may already know one is played by Val Kilmer and the other played by Michael Douglas and both actors do an excellent job with their respective characters. Val Kilmer does a pretty good job with his Irish accent as well.

    If you're in the mood for a nice adventure movie with a little bit of suspense, then you might want to find time to check this out.
  • MovieGeek13
    April 8, 2007
    MovieGeek13
    So haphazardly made and edited that it squanders the interesting concept that could have made a far more decent movie.

View All The Ghost and the Darkness Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The picture is too lightweight, too posturing and too self-important to go in an introspective direction. Full Review

Liam Lacey
April 12, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Ranges in quality from adolescent boys' adventure stories to Heart of Darkness. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

When the movie sticks to fact, the result is a hypnotic spectacle.

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Can't transcend a too-familiar script. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The camerawork is frenetic and confusing, and the big confrontations are as likely to provoke unintentional laughter as edge-of-the-seat excitement. Full Review

January 1, 2000
USA Today

Despite mumbo jumbo about the lions being supernatural demons unleashed by the imperialistic white man, it's nothing more than Jaws with claws.

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Rousing entertainment. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It lacks even the usual charm of being so bad it's funny. It's just bad. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 6, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

A scenery-chewing Michael Douglas is the highlight of this passable landlocked variation of Jaws.

Michael Dequina
September 10, 2005
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Effectively wipes out the lion's cuddly image from The Lion King and reinstates its rep as the fearsome king of the jungle. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Samuel: Are not lions, they are The Ghost and the Darkness.
    • Helena Patterson: Save yourself. No, send me your ATM.
    • Col. John Henry Patterson: I'm a tad frightened, you?
    • Col. John Henry Patterson: Gevalt! Women and children go first!
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The Ghost and the Darkness Trivia

  • In wich movie Michael Douglas act as a hunter in Africa?  Answer »
  • These lions killed 130 people in Africa during the construction of the railway bridge in East Africa  Answer »
  • In the movie "The Ghost and The Darkness" what did Remington tell Patterson to do when he met his son?  Answer »
  • Name the actor that played in the following movie?? Kiss Kiss Bang Bang The Ghost and The Darkness The Doors The Saint  Answer »
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