The Ghost and The Darkness
Directed by: Stephen Hopkins
Starring: Michael Douglas & Val Kilmer
Rated: R
Length: 109 min.
Released: October 11, 1996
Trailer
IMDB.com Synopsis
In 1896 Lt. Col. John Paterson was sent to East Africa to build a railway bridge. He had a deadline to meet but was confident he and his large workforce of Africans and Indians can get the job done in time. John’s was a man of his word and got things done – which he demonstrated on his first day by killing a lion that had been pestering the workforce. This earned John respect, but it didn’t last very long because a few weeks later 2 new lions began visiting and they’re man-eaters. The film is based on a true story and during the construction of the bridge, the lions would enter the workers camp to kill. Believing them not to be real lions, the locals name them ‘The Ghost’ and ‘The Darkness’. After losing dozens of workers to the lions, the railroad company brought in Remington, an American ‘great white hunter’, to kill them, but even his reputation for being the best could not prevent yet more carnage. It is believed that over 130 people were killed by the two lions in just a few months.
My Thoughts
This movie blows my mind every time I see it. Grant it it’s a movie so some things are changed and played up for dramatic effect, but the fact that the craziest parts about this story are true just blows me away. The real lions (stuffed of course) are on display at the Chicago Field Museum. You can read about the true story here.
This is a great story about man vs. beast and an insight into the expansion of the western world into Africa during the late 1800s. I really love movies that put the viewer into another place and time in history. In many ways it’s one of the only places these worlds can come alive.
Val Kilmer does a fantastic job in his role as Col. John Henry Patterson. Michael Douglas plays a perfect contrast to Kilmer in the character Charles Remington. When they share the screen it’s so much fun to watch. There is also a small but fun part played by Tom Wilkinson as the snobbish owner of a Railroad Co. and Kilmer’s employer.
There are a few moments of grizzly terror/violence which is primarily why the film is rated R. Though I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as it could have been. That stuff doesn’t really bother me much though. However, if you do get bothered easily by that sort of thing it may be wise to pass on this one. I’m giving this one 4 stars out of 5. I really think they did an excellent job breathing new life into this true story…and it was a fun adventure to watch.
The Goulson Movie Marathon 