High Spirits (1988)

High Spirits is a supernatural comedy set in County Limerick, Ireland and released in 1988. Its central plot focuses on the custodian of a castle, who resorts to desperate measures to maintain his lease on the property. Despite boasting an impressive cast, it was negatively received and has only a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

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This was a recent charity shop pick up and I thought it would be the perfect watch for October. We’re introduced to Dromore Castle, where Peter O’Toole’s distinctive voice can be heard through its stone chambers, on the phone to the estate agent for the building. He plays Peter Plunkett, current owner of the building having inherited it from a long lineage. His staff attempt to eavesdrop and so does his mother, much to his dismay. Lavinia Plunkett is brought to life by the wonderful Liz Smith, known for her role of ‘Leticia Cropley’ in The Vicar of Dibley. I’ll never get tired of her work, as I think she brings a warm charm to every role she inhabits.

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Peter comically tries to end his misery, but even this is interrupted by his overbearing Mum as despair creeps in, having been informed he has just weeks to raise enough money before his familial stake on Dromore is foreclosed. It’s Lavinia who sparks his solution, the notion of the castles haunted past a perfect opportunity to turn the place into a tourist attraction, his staff filling in the roles of the spirits. Everyone gets to work, adopting all the tricks in the book to mystify the castle before a group of Americans prepare to stay. On the flight we meet the Crawford’s, quickly establishing the dynamic between the married couple. Jack Crawford, as played by Steve Guttenberg, spills champagne over his wife Sharon, and it seems he’s nothing but a nuisance to her. Once on land, a coach brings the guests to their new accommodation, a tour guide offering some folklore from the region as the cast await them in costume.

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Mary Coughlan makes her film debut in High Spirits as Katie, despite being known for her musical career, and she’s given the task of embodying the wailing banshee. The coach approaches as she hangs in a tree above, and she does her best impression before falling on to the roof of the vehicle and giving the passengers a fright. A hilarious sequence ensues, the whole plan in shambles as the tourists eventually end up in the lake. They arrive inside dripping with water, welcomed by their host who invites them into ‘Castle Plunkett’, and sits them down to dinner later that evening.

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It seems only one thing is offered on the menu though, and one resident is skeptical there really is paranormal activity within those walls - Malcolm Clay is a parapsychologist, and claims to know a thing or two about spectral figures. His wife Marge, as played by Connie Booth, tries to calm her children who are irritable by the lack of excitement. Another guest is Brother Tony, who fancied a spiritual retreat before taking his final vows to become a priest, and Miranda, as played by Jennifer Tilly, who tries to seduce him. Peter explains about his ancestor Mary Plunkett whos portrait hangs on the wall, murdered on her wedding night many moons ago. We’ll get to meet her later.

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Some late night entertainment is given, as Coughlan’s musical talents are put to good use leading the group in a rousing rendition of ‘Oft in The Stilly Night’ by Irish poet Thomas Moore. This is followed with a haunting speech by their host, which does little to strike fear in anybody. We even get a reference to ‘Nightmare On Elm Street’, as it’s recognised the kids of that generation aren’t so easily scared as they used to be. Everyone goes back to their rooms, Malcolm setting up his equipment to expose what he believes to be a scam. Marge gets undressed and requests her nightie, but while her husband is distracted she gets assistance from a suit of armour instead. The actor inside follows her around while she’s blissfully unaware; this is classic slapstick comedy, and never fails to be successful.

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Meanwhile, Miranda drifts off to sleep while watching TV, and is startled awake by her bed spinning round. Katie flies past Brother Tony’s window as a Banshee, equally comical when her efforts go unnoticed. He runs to Miranda’s rescue when he hears her scream, while Marge accidentally slams the door in the knight’s face, his pointed helmet becoming stuck in the wood. She attempts to seduce her husband, though he’s more interested in the apparition behind her, which he’s quick to deduce is nothing but a mirror trick. Jack is more easily fooled and heroically tries to save his wife from being impaled by a fake blade, only leaving him more maligned by her. It’s made aware to us she takes valium regularly, to cope with the perils of everyday life, the biggest strain being her husband.

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The whole ruse begins to fall apart, as Malcolm chases Sir Lancelot down the hall with a sword, his kids cheering him on. He smashes the illusion mirror, the whole rig sending Katie flying on her harness through the Crawford’s bedroom window. The Clay children continue to pursue the knight through the castle, closely followed by Miranda’s bed as the crank handle turning it is pushed too far, sending its operator through the canopy and the bed through multiple floors into the lobby. This sequence is quite magical as it looks like the bed is floating through the hotel.

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A group of very unimpressed guests gather to demand what tomfoolery is going on, though Jack takes pity when Peter explains their efforts are only to try and save their home. The staff are appalled to learn his wife is daughter of the landlord Jim Brogan, who’s come to investigate the ghost stories she’s heard about the place. Even her husband was oblivious that their second honeymoon was merely a business affair, as he glumly goes to get drunk with Mr Plunkett.

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Jack heads back to his room inebriated, but ends up in the wrong one, and witnesses the first true ghost sighting of the trip - Mary Plunkett flees from her jealous husband, destined to relive her death perpetually. When Jack throws himself between the commotion, he breaks a centuries-old time loop, and Mary is set free. He stumbles back to the correct bedroom and in a deep sorrow attempts to overdose on Sharon’s valium pills, but Mary is able to switch the contents beforehand. Jack wakes the next morning believing he’s dead, though it turns out his wife is just ignoring him, as she reminds him he’s corporeal with a slap after he insults her.

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Plunkett Senior makes his daily visit to Lavinia, as it’s made aware to us she was right about the spirits inhabiting the castle all along. He informs her the ghosts aren’t amused with the current situation and his sons attempts to remedy it. Sharon calls her father to update him before returning home, and breaks down in hysterics from the events of the past few weeks; only to be consoled by Malcolm, as she plants a kiss on him and subsequently chastises him as if he made the first move. I love the comedy Beverly brings to the movie, and I think her performance is one of my favourites.

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Meanwhile, Jack does some of his own consoling to Mary, who’s distraught about him leaving. When he refuses to stay for her, she vanishes with a gale of wind, and her misery unleashes a storm on Castle Plunkett. As the rain pours outside, the departing guests waiting in the minibus are stripped of their clothing, while their mode of transport is also dismantled by the raging weather. Sharon takes great joy in this, even quipping to Brother Tony ‘so all the snakes weren’t driven out of Ireland’, a hilarious cultural joke referring to his unfortunate nudity.

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Jack is expelled from the building and suspended from the branch of a tree, until a bolt of lightning frees him. A talking steed leads him to Mary again, who’s leaving a wish on a Rag Tree, which is an ancient Celtic tradition. She prays for her marriage to truly be broken, and pleads for Jack to become her betrothed, explaining her ties with Martin were arranged by her father and that she was always repulsed by him. Jack is still conflicted, not wanting to betray his loyalty to Sharon. Everyone else has headed inside and been forced to dress themselves in the furnishings, having lost their clothes outside, and are dreadfully informed they’ll have to spend another night at the hotel - Malcolm is quick to defy this, but a lightning strike changes his mind.

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Sharon takes a shower and enjoys a back rub, until in her horror she realises it’s not her husband offering it, but ghost Martin instead. In his appearance he expels wind from both ends, demonstrating his vulgarity, which Mary coyly referred to as him ‘squishing’ - it captures the disconnect between the more prudish era she’s from, and a less virtuous society in the modern day. Darryl Hannah’s facial expressions as she timidly refers to such taboo subjects are brilliant, adeptly selling the niche charm of the film.

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As All Hallows Eve approaches, the ghosts escalate their mischief; the children watch a fitness instructor in the living room, who shockingly breaks the fourth wall when one of them throws a book at the television, launching it straight back at them. Malcolm’s equipment begins to give him stronger readings, and as he goes in search of spectres, a bloody arm appears from a wall hanging and tries to choke him. Elsewhere, Brother Tony struggles with sinful thoughts of Miranda, until his loins literally begin to smoke and a horde of demonic nuns chase him out the window. The object of his affection goes to check on him, only to end up with the same fate, as they land in the pond below. Peter tries to placate his guests in the foyer, while the brickwork behind him is pulled apart revealing his deceased ancestors crawling from the mausoleum they were placed in. The makeup and special effects used to bring the film to life are really impressive for the time it was made.

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Lavinia gives Jack some advice about loving a ghost, having been married to one for so many years. When he returns to find Mary fleeing Martin again, Sharon witnesses the ordeal too. Jack goes after Mary and confesses his feelings, as she introduces him to the act of ‘scalping’, a way that humans can experience pleasure through contact with a spirit. Sharon and Martin also grow closer, though she still rejects his advances, and Mary tries to resist making love with Jack on the one night ghosts can become corporeal, fearing something tragic will befall them.

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Everyone is treated to an immersive performance in the lounge, as the ocean scenery comes to life, waves crashing through the room and the cardboard cut out squid growing real tentacles and grabbing one of the boys, who becomes a prop himself. He is able to be saved with a life preserver, and Malcolm’s denial about the haunted nature of the building is far put to rest. He searches desperately for proof of no ghostly activity, and they all celebrate when it’s thought the lake is free of paranormal entities, until the sunken coach rises from the water and is driven over their heads by Martin.

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He chases Sharon and crashes through the facade of Castle Plunkett, where Jack is fleeing from his own beloved, who is revealed in her true decomposing state after they surrender to desire. He gives an ailing woman her last wish, one final kiss; which returns Mary to her youthful appearance. Sharon finally embraces her feelings for Martin, though as she runs into his arms, she falls through an upstairs window to her untimely demise. When Jack rushes to her side, he’s surprised to find Mary, resurrected in his wife’s place. Sharon assumes the role of the bride and an eternity of ghostly courtship. The guests all prepare to go home, having enjoyed their stay after all, and Malcolm promises to recommend Castle Plunkett as the most haunted destination in the Western Hemisphere, consolidating it’s future. Brother Tony ditches the dog collar, choosing his lust for Miranda instead. Jack decides to move in and build a life with Mary, sharing the space with his deceased spouse and her new partner, who end the film by waltzing up the grand stone staircase.

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One thing I love dearly about thrifting is the possibilities it offers me, and I’m glad it led me to this film. It’s not one I’d heard of before, and it seems to be a movie that time has forgot. I personally really enjoyed the corny comedy and think it’s a great choice for spoopy season with stellar performances and epic special effects. I really like that this copy comes with a double-sided disc, meaning you can watch it in standard format or the original 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The special features include the original theatrical trailer.