The Ghost and the Darkness
The Ghost and the Darkness

The Ghost and the Darkness

1996Movie109 minEnglish

Sir Robert Beaumont is behind schedule on a railroad in Africa. Enlisting noted engineer John Henry Patterson to right the ship, Beaumont expects results. Everything seems great until the crew discovers the mutilated corpse of the project's foreman, seemingly killed by a lion. After several more attacks, Patterson calls in famed hunter Charles Remington, who has finally met his match in the bloodthirsty lions.

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Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes51%
Metacritic57/100
Google Users77%
Director: Stephen HopkinsGenres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Thriller

Plot Summary

In 1898 East Africa, renowned big-game hunter Charles Remington is brought in by chief engineer John Henry Patterson to help deal with two deadly man-eating lions terrorizing a construction site for a new railway bridge over the Tsavo River. As the death toll rises and the construction halts, Patterson and Remington must confront their own fears and dwindling resources to hunt down the formidable predators before they claim more lives.

Critical Reception

The Ghost and the Darkness received mixed reviews from critics, with many praising its suspenseful atmosphere and the performances of its lead actors, Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas. However, some critics found the film's plot to be predictable and its historical accuracy questionable, while others commended its visual style and the depiction of the African landscape.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its thrilling atmosphere and the solid performances of its lead actors.
  • Criticized by some for a predictable plot and historical inaccuracies.
  • Commended for its visual style and the depiction of the African wilderness.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's suspenseful nature and the captivating story of man versus beast. The performances by Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas were frequently highlighted as strong points, contributing to an engaging viewing experience. Some viewers noted that while entertaining, the film takes significant liberties with the historical events it portrays.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound (1997).

Fun Fact

The prosthetic lions used in the film were so convincing that on set, one crew member accidentally shot at a prop lion, mistaking it for a real one.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**Overall, a good African adventure film.** Overall, I liked this film. Africa has always held a fascination for Europeans, and anyone who has lived there will certainly recognize that it leaves a mark, a kind of spell or enchantment. An...
sykobanana

sykobanana

I loved this movie when I got to see it when it was first released. Based on a true story (in fact the only part that was made up for is the lions' den scene), this movie breathes Africa due to the incredible cinematography of Vilmos Zsi...
John Chard

John Chard

Oh, you're right. The devil has come to Tsavo. Look at me, I am the devil. The Ghost and the Darkness is directed by Stephen Hopkins and written by William Goldman. It stars Val Kilmer, Michael Douglas, Tom Wilkinson, John Kani, Bernard ...