Tower of Terror (1997) (Movie Review)

    For about the best eight years of my childhood, during the late 90’s and early 2000’s, I grew up in San Diego California, and it was a frequent family tradition during vacation time to drive out to Disneyland. I can’t even begin to count how many times I visited that park as a kid, I knew it inside out, and my absolute favorite rides were always the spookier themed attractions. You name it … “The Haunted Mansion”, “Snow Whites Dark Ride”, “The Indiana Jones Thrill Ride”, and even “Pirates of the Carrabin”, all had these cryptic, otherworldly, atmospheric highlights that’s always drew me back to them. 

However, the one spooky attraction I regrettably never experienced at the time was Disney Worlds “Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror” attraction in Florida, and for years, I so badly wanted to experience the thrills of that ride. Thankfully, Tower of Terror did eventually come to Disney’s California Adventure Park in 2004, and while I was in Middle school at the time, I at least got to finally experience the ride before moving out of state. Not only did the ride surpass my expectations, but around this same time … Disney just released their theatrical movie of “The Haunted Mansion” … which had me hoping Tower of Terror was next for a movie adaption. Much to my surprise … there was already a movie based on the ride in 1997, simply titled “Tower of Terror”.

   Despite being a made for TV movie that aired on ABC, it was still the very first Disney movie to be adapted from one of their theme park attractions. The film was even shot at the theme park ride in Florida, which is kind of surreal … the Disney ride itself is in the movie it’s based around. One noticeable difference between the two is that the movie drops all ties to “The Twilight Zone” series, which the theme park attraction was originally based around. I don’t know if it was a copy right issue, but regardless, the movie dose all in its power to weave a narrative around the premise of the ride, and it’s also cool how the script weaves Halloween into the plot. Our story begins on Halloween night in 1939, in which a popular child actress has arrived at the Hollywood Hotel for a very special party on the twelfth flour. As she and four other attendances in an elevator begin their ascension, a mysterious bolt of green lightning hits the building, and the occupancy in the elevator vanishes without a trace.

   Sixty Years later, a phony journalist played by Steve Guttenberg wishes to report on real stories again, as opposed to fake, supernatural oddities that he sets up with the aid of his nice, played by Kirsten Dunst. He and his nice soon discover that there may be real supernatural haunts within the now closed-off Hollywood Hotel, and aims to not only relaunch his career with a real story … but for once, a real ghost story. After further exploring, it’s revealed that the spirits of the five-elevator victims are trapped on the lower levels of the hotel, and in order to lift their curse, they need to arrive on the Twelfth level of the building on Halloween night, and figuratively attend that special party that's waiting for them … only then can they cross over into the after-life. As our hero’s seek a way to lift their curse, a Wicked Witch is secretly scheming in the shadows, who was originally responsible for the five victims, and is setting an even bigger trap to spring on Halloween night.

   While this film can’t escape the fact that it’s a made for TV production, it’s still putting it’s all into feeling like a theatrical experience. Both the editing and camera work do their best to capture a sense of grandeur, and energy. While there’s not much in terms of action or non-stop excitement, the film makes-up for it with some subtle touches, including a charming personality, a decent enough mystery, and an inviting sense of spooky atmosphere. My favorite sequence of the whole film is all the build-up, in which all the haunted and mysterious elements first take shape. The tower itself feels like a character, with all kinds of secrets waiting to be explored. The environment has a fair amount of activity going on, including possessed objects, and spooky entities … including a headless specter. When the ghost of the little girl first appears, she’s a silhouette against this watery, green mist, and it’s effectively eerie.

  When we finally meet the ghosts, they each have distinct personalities, and it’s refreshing to have ghosts who are more grounded and conversational, rather than whacky caricatures of the time. The whole cast in general has great chemistry, and most of the films appeal comes from how these different players interact. Steve Guttenberg was one of those recognizable actors, who I grew-up with in family friendly comedies, like 1990’s “Three Men and A Little Lady”, but I have to admit … I’ve never called myself a fan. He certainly tried to channel the same energy of Tim Allen or Chevy Chase, but just never quiet had the same charm. Still, he does have chemistry with the cast in “Tower of Terror”, and his frequently annoying quirks are a little more bearable then usual. Kirsten Dunst was always a favored reoccurring young actress from my generation, and is just as lovable as ever in this film. At the time, she was in her early teenage years, and this marked one of her last family-friendly offerings, before moving on to edgier dark comedies, like 1999’s “Drop Dead Gorgeous”.  

   The mystery elements will undeniably be more effective for younger viewers, but I feel there’s still enough details in all the twists and turns that can keep older viewers invested. It’s very much in the style of a competent Scooby-Doo mystery, in which it may be predictable, but you like seeing how things unfold. Admittedly, the special effects at times can be a little doge, including some cheesy looking scene transitions. There are also several cliff-hangers, in a which a scene will build momentum, and then fade to black … which always reminds me that this movie was made for TV first. Like I said earlier, the film still tries it’s best to feel cinematic, without going for conventional spectacle, and I really admire it for that.

   The climax is set in an elevator, in which our ghosts are desperate to go up, and our humans are on the brink of falling down. It’s an effective nod to the theme park ride, as the attraction concluded with a plummeting elevator. Beyond that, it’s also a mature finale that ties into the characters, who all reflect on past mistakes, and learn to forgive one another. Without going into specific details, some of the back story made me think back on the 1962 horror classic “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?”, in which a sister is jealous of her more famous sibling, and her anger has lasting repercussions on their adult lives. The Witch character in “Tower of Terror” has a similar backstory … but with a happy ending this time around. Actually, the epilogue leads to one of those special endings that isn’t obnoxiously sentimental, yet still leaves me feeling all warm, and cheerful inside.

   In the end, “Tower of Terror” is no masterpiece, but it’s certainly better than it had any right to be, and I feel it’s one of the better adaptions of a Disney Land theme park attraction. Honestly, it might just be my second favorite behind the first “Pirates of the Carrabin”. 

It’s certainly a stronger effort then 2003’s “The Haunted Mansion”, even though I do admittedly have more nostalgic reservations for that film. In general, I feel the spooky themed, made for TV Disney movies of the early days had a distinct personality … and even an edge … that I just feel is missing from what they produce now days. “Tower of Terror” has its dark elements, even subtle creepy touches, but its still appealing for a whole family to sit-down and watch together. If you’re a genera fan of these family friendly Halloween films, that retain just enough of a dark tone, then be sure to give this one a watch. It won’t knock your socks off, but you might just find it a welcome little experience to go with the season.  

Thanks for reading my review of Disney’s 1997 movie “Tower of Terror” … and continue to make every day in October feel like Halloween!