Widow’s Point (2019) (USA)

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A publicity stunt backfires on a desperate author when his weekend stay at a haunted lighthouse blows up in his face. A ponytailed Craig Sheffer is the author and he’s filming his whole experience inside the legendary locale. The caretaker refuses to give him the keys to the actual lighthouse portion of the building but he’s not one to take “no” for an answer. We’re filled in on the haunted history of the place as Sheffer’s distinctive voice narrates over the tragedies visited upon the spot. Sure it’s Discovery Channel reenactment level but I’d be a bigger fan of more shows on that network if Mr. Sheffer was speaking over the local theater level performances. Ghosts run around in the background of shots and a phantom bride causes people to murder and kill themselves. His agent is happy he’s doing something to add some spice to his career and he’s joined by his familiar-looking and kinda cute publicist Rosa and his also familiar-lookin’ and maybe-cute-in-the-right-light tech guy Andre. Andre sets up the equipment and Rosa is over there to monitor the footage and help out where she can while the author locks himself in the lighthouse he’s somehow convinced the owner to open up for him. Technical issues bring Andre back and an old journal fills Sheffer in on some secret history and the horrible supernatural force calling the place home. Food rots, water gets salty, his publicist thinks the author is hoaxin’ it up, stairs become endless, Sheffer gets trapped and ghosts do whatever it is ghosts like to do inside creepy lighthouses. Sheffer throws down one hilarious freak out and shit gets Lovecraftian as the time runs out. It’s nothing special and features more than a couple rancid performances and filmmaking choices but like any brain-damaged lover of straight-to-VHS 90’s thrillers, I gotta soft spot for Craig Sheffer and am embarrassingly excited when his mug pops up in my endeavors. Based off of a moderately enjoyable short story from the father/son team of Richard and W.H. Chimzar. The “Complete Haunting” edition of the book features the short’s superior sequel.