User reviews

I picked up this cheap DVD knowing very little about it, other than it being a ghost story starring Terry O'Quinn who also made some other horror fables around this time; "The Stepfather" and "Pin". To my pleasant surprise, this rarely talked about (if not) enterprise actually turned to be a compelling and worthwhile dip. The word sleeper can get thrown around, but "The Forgotten One" is what you call a sleeper! More interesting than most.

Novelist Bob Anderson packs up and moves to a new city buying an old creaky Victorian house, hoping to storm up ideas for his second novel and move on from the unexpected death of his wife. However he learns the house homes a long-dormant entity, which he discovers is the spirit of a murdered 19th century housewife Evelyn. Thinking that discovering the corpse and actually burying it would free the spirit, only seems to entice the spirit and Bob soon becomes obsessed with Evelyn who just won't let him go.

While customary in its set-up, it actually managed to tell a complete, low-key ghost tale of harrowing heartbreak, haunting mystery and a certain amount of moody chills. Director / writer Phillip Badger's competent touch is atmospheric, sensual and suggestive in what is mature, slow-tempo storytelling with polished visuals, well-revealed twists, constant danger and respectably good performances from the likes Terry Quinn, Kristy McNichol and Blair Parker. Quinn gives such a strong performance with his neurotic presence really carrying it, but McNichol is not to be discarded in a very likable turn as the helpful neighbour. Then there's the striking beauty of Parker, who gracefully engages with a tormented, if sincere performance as the forlorn spirit trying to manipulate things to her own liking. Also popping up is Elisabeth Brooks as a steamy nightclub singer. The script is a character drama with its focus on haunted memories, love, and fate with the right balance of dry, witty humour.

Subtle, slow-tempo and stylish low-budget horror chiller with the common theme of eternal love binning it all together.

"How do you kill something that's already dead."

The original story line was of a writer who moved into this supposed haunted house in hopes of sparking an idea for a new novel. He is haunted in his dreams by the ghost of a young girl who lures him into the cellar. Over a period of about a month and creative investigation on the houses history, he discovers that a young girl, who was 15 years old at the turn of the century, became pregnant by her boyfriend. The father was so ashamed and so enraged by his daughters behavior, that he walled her up alive down in the cellar. Nearly a hundred years goes by before her story is learned by our writer. He opens up the wall in the cellar and finds a cavity that has been exposed to the elements. The odd noises he heard during the previous month seems to have been coming from this cavity. He decides its all in his imagination, and that it could make a good book. What he doesn't see is that there is another room off to the side of the cavity that contains a skeleton of a young girl. This movie was based on a short story entitled "The Hidden Truth". And was written by yours truly in 1987.

Writer Terry O'Quinn moves into a house haunted by the spirit of a beautiful woman; with help from brash neighbor Kristy McNichol, he gets to the bottom of the mystery. Straight-to-tape item is a stylish low-budget effort aimed at thinking adults. There are erotic undercurrents that are not explored (curious, since the apparition is mostly seen nude), and relationships that seem half-baked, but O'Quinn is excellent here (with no "Stepfather" overtones). It's also a chance to see McNichol do good work before her youthful retirement. Not especially memorable or thrilling, but patient viewers will find some subtle surprises. **1/2 from ****

I had never heard of this film, and didn't think this would be too great. But this movie was pretty damn good. Who knew? I am a little biased, because I really like Terry O'Quinn (from those good old "Stepfather" movies). But I'm also biased in the other direction, since I really dislike Kristy McNichol. In this film, a recently-widowed writer moves into a house in Denver, only to find it haunted by a blood-curdlingly scary (at first) ghost. When he collects enough courage to investigate, he finds that the ghost is actually a blood-warmingly hot woman, who died in the house. His neighbour (McNichol), first believes him crazy, then tries to save him as he falls in love with the occasionally bare-naked and occasionally homicidal ghost. The first half was very scary, and by the end, it actually got pretty sweet. In the end, I was very glad I watched it, and a pleasant surprise is the best surprise of all.

This kind of "case suggestive of reincarnation" has intrigued me for years, but not since The Reincarnation of Peter Proud and the Two Worlds of Jennie Logan have I seen a movie so unique. Bravo to all involved, for their courage. Blair Parker (Evelyn) is gorgeous, but this seems to be the only movie she ever made. The movie is haunting (no pun intended), and I would like to find a soundtrack if there is one.

This movie is a genuine sleeper. Not many know about this one, but it's definetely one of my favourites! Terry O'Quinn (from The Stepfather) is great as a writer who rents an old house, and is haunted by a strange presence in it. The movie is very atmospheric and at times hypnotic in it's handling of the ghost-theme, and has some genuine twists in the story and a great ending!

One of the best haunting films I have ever seen. Much of what is made nowadays don't even come closer. When I first saw it, I was taken by a grateful surprise. Comparisons not taken for granted, but this one made me feel the same way I did when I saw The Shining for the first time. The atmosphere of the place and the beauty of the ghost woman are way too pleasing. Haven't seen it for a long time now. VHS disappeared from the surface of the earth, but I would certainly like a second try. Does anybody know of any plans for a DVD or even a Blu-ray? I am eager to buy it. Film Studio: think about it! Don't let such a gem get lost in oblivion.

In the past I thought only the British could make a good ghost story. I was wrong. This is a wonderfully dark, atmospheric movie that thrills, chills and even in moments, sparks a giggle. My only regret is that it's not (yet) available in DVD format. Perhaps that will be rectified. In the meantime if you love ghost stories as much as I do you'll need to add this one to your collection. Kristy McNichol plays an endearing part as a budding writer and possible love interest of Terry O'Quinn who plays a widowed writer who buys a house and is soon confronted by his past ... his forgotten past. It's a really great story and an excellent movie all around. Well written, beautiful photography, and excellent acting which is unusual these days. Hope to see this one on DVD one day!

Does anyone know if a USA Region 1 DVD exists? This movie is truly a hidden gem, that needs more recognition - just like one of my favorite actors of all time Terry O'Quinn. Also, what ever happened to Blair Parker? She did a Perry Mason movie in 1992 and then disappeared like her ghost in The Forgotten One.

My review was written in June 1990 after watching the film on Academy video cassette.

Sketchy scripting sinks "The Forgotten One", an initially promising erotic ghost story with a decent cast. Film went the direct-to-video route.

Terry O'Quinn is a most unlikely choice to portray a guy who's irresistible to women but plays it straight. He moves from Kansas City to a lonely house in Colorado to get some privacy while writing. A beautiful ghost (Blair Parker) starts bugging him and things get out of hand when his new girlfriend (Kirsty McNichol) also sees the ghost.

O'Quinn, after his "Stepfather" films, has this role down pat, and McNichol is a welcome sight as his down-to-earth pal. Elizabeth Brooks, who got a sexy showcase a decade earlier in Joe Dante's "The Howling", is wasted as a night club singer.

Yes a USA playable DVD now exits. However, there is no blue ray for The Forgotten One yet. The DVD is very difficult to locate. I got mine on eBay. I love this movie, but the cinematography is poor. The plot is nice. It's Romanic, but not all that frightening. The movie is strong in the area of nostalgia and touches on a period romance a bit. There is a mystery behind it all when the Terry O'Quinn (who played a role as the town mayor in Tomestone) discovered the old home he bought is not entirely empty. He forges a romance with his attractive next door neighbor while investigating the supernatural.