Well this was a surprise, not because it was good but because it didn’t completely stink. I watch so many modern DTV horror films that I always go in expecting the worst and normally they are as bad as predicted. The Gravedancers on the other hand is actually a pretty solid little ghost story. After three friends recite a spirit summoning poem and dance on some graves (as you do) they are each haunted by very pissed off ghosts. The film features acting talent slightly above the norm which certainly helps sell the creepier moments (plus Tchéky Karyo as an entertaining paranormal investigator).

The first half of the film is a predictable but well executed ghost story with creaking doors, ghostly apparitions and the like. It does little new but gets little wrong either. Once they discover who is haunting them things escalate which is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand the over the top sequences are entertaining with some decent practical and digital special effects that recall Poltergeist but they stop being creepy as the ghosts are properly revealed. This was an okay horror movie and by modern standards that is a pretty big accomplishment.