Lady in White

Plot synopsis:
The film begins with a successful horror author returning to his hometown of Willowpoint Falls. Stopping at a cemetery to visit a pair of gravestones, he begins to tell his driver their story. On Halloween 1962, 9-year-old Franklin "Frankie" Scarlatti (Lukas Haas) tells a scary story to his classmates. Afterwards, two of school jokesters Donald (Jared Rushton) and Louie (Gregory Levinson) take Frankie's hat and toss it on a shelf in the cloak room. They let Frankie know where it is and then lock him in in the cloak room as he tries to get it back.At nightfall, Frankie is still locked in the cloak room and sees the ghost of a little girl re-enact her death. Afterwards, a darkened figure enters the cloak room and begins to unscrew the metal vent unaware that Frankie is still hiding in the room. A rat startles Frankie which alerts the stranger to his presence. The stranger attacks Frankie and he loses consciousness taking him into a dreamlike state where he speaks to the ghost girl. Frankie is revived by his father giving him CPR and rushed to the hospital. Police find and arrest the black school janitor Harold Williams who was found drunk in the basement.Frankie is soon released from the hospital and enjoys a comfortable recovery with his family. His brother Geno, brings a newspaper home which proclaims Frankie to be a star. Geno is reprimanded for making an inappropriate remark and the newspaper is thrown away. Secretly, Frankie finds the newspaper and reads the story regarding his attack which coincidentally links him to an on-going 10 year investigation into the deaths of 11 other children at the hands of a serial killer. Within the same article, he learns the name of the ghost - Melissa Ann Montgomery (Joelle Jacobi). Soon, Frankie sees the ghost of Melissa frequently and he befriends her. Her only request is that he help her find her mother.When he returns to school, Frankie finishes removing the grate cover on the airvent in the cloakroom and removes an odd assortment of children's objects. He singles out two things, a hairclip - which he assumes to belongs to Melissa as he saw something hard and shiny fly off her hair and drop into the grate during her struggle - and an old high school class ring. Frankie cannot figure out the significance of anything he found in the grate. A few more weeks pass and the seasons change.One day, Frankie overhears a conversation between his father and the chief of police. The chief readily admits that Mr. Williams is probably a scapegoat for the murders. The chief also explains that blood found within the cloakroom links that location to the murder of Melissa Montgomery - a fact not released to the press. In a flash, Frankie figures out that the killer came back for his class ring which he dropped into the airvent the night he killed Melissa.Unbeknownst to Frankie, the ring has fallen out of his pocket in his bedroom several days earlier (and picked up by Geno). Frankie relays his theories to family friend Phil. Several days later, Frankie is lured out to the cliffs by Donald and Louie and encounters a lady in white clothing inside an old abandoned cottage. All three kids run out of the house scared but Frankie realizes that she may be Melissa's mother and tries to explain the situation to Geno (who has come looking for him due to the late hour). Geno does not believe him but now understands the origin of the ring he found. Although he does not tell Frankie that he found the ring.Melissa's ghost haunts Frankie in a non-threatening way. She appears one night and even Geno sees her. Suddenly, both boys follow her as she re-creates her death scene at 10pm (it is implied that this happens every night). They are late arriving at the school and by the time they get to the front door, her ghost is seen being carried down the stairs (presumably dead) and back out of the school. This time, Frankie follows her but Geno is incapacitated by a thorn in the foot and cannot give chase. Alone, Frankie follows the body (that is being carried by an unseen person) out to the cliffs. There, Frankie sees that at the last minute, Melissa regains consciousness, screams and is thrown over the cliffs alive. Afterwards, Melissa's mother runs out of the old white cottage calling for her daughter. She sees Melissa's body at the foot of the cliffs and then throws herself over the edge. Geno finally catches up with a very startled Frankie and they both go home.Harold Williams, the black school janitor, who got drunk while watching a ballgame in the school basement on the night of Frankie's assault, is accused of the attempted murder of Frankie and the murder of Melissa and ten other children. This sets off instances of outrage in the community but Angelo Scarlatti (Alex Rocco), Frankie's father, believes Williams' claim of innocence upon failure to link the janitor to Frankie's assault and the fact that Williams is also a father. Williams is later freed when a grand jury decides against going to trial due to insufficient evidence, but he is then murdered by the mother of one of the victims (who believes him to be guilty).Meanwhile, Geno continues to investigate the ring that Frankie found in the vent. His father has an old trunk full of old sentimental objects and he notices that his father owns an identical class ring from the same school year. He realizes that the killer may be in the same graduating class as his father. Geno compares the initials on the old ring with his father's yearbook, and discovers that the murderer is family friend Phil. He frantically runs to tell his father and the police chief. Frankie, who is with Phil at that time, figures out the truth when Phil is whistling "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking" (Melissa's song) and unwittingly tips off Phil. Phil attempts to attack Frankie, but he escapes and runs to the cliffs. Phil chases him and admits to being the killer, but claims he had no idea he was attacking Frankie on Halloween. He explains that he wouldn't have done it had Frankie not been wearing his Halloween mask as he cares about him a great deal. Phil attacks Frankie by strangling him and demands the whereabouts/return of the ring. Suddenly he's struck from behind by an unseen person and both Frankie and Phil collapse.Frankie then awakens in the well-preserved bedroom (presumably the old cottage) which had been Melissa's, under the care of the woman who saved him, Amanda Harper (Katherine Helmond). She reveals that she is Melissa's aunt and has been despondent over the loss of her sister and niece. She also tells Frankie that she set fire to her own house in an attempt to take her own life in order to be reunited with her family, but was rescued from the blaze and subsequently branded the town crazy.Before she can finish her explanations, Phil sneaks into the cottage, attacks, and murders Harper. Several candles are knocked over during the struggle and a large housefire begins. Phil rescues Frankie from the burning cottage but only to try and throw Frankie off the cliff. Frankie puts up a great struggle and in the end is saved by the ghost of Melissa's mother (the true Lady in White) who scares Phil over the edge of the cliff. Having brought the ghost of Melissa with him, Frankie watches as she and the Lady in White reunite and ascend into the sky.Frankie attempts to crawl away from the cliff edge but is grabbed around the ankle by a struggling Phil (who's holding onto a lone tree branch). Frankie's father Angelo, Geno, the police, and hunters with scent-tracking dogs arrive. Angelo frees Frankie and tries to save Phil, but at the last minute Phil lets go and falls to his death. With Phil dead, the movie ends with the group watching as the cottage burns down while the snow begins to fall.

Tags: murder, cult, horror, violence, psychedelic, revenge, sadist

Review:
This movie isn't any kind of masterpiece, but I still enjoyed it.Starring Lukas Haas (the Amish boy in "Witness"), Len Cariou, Alex Rocco (Moe Greene in "The Godfather") and Katherine Helmond..
Just like Taboada's "Hasta el viento tiene miedo", LaLoggia's "Lady in White" is an absolutely astonishing movie in every part of it, starting from the visual style to the plot.
Once finished watching, someone would think that it's the plot that makes this movie so unique, but for a movie-lover it's not too hard to remember at least a couple of other flicks with similar plots but miles weaker than "Lady in White", so it's obvious that everything: acting, direction, music, design, photography; so well fit together so they create a potion of pure imagination incredibly interknit with an almost touchable reality.
The real power of the film for me was the presentation of the film - the creepy moments with the Lady in White, Katherine Helmond as a crazed woman obsessed with candles, and the claustrophobic atmosphere of a little school room.
It is a ghost story, a murder mystery, a nostalgia film, and a family drama.The story is centered on Frankie, a successful novelist of horror stories.
Much of the story is seen in the context of an Italo-American family, with mild comedic incidents.Major spoiler: The identity of the murderer is a bit easy to figure out, particularly with him whistling an early Bing Crosby song that Frankie (and the audience) knows is connected to the little girl's ghost.The film delivers on all its fronts, and is perfect to watch after the Trick-Or-Treaters have finished..
Barry hated HELLBOUND which is unsurprising since he is notoriouslyintolerant of gore and violence but he did praise THE LADY IN WHITE but after finally seeing it I have to admit it's a very patchy movie Much of the problem lies in the film trying to say a little too much .
Considering the title of the movie the title character doesn't make an appearance until well into the second half of the running time and up till then GIRL IN PINK would have been a more appropriate title In fact nothing much at all happens until a subplot featuring a ring comes to the fore and when it does the story becomes compelling and exciting and a little bit disturbing .
I think the idea is good and the performances are excellent, especially Lucas Haas and Alex Rocco but that the script, direction and over-the-top corny moments hinder it.If you don't mind ropey effects and are a sucker for sugar then you may well love this as much as I once did, if you love films and can over-look glaring faults then I would recommend checking it out (the archery scene is still stand out for me and the best part of the film).If you are very discerning it will grate too much, still I don't regret buying it and will no doubt watch it again..
There's a racial subplot and a subtle theme of pedophilia that run throughout the movie and sadly, the former never ends up being resolved and the latter does little more than skew this movie away from being for kids, despite its B grade special effects and the fact that most of the main characters are children.It is a good movie an it's directed quite well, however the movie sadly feels like it was caught in a tug of war between the director, writer and the people financing the film.
As seen through the eyes of young Frankie Scarlatti, the mysterious "Lady in White" becomes the thread connecting the pursuit of a child killer with the appearance of a young girl's ghost.
Set in the town of Willowpoint Falls, the movie begins with the return of a grown up Frankie, now a successful writer of supernatural fiction, as he recalls the childhood events which directed his career path.
A Halloween prank results in Frankie being locked in his school's cloakroom overnight, and the ethereal vision of a young victim and her attacker sets in motion a series of events which will ultimately reveal the shocking identity of the serial killer and the secret behind the legendary "Lady in White".
(Which wasn't really creepy.)Then the movies goes Mystery away, finding out who the attack or Killer was, (Some clues long the away, which make sense in the end,)I liked it how it was revealed who the attack was, it something so small give away, some of the of the fantasy scenes were really pointless.Some of effects this movie looked really outdated now, I think they should just kept Halloween theme though out the movie, (However this could be watch at Halloween and Xmas).However I felt missed out on the aftermath of the whole story, Wanted to see people find who the killer was, it never get to see that, which I way going give this movie.
The young boy soon finds himself on a path to identify the murderer and help the ghost of the young girl.What I really enjoyed about this movie was the ability to cause tension and fear (even if minimalistically) without gore, cheap scares, and superficial jump scenes.
There is a sensitivity about him, but at the same time he exudes the playful energy of any young boy at that age.For those looking for a decent ghost story that is also something the kids can enjoy (naturally, not for small kids), then this is definitely worth a watch.
When you see where the Halloween topic has been through,the likes of Carpenter's stuff,it's a wonder one can make a non-gore ,adult,clever movie on such a hackneyed subject.The main theme in "lady in white" is the fear of losing our dear ones,a fear which dwells in every child.Not only the young hero-played by a sensitive actor-lost his mother at such an early age but remember that Phil suffered the death of both his father and his mother too.Even the ghost (the little girl) cannot find peace of mind because of her splintered childhood.The black children will experience this terrible fate.The spirit of HALLOWEEN  is the core of the movie who could be dedicated to our faithful departed.
After getting locked into his school's cloak-room by a couple of class bullies on Halloween night, Frankie witnesses a ghostly re-enactment of a murder that took place there years ago!
The setting is placed in a small lovable New England town, which is quickly transposed into a genuinely creepy and surreal atmosphere when a young boy "Franki" gets locked in his school closet on Halloween night and witnesses a ghostly reenactment of the murder of a young schoolgirl.He then holds the key to help the girl "rest in peace" by finding her killer.......
LADY IN WHITE is one of those rare gems.A murder mystery, a ghost story and a coming-of-age "dramedy" all wrapped up in one, it is the realization of the vision of one very gifted director, Frank La Loggia, whom I believe has paid a heavy price for staying true to his instincts, when it comes to what kind of films he wants to make.
The story begins with the recollection of author Frankie Scarlatti, whose specialty runs into Stephen King-like novels and stories, as he remembers his childhood in the town of Willowpoint Falls, in upstate New York, and the events there that would shape the rest of his life and his career.Young Frankie, (Lukas Hass from WITNESS) becomes the victim of a prank played on him by two of his school chums.
But more than that; he becomes a reluctant witness to her murder after the fact, and nearly victim number eleven.Frankie survives the ordeal, and in the events that follow, he learns about prejudice, paranoia, how not to fear the darkness or the dead, and that the greatest terror of all comes from the living, especially when evil strikes closer to home than you ever dared believe.The most amazing thing about this film is how, on such a limited budget, La Loggia evokes such a strong sense of time and place.
What's more, the care and skill he used to coax such remarkable performances out of the cast reflect what a labor of love this was for him, and I believe that if he never makes another film, LADY IN WHITE will stand the test of time as one of the best films of its kind.Aside from the great work done by Haas, then about midway through his child-acting days, Alex Rocco, Len Cariou and Katherine Helmond give some of the best performances of their careers.
The efforts of the entire cast, as orchestrated by La Loggia, ensure that this is one character-driven movie that does not suffer for lack of car-chases, explosions or elaborate CGI set pieces.Though it may be a little too intense for members of the younger set, (under 13), for a story that will delight, chill, amaze and move you, you won't get better than this, whether you sit down to watch it alone, or preferably, with the entire family..
I remember some memorable scenes:Lukas Haas being trap in the coat room and actually climbing to view the window outside the school campusI remember when he was reciting a ghost story and the teacher jumped.My first glimpse of seeing the Lady in White the first time:(she scarred me when I was little and I must confess this was it)The lizard incident with Lukas Haas scared me the most.The shooting involving the mother killing the accused black man.Now, seeing it the second time.
My affection for Frank LaLoggia's modern classic is easy to explain: the film's world is similar to the world I grew up in: small town, Italian grandparents, loving blue collar parents, and cronies fascinated with monsters and ghosts.
Writer-director LaLoggia so perfectly recreates the 1960s childhood experience that one totally identifies with young Frankie Scarlatti (Lukas Haas) as he's caught up with murder, ghosts, a benevolent madwoman, and a precious family friend with a dark secret.
If I get some good special effects and strong camera work a film goes to the top of my list.Lady in White has all of the items on my check list.The added bonus is that I can watch this movie over and over again.
One of the many strengths of Frank LaLoggia's 1988 ghost story "Lady In White" might be considered uncommon for a horror film; there is a lot of care, passion and compassion both behind and in front of the cameras.
And that's exactly what LaLoggia does with this nostalgic tale.If you like your horror films to have a bit more originality and style than today's cookie- cutter Hollywood fare, then don't miss Lady in White..
A ghost story that utilizes atmosphere, a touching and at times complex story that is grounded in characters that we care about, and style in spades, makes the Lady In White a movie that you need to see this and every Halloween season..
But LaLoggia's ambition and genuine affection for his story lifts this far above many of 1988's tepid releases.Plot sees Lukas Haas play Frankie, a young boy who as part of a bully prank gets locked in the school cloak-room on Halloween night 1962.
Surviving the attack (one of the film's itchy flaws since the killer must closely know him to let him live), Frankie embarks upon a mission to uncover the story behind the little girl's murder.
LaLoggia's movie also benefits from strong performances from the principal actors, with Haas (unassuming with commonsense child mannerisms) & Rocco (emotionally tortured but stoic father) playing out two of the best turns in the horror calendar year.Guessing the killer isn't hard, and in fact he shows up rather too early.
LADY IN WHITE tackles a ghost story, comedy, racism and family in a movie that doesn't quite deliver all the goods but I liked it for what it was.Young Frankie Scarlatti, upon having a trick played on him by two smart ass classmates, is locked in the cloakroom (closet-whatever you want to call it) of his school and witnesses the murder of a little girl.
Thus begins Frank LaLoggia's beautiful and atmospheric LADY IN WHITE, a ghost story that is so much more.
But after fellow students lock him in the school cloakroom, he comes across the ghost of a little girl that will change his life forever.LaLoggia helmed 1981's FEAR NO EVIL, but that outing is far and away different that this story, which combines the innocence of childhood and the brutality of adulthood.
"Lady in White" is about a young boy named Frankie Scarlatti (Lukas Haas), who lives in a rural small town.
After the horrific incident, Frankie becomes immersed in a mystery involving the young murdered girl, her relation to a ghostly woman known as the 'Lady in white', and the serial killer who has claimed the lives of countless other children for the past ten years.I watched this movie when I was about nine or ten years old, and it truly frightened me.
Though the kids frequently tell tales of the Lady in White, we only ever get one real scene of an actual terror involving the specter and its' played almost more for laughs than scares.If you want a good ghost story, I can names dozens that are better.
Lady in White is set in the small US town of Willowpoint Falls during 1962 where a young ten year old boy Frankie Scarlatti (Lukas Haas) has been locked inside the school cloakroom by two bullies the night before Halloween, trapped inside Frankie sees the ghost of a young girl playing before she is killed.
Frankie decides to investigate the murders & expose the killer with some help from his new ghostly friend...Written, produced & directed by Frank LaLoggia who also composed the music for it Lady in White is a strange film to watch, it mixes all sorts of genres & styles to reasonable if not amazing success.
Lady in White is basically a fairly mild ghost story that goes in many different directions as it's told from the perspective of a young boy it's a coming of age drama, comedic at times emotional tear jerking nostalgic chiller that even has a stab at bringing up the idea of racism from the early 60's.
There's no real gore although someone is shot & not much violence either, Lady in White goes for mood rather than scares.With a supposed budget of about $4,700,000 this had a lot more money behind it than many independent horror films ever had or ever will have, it looks nice enough & has good production values although some of the special effects have dated badly.
The acting is very good here & one of the films strongest points, the child actor's have that rare ability not to be annoying & feel natural & at ease while director LaLoggia has an uncredited cameo as Frankie later in life during the opening prologue.Lady in White is an odd film that feels like a mix of ideas & themes, it's a very slow film which I think hurts it but the quaint small town drama of family life intertwined with a ghost story may be enough for some to like it.
Suddenly, this ghostly girl is haunting him constantly, showing up, wanting him to follow her, wanting him to help solve the mystery of her murder so that she can rest in peace.In a parallel ghost story within the film, a mysterious "Lady in White", another ghost, haunts the seaside cliffs in the small town, walking back and forth and weeping.
Luckily, he also gifted us with this film, a ghost story that bombed on initial release but has gone on to be a celebrated film, one that's just as much about growing up as it is about murder.Horror author Franklin "Frankie" Scarlatti (as an adult, he's played by the director, but in the film itself, it's Lukas Haas) is on his way back to Willowpoint Falls and relates the story of how way back in 1962, over Halloween, he was attacked and nearly strangled to death by a mysterious figure in black.
Even more frightening, he witnesses the death of a young redhead girl, who has ties to the mysterious lady in white, an urban legend that all of the schoolboys live in fear of.The police arrest the school's black janitor, Harold "Willy" Williams, for the killings and the way the town reacts to this forms the moral backbone of the film.
It IS scary, especially the scenes with Melissa, the little girl ghost, being murdered, and the ghostly re-enactment of her mother's suicide later on...and then there's the extremely suspensful (and again scary) scene of young Frankie fighting for his life when the same man who murdered Melissa tries to throw him off the cliffs...trust me, it's pretty heavy stuff.The basic plot is that on Halloween in 1962 (the setting of the story), Frankie Scarlotti is locked in his schools cloak room when two of his "friends" play a prank on him.
Now Frankie, after making a promise to Melissa when he met her while in a near-death like state, is determind to solve the murders of Melissa so that the little ghost girl can re-unit with her mother...a white robed woman who roams the local cliffs, labelled by many as the lady in white.The best things about Lady In White, aside from the great story, are the cast, sets and costumes.
Although "Lady In White" is not an adventure film, it is nonetheless adventurous for young Frankie Scarlatti.
Frank LaLoggia's "Lady's in White" is a film that is seen from a young boy's perspective.
Those things, Frankie discovers, later on, belong to the children that were murdered in the town.Lucas Haas, who started in films as a young boy, was an unusual presence in his early appearances.