Kurt Frey Movies

Some musicians would sell their soul for a shot at stardom, but one aspiring teenage rock star isn't so sure it's a good idea in this computer-animated chiller. Johnny (voice of Jasper Steverlinck) is the son of a famous rock singer (voice of Kyoko Baertsoen) who turned him over to others to raise when he was only three years old. After his mother's death, Johnny inherits her mansion, and as he explores the spooky old house in hopes of learning more about his absent mother, Johnny discovers an unexpected visitor -- a demon named Mephisto (voice of Harry Shearer). Mephisto informs Johnny that his mother was in cahoots with the Devil, and that he can make Johnny an even bigger star if he's willing to sign Satan's contract. While Johnny has formed a band of his own, he's dubious about Mephisto's promises; when he says as much, the Devil himself (also voiced by Shearer) scoffs at Johnny's disbelief, taking the young rocker on a guided tour of the Hell that awaits those who think they can escape the Devil's rule of the music business. Haunted Castle was filmed and initially exhibited in the high-definition IMAX film format; it was the first IMAX presentation that failed to earn a G rating from the MPAA (it was classified PG for "some frightening sensations and horror images"). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Australian filmmaker John Duigan followed up his captivating The Year My Voice Broke with Flirting. Noah Taylor repeats his "Danny" characterization from the earlier film, while Thandie Newton plays a Ugandan exchange student who attends an Australian girls boarding school. Billeted at a nearby boy's school, Danny finds himself falling in love with Newton, though he is frequently at a loss as to how to express himself. Flirting is the second in a proposed trilogy of John Duigan-directed films revolving around Danny's "awkward" years. Featured in the cast as one of Newton's schoolmates is Nicole Kidman. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi