Ghosts Of War

Vertigo Releasing, War/Thriller/Horror Available from July 17

Starring: Brenton Thwaites, Theo Rossi, Skylar Astin, Kyle Gallner, Alan Ritchson, Billy Zane.

Chris (Brenton Thwaites) leads a fivestrong team of US soldiers from the Airborne division through Nazi-occupied France towards the end of the Second World War.

He has been ordered to relieve soldiers stationed at a grand chateau and hold the position with brothers in arms Butchie (Alan Ritchson), Eugene (Skylar Astin), Kirk (Theo Rossi) and Tappert (Kyle Gallner) to prevent the Germans from regaining the strategic stronghold.

During the first night in the house, Chris, Butchie, Eugene, Kirk and Tappert experience strange events, which convince them that the house might be haunted by ghosts of the home-owners, who were murdered by the Nazis.

As the spectral visitations intensity, persistent tapping on pipes reveals a chilling message in Morse code: "If you leave you die".

Written and directed by Eric Bress, who penned the opening chapter of the Final Destination series, Ghosts Of War is a mildly unsettling supernatural horror, which recycles

genre tropes.

Doors open of their own accord, shadowy figures manifest in darkened corridors and gouged fingernail marks streak down wooden floorboards.

Bress deviates abruptly from his welltrodden path for a final act narrative detour that teeters precariously on the cusp of the ridiculous.

Jump scares are accomplished with assurance - and plenty of advanced warning - accompanied by copious blood spatter courtesy of the make-up department.

Thwaites is a likeable hero in the midst of unearthly madness while Billy Zane enjoys a throwaway supporting role as a German Major, which only makes sense once the end credits roll.

Rating: ***