Ghost Track (2022): A Low-Budget Horror Gem with Heart and Flaws

Ghost Track (2022), originally titled Morris, is a British indie horror film written and directed by Jason M.J. Brown. Released on October 11, 2022, by Wild Eye Releasing, this 74-minute feature blends ghost story and slasher elements, delivering a nostalgic nod to 80s horror with a modern twist. Shot on a shoestring budget of £2,000 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, it follows a group of friends haunted by the vengeful spirit of a boy they couldn’t save from a train accident years ago. Starring Adam Probets, Katie Richmond-Ward, Darren Randall, and featuring a cameo by Tamara Glynn, Ghost Track is a scrappy, atmospheric effort that punches above its weight but stumbles with execution and polish. This review dissects its narrative, craft, cast, reception, and legacy to determine if it’s a hidden gem or a forgettable misfire.

Plot Summary: A Haunting Born from Guilt

Ghost Track kicks off with a gripping cold open: Courtney (Natalie Biggs), bloodied and frantic, flees through a scrapyard. Car alarms blare, windshields shatter, and a falling car nearly crushes her before she plummets off a bridge to her death. It’s a chaotic, stylish hook that sets the tone—supernatural chaos is coming.

Flash back to the 90s. A group of kids—Courtney, Sarah (Lamissah La-Shontae), Marcus (Jude Forsey), Nathan (Sam Rose), and Chris—befriend Morris (Daniel Crowe), a quiet boy. During a dare near train tracks, Morris is struck and killed by a train. The others flee, helpless. Years later, as adults—Sarah (Katie Richmond-Ward), Marcus (Adam Probets), Nathan (Darren Randall), and Chris (James Barnes)—they’re targeted by death threats and eerie events tied to Morris’s ghost.

The story unfolds as a slow-burn revenge tale. Sarah dreams of Courtney’s death, waking to her scream of “BOO!” Marcus finds a note: “You left me.” Nathan discovers a missing school bus, a chilling nod to their past. One by one, Morris picks them off—Courtney’s bridge fall, Chris stabbed in a cornfield, Marcus bleeding from his eyes in a car. Sarah and Nathan fight to survive, uncovering a twist: Morris’s mother, Amelia (Tamara Glynn), is alive, possibly aiding the spirit. The climax sees Sarah facing Morris in a dark showdown, but a last-minute reveal—that it might be a human killer—muddies the supernatural waters, leaving the ending ambiguous as Sarah escapes, shaken but alive.

Production: Making a Lot with a Little

Shot in 2021 over a tight schedule, Ghost Track maximizes its £2,000 budget. Brown, a veteran of micro-budget horror (A Date with Ghosts, Dark Vale), filmed in Mansfield, keeping locations within a 10-minute walk save for a few exceptions. The scrapyard opener uses practical effects—shattering glass, slamming doors—to evoke 70s horror vibes without pricey CGI. The train track flashback, a pivotal scene, blends child actors and quick cuts to mask limitations, though the train itself is barely shown, likely due to cost.

Cinematography by Brown and crew is functional but uneven. Night scenes—like the cornfield stalk—build tension with shadows and tight framing, while daytime shots of Morris’s ghost feel flat, his makeup (pale skin, dark eyes) less creepy in sunlight. The score, a mix of Carpenter-esque synths and Cure-inspired guitars, drives the mood and ties into the 90s flashback, doubling as a plot device (Morris loved music). Effects are hit-or-miss: blood splatters work, but the eye-bleeding CGI is laughably bad, a victim of budget constraints.

Producers Martin Farmilo and Brown leaned on Tricky Films’ DIY ethos, crowdfunding and scraping by. The result is raw and unpolished, with a charm that echoes 80s VHS rentals—think Prom Night or The Children. It’s a film that thrives on ingenuity but betrays its limits in post-production finesse.

Performances: Uneven but Earnest

Katie Richmond-Ward leads as Sarah, the emotional core. She’s believable as a guilt-ridden adult, her wide-eyed fear and quiet resolve carrying quieter scenes. Her dream sequence—jumping at Courtney’s “BOO!”—lands a rare scare. Adam Probets’ Marcus is solid, a cocky everyman undone by panic as blood pours from his eyes. Darren Randall’s Nathan shines in the bus discovery, his raw distress a highlight that needs no effects to hit hard.

Natalie Biggs’ Courtney is brief but impactful, her frantic opener setting a high bar the film struggles to sustain. James Barnes (Chris) and the child actors—Lamissah La-Shontae, Jude Forsey, Sam Rose—are serviceable but wooden, their line delivery stiff, especially in the flashback. Daniel Crowe’s Morris is eerie in glimpses, his silent stares effective, though daylight reveals the makeup’s cheapness.

Tamara Glynn’s cameo as Amelia is a treat for horror fans (Halloween 5, Terrifier 2). Her one scene—cryptic and intense—hints at a bigger role cut for time or budget. The cast’s inexperience shows, but their commitment keeps Ghost Track grounded, even when the script falters.

Themes: Revenge, Guilt, and Nostalgia

Ghost Track hinges on revenge—a horror staple. Morris’s spirit embodies the pain of abandonment, punishing friends who “left him behind.” Guilt fuels the survivors, their childhood mistake a wound that festers. Sarah’s dreams and Nathan’s breakdown show how trauma lingers, a relatable hook for a low-budget flick.

Nostalgia is key. The 90s setting—baggy clothes, Walkmans—mirrors 80s slasher vibes Brown idolizes (Friday the 13th, Halloween). Music ties past and present, Morris’s love for tunes a ghostly echo. The film sidesteps gore for suspense, a choice that nods to classic ghost stories over modern splatterfests. A subtle class thread—kids from rough edges, a dead-end town—adds depth but isn’t explored fully.

Strengths: Atmosphere and Ambition

Ghost Track nails atmosphere early. The scrapyard chase, with its cacophony of alarms and breaking glass, is a masterclass in low-budget tension. The cornfield kill—Chris stalked by an unseen Morris—channels Children of the Corn with a fraction of the resources. The bus scene, showing nothing but Nathan’s reaction, proves less is more, a smart workaround for effects Brown couldn’t afford.

Its ambition shines. Blending ghost and slasher tropes, it carves a unique niche—think Prom Night meets The Fog. The pacing builds steadily, doling out kills without rushing, and the 74-minute runtime keeps it lean. For £2,000, it’s a miracle—proof Brown knows his craft, squeezing every penny for impact.

Weaknesses: Execution and That Twist

Execution falters. Daytime shots lack menace, flattening the horror. The script’s dialogue is clunky—“You left me” repeats ad nauseam—and character depth is thin. Why does Morris blame them? They didn’t push him; he misjudged the train. The logic gap undermines his vengeance, making it feel forced.

The twist—implying a human killer, possibly Amelia—comes out of nowhere. After 70 minutes of ghostly buildup, it’s a cop-out, tacked on to stretch runtime or dodge a clear ending. It dulls the film’s momentum, leaving viewers confused rather than satisfied. Editing stumbles too; transitions are choppy, and the score overplays in quiet moments, sapping subtlety.

Effects hurt more than help. The eye-bleeding scene is amateurish, and Morris’s ghost, effective in shadows, looks silly in full view. For a film banking on mood, these missteps break immersion, reminding you of its budget in the worst way.

Reception: A Mixed Bag from Critics and Fans

Ghost Track debuted at FrightFest 2024, earning cheers for its pluck and groans for its flaws. Critics are split. Voices From The Balcony praised its 70s-style opener and cast chemistry, calling it a “solid indie effort.” Movie Reviews 101 lauded its dread-filled atmosphere, while Midnight Horror Show found it more thriller than horror, docking it for weak scares and writing. IMDb sits at 5.8/10—fans love its retro vibe (“80s slasher fun”) but slam its pacing (“slow and cheap”).

Letterboxd ranges from “creepy and creative” to “dull with bad CGI.” Amazon reviews (3.4/5) reflect the divide: “Low budget crap” vs. “A gem for horror nerds.” It’s polarizing— adored by genre diehards, shrugged off by casual viewers expecting polish.

Cultural Impact: A Cult Curiosity

Ghost Track won’t redefine horror. It’s a footnote in the indie scene, akin to The Burning or The Slayer—cult fodder for VHS nostalgists. Its 90s throwback taps a growing love for retro horror (Stranger Things, It), but its reach is niche. Streaming on Tubi and Prime, it’s found a small audience, though its £2,000 roots limit mainstream buzz. For Brown, it’s a stepping stone—his best yet, signaling growth from Dark Vale.

Final Verdict: Rough, Ready, and Worth a Look

Ghost Track is a flawed fighter. Its premise—ghostly revenge—hooks you, and its atmosphere delivers chills on a dime. The scrapyard, cornfield, and bus scenes prove Brown’s knack for tension, while Richmond-Ward and Randall anchor the heart. But shaky effects, a shaky twist, and thin characters drag it down. At 74 minutes, it’s a quick, scrappy watch—perfect for horror fans who forgive rough edges for passion.

It’s not Halloween’s polish or Friday the 13th’s body count, but it’s got soul. For £2,000, it’s a triumph of will, a love letter to 80s slashers that stumbles but never quits. Stream it late night, lights off, and savor its raw, unpolished grit.

Score: 6.8/10. A scrappy indie that haunts more than it horrifies, but earns its stripes.