Bereamic Awesome Movie

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

MidiHorrorReviews This film only came on my radar about a month ago and is an emotional experience, from the beginning. The narration at the start is like a comforting blanket wrapped around us and telling us all will be okay, but the story we are about to hear may be tumultuous. We hear the soothing soft voice of an older Frankie (Frank LaLoggia narrates this himself), as he explains how his innocent childhood (tragic but loved) is changed in an instant by one night in a cloakroom. Lukas Haas (Witness,Inception, The Tripper) was the child Frankie - and he has come a long way since. He is sweet, kind, sometimes niave and just a normal kid coming to terms with his mothers death and bullies (who he thinks of as friends). With his big doe eyes and easy appeal, Haas has us convinced on screen with each breath. Whether the scene is comedic, serious, sad or scary , we are engrossed with his every movement. Frankie's family is a close and , although insane (like all families), loving bunch of eccentric characters. There is Geno (Frankie's brother played by Jason Presson from films like Gremlins 2 and Explorers), his dad 'Al' / Angelo (played by Alex Rocco from Batman:Year One,The Entity),his grandmother 'Mama' (played by Renata Vanni from A Patch of Blue, and many television roles) and 'Papa' (played by Angelo Bertolini from Wrong is Right and Homer and Eddie). This collection of vintage and newer actors at the time, meshed so well together you felt like one of this crazed but affectionate migrant family. Watching Mama and Papa bicker over simple things , breaks the icy plot with some well rounded cheeky humour -and this ultimately helps the film avoid becoming depressing or overly darkened. We are also introduced to uncle Phil (a friend of Al's played by Len Cariou -from most recently the TV show Blue Bloods ,as well as Spotlight, 1408, Secret Window, About Schmidt) and uncle Tony (played by Jack Andreozzi from Hit List, Mother and numerous TV roles). Both men have the kindness and tenderness for their roles. They comfort Al in his time of need, joking round and acting as most blokes would. They care for Al's sons like real blood related uncles. However one harbours a dark secret. When Len Cariou releases his characters crazed frantic side in one particular scene, I admit, I was a tad shaken. He is manic, frothingly aggressive and executes one of the most scary moments in a film (in my opinion) ever. I was chilled and could feel the hairs on my arms as they stood up! The trio at the forefront of this film is Melissa and Anne Montgomery and the infamous LADY IN WHITE. Melissa is played by Joelle Jacobi (known primarily for this role and has seemingly left the limelight in 1990- a few searches proved fruitless to yield further information) and gives a convincing and ,at times, harrowing portrayal of Melissa's demise. Her mother Anne is played by Karen Powell (like Joelle she seemingly did quite little prior to Lady in White and has only one credit since). Of course it is soon revealed that many believe that it is Anne's soul they see mysteriously venturing around the cliff side and the cottage nearby, but we realize it is in fact Amanda (Anne's sister, who is alive) haunting around the area , wanting answers for the losses of her beloved sister and niece. Katherine Helmond (best known on TV as Mona in Who's the Boss -for a chunk of my childhood- and as Jessica Tate in Soap, she also had roles in films like The Legend of Lizzie Borden, The Hindenburg, Family Plot, Brazil, and even voiced Lizzie in Disney's Cars / Cars 2). Helmond delivers perhaps one of the most endearing , but even at times creepiest, performances on screen. At first we fear Amanda when we see her in the cottage, but when she rescues Frankie and emotionally delivers her tale of woe and heart break, we love her. Her fragile, cracking, tear choked voice as she delivered the words "What is the good of living, when all that you love is gone?" nearly made me cry (having lost my mother nearly 2 years ago, it resonated harshly with me) proving the power behind her performance. Frank LaLoggia assembled the finest actors for each role, each delivering the right dash of humour, sorrow, innocence, aggression, and whatever else is needed throughout the film. His writing is well constructed and encourages our minds to feverishly observe all of the characters within the film. We are constantly guessing who is genuine or perhaps who is merely a lie? The racial undertones that some (as I have read) find overkill, is actually spot on. In 1962 the USA was gripped with the racial divide and Willowpoint Falls (granted fictional) was to be no different. The scenes with Mr and Mrs Williams , whether in the church or courthouse , are as valid as any other and to quote the Sheriff in the film "He's the perfect scapegoat, he's black!" Sadly this sentiment was wide spread in that time. LaLoggia taps into the era and provides us visual stimulation in its simplicity - be it in road signs, clothing, toys (all great reflections on the prop dressers and set designers). Our ears are given a sensation of their own with the haunting, jovial and even at times whimsical scoring of this film (Frank LaLoggia again leads the way with this aspect of the film). We are whirled through the emotional roller coaster of frightening undertones of the film. It is very easy to see why the cast(Lukas even won one), and Frank LaLoggia all gathered award nominations in 1989, despite a low box office return (which I cannot understand) and how this film gathered places in many peoples hearts. I just wish it had been a staple of my childhood.

blackcabprod Frank LaLoggia's ghostly coming-of-age classic "Lady In White" is finally available on Blu-ray and will certainly look lovely in high definition. The warm color-correction and Autumn, Halloween, and wintry set pieces should defrost the eyes and soul of the kid in all of us. Watching the film is like snuggling up in a toasty chair by the fire and reminiscing about a beautiful, yet terrifying, nightmare you had when you were younger. One that kept coming back again and again, night after night, and in adulthood has never quite been lost to time. Not unlike the "Lady In White" in the film itself.The movie was made in a pre-CGI world, and the practical and optical effects are now surreal and wonderful to watch––floating bodies, hovering ghosts, and apparitional, unsolved child murders. And this is where "Lady In White" brings the young Frankie Scarlatti (played by an adolescent Lucas Haas) into adulthood. These killings also bring the viewer into adulthood, making all of us voyeurs as guilty as any of the Willowpoint Falls townsfolk. The focus of this particular tale is on one murdered girl and the ever haunting "Lady In White" that have overshadowed Willowpoint Falls for a decade. Frankie inadvertently discovers the ghosts, is haunted by them, and is compelled to follow them––even begged to follow them––on their nightly journeys in efforts to reveal the secret, and motivations behind their untimely deaths. They want the real killer exposed at last. And Frankie does too; yet not only to bring the truth into the light, but because he has changed inside, which is stated poignantly in the film, when he says to himself one Christmas morning: "As for me, I'd grown up just a little bit more than I was supposed to, I think. Responsibility had become my constant companion. And I was no longer afraid of what I could not see." Soon enough his newfound maturity will bring him face-to-face with a much greater horror than any ghosts he's previously encountered––a horror all too close to home.For myself, "Lady In White" makes me think of some earlier films, like "The Goonies"––for it's autumnal, northern coastal American vibe––and films that invoke elements of paranormal fantasy, like Disney's "Escape To Witch Mountain". Although "Lady In White" is not an adventure film, it is nonetheless adventurous for young Frankie Scarlatti. To current generation viewers, "Lady In White" will remind them of a much newer horror film, "Mama", produced by Guillermo del Toro. "Mama" is more of an edgy terror with jump scares, but it clearly borrows from the the film "Lady In White" in story and theme––"A mother's love is forever."––as well as the fantastical ending of the ghostly, miserably lost "Mama" craving for the return of her child.The film score for "Lady In White" is also composed by director Frank LaLoggia and is quite lovely. Pay attention to the music when viewing the film and seek it out on CD.Overall, "Lady In White" is a wonderful diversion for a cold, stormy night and an armchair trip down memory lane. If you are looking for a movie that is brimming with old-school special effects, nostalgic set pieces, and the peculiar warmth that "growing up" can bring back to us now that we are adults ourselves.

Charles Edward Williams "Lady in White" is a beautiful, haunting ghost story. While those two adjectives are mutually exclusive for most genre films, director and writer Frank LaLoggia has succeeded in creating the perfect blend of nostalgia and thrills. 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. The portrayal of small town life in the 1960's provides the perfect background for LaLoggia's ghost story to unfold. Period detail is richly woven into the plot, and the scenes taking place on Halloween are especially effective in invoking time and place. 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". A subplot centering around the turbulent struggle for civil rights in the Sixties is skillfully worked into the story, adding another layer of authenticity to the proceedings. Lukas Haas is perfectly cast as Frankie , and Alex Rocco, Len Cariou, Katherine Helmond, and James Presson provide strong support in pivotal roles. One of the strongest elements of the film is the depiction of the loving relationships in the Scarlatti family. Frankie's Italian grandparents bicker, complain, and ultimately provide a loving environment to help make up for the untimely death of Frankie's mother. The brilliant LaLoggia has also provided an amazing score which effectively underscores the film's major themes. "Lady in White" has become more than just a film for many viewers such as myself. It is an experience to be shared and treasured with friends and loved ones again and again...

Scott LeBrun Writer / director / composer Frank LaLoggia concocted this effective, truly independent production that crosses over a few genres: childhood vignette, intense human drama, supernatural thriller. Despite the presence of some cheese ball special effects, it's an absorbing story that does get a number of things right. For example, it perfectly captures that small town feel, in this case an upstate New York town in the 1960s. It also creates vivid images in the way that this town moves through the seasons. The atmosphere is just about perfect. Some of the material may be a little too intense for younger viewers, but LaLoggia eschews graphic gore in favor of mood and suspense. And the performances are all quite good.Young Lukas Haas stars as Frankie Scarlatti, living with an older brother (Jason Presson), widowed father (Alex Rocco), and grandparents (Renata Vanni, Angelo Bertolini). During Halloween season, he's locked in the cloakroom of his school by bullying classmates. There he witnesses the ghostly murder of a little girl (which had taken place 10 years previous). Then the killer actually makes an appearance, throttling Frankie during their search for a piece of evidence. Surviving the ordeal, Frankie makes it a point of solving the killing (and other molestation-killings of children in the town over the past decade) and helping the girls' spirit to rest. It all seems to be tied to the presence of a mysterious, legendary Lady in White (Katherine Helmond) residing in a forlorn old house.Haas couldn't be more appealing, and the adult cast is excellent. Rocco gets one of the nicer, more sensitive roles of his career as the loving dad; also appearing are Len Cariou, Jared Rushton, Lucy Lee Flippin, Tom Bower, Sydney Lassick, and Bruce Kirby. LaLoggia, who'd previously done the horror film "Fear No Evil", makes the tale emotionally involving even if the viewer is able to figure out the identity of the psycho early on. He also works in a subtext of racism into the proceedings, with the hapless janitor (Henry Harris) at his school implicated in this series of murders. Vanni and Bertolini supply a heavy dose of comedy relief as the grandparents, with him often foiled in his attempts to sneak cigarettes.All shot in style by Russell Carpenter, this is a good little film worthy of some respect.Eight out of 10.