humannature

Ghost Town: The Movie (2007)

IMDB rating: 4.40

Plot: Dean Teaster’s GHOST TOWN “The Movie” This unique “Eastern” Western is N.C. Native Dean Teaster’s tribute to his father Robert Doyle Teaster and “Ghost Town In The Sky” theme park. The theme park was a large piece of the childhood happiness for Dean’s family and many families since its opening in 1961. This story combines actual family facts of the Teaster family fictionalized into a story that encompasses the best elements of the staged gunfights performed by the Legendary “Ghost Town Gunfighters” throughout the years at the park. Many of the original actors have returned for roles in the film. Former “Ghost Town Gunfighters” Robert Bradley once known as “The Apache Kid,” Herbert Cowboy Coward “GrandPappy,” and Harry Valentine “The Golden Voice of Ghost Town” play pivotal roles in the film as does Alaska Presley who was one of the original park founders. Dean Teaster reprises the role of “Digger” made famous by his father. This movie was created to offset many of the “Hillbilly” stereotypes often depicted with this area. The movie paints a picture of this beautiful mountain region that was settled by the overseas Celtic people. These settlers were full of rich traditions and a true grit that allowed them to survive and thrive during the rugged 1800’s period of US History often shown in western films. This movie may well be the birth of a sub genre of the western known as “The Eastern.” With a slight romantic edge this movie is chalked full of messages about love, hate, family, forgiveness, redemption and sacrifice. This film builds on a regional theme where conflict was often fought over family honor versus land as often depicted in westerns due to the gold rushes and land acquisitions and expansions. Being a lover of the western genre I think that we have told a story that will entertain many generations of people and with the re-opening of the “Ghost Town In The Sky” theme park we look forward to bright future built upon the past.