Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Good concept, poorly executed.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Drifting for hours in a lifeboat, the survivors of sunken ocean liner board a mysterious ship without crew or passengers and which may or may not be haunted in this Canadian horror film. Made on a noticeably modest budget, the film supplies some effective creepy moments without relying special effects, such as constant cutaways to the ship's engines, moving by themselves and set to foreboding music. The first death scene even manages to be unsettling without any gore at all as the ship seems to toy with his victim, raising him up and down by a rope, before eventually offing him. Unfortunately none of the other death scenes are anything near as suspenseful and the film concludes leaving several questions hanging including why exactly the ship retains a bloodlust, even knowing of its violent past. Still, this is a more accomplished film than its low IMDb rating would suggest. The sound effects are especially remarkable, with not only all the expected ship noises but accentuated footstep and gushing water sounds. The film also features two child actors who not only look like real brother and sister, but banter and argue like real siblings too, with Jennifer McKinney particularly effective as the girl. George Kennedy is also as decent as one would expect as the pompous ocean liner captain, though it is a far cry from the Academy Award winner's best work.

While it has some problems, overall, Death Ship is a very enjoyable, atmospheric horror film. Instead of writing a plot summary, I'll just copy one off IMDb that's written much better than I ever could – "Survivors of a tragic shipping collision are rescued by a mysterious black ship which appears out of the fog. Little do they realize that the ship is actually a Nazi torture ship which has sailed the seas for years, luring unsuspecting sailors aboard and killing them off one by one."The plot of Death Ship is fairly simple and straightforward. There's not a lot of confusion as to what is going on. While that may sound like the movie is predictable, it's still fun to watch the events unfold. I will admit that if you over analyze and think about the logic behind the movie, your head will most likely explode. But if you can turn off your brain and just go with it, it can be a very effective movie.Death Ship works primarily because of atmosphere. It's simply dripping and oozing with atmosphere. The vast empty decks, the constant engine noises, music that starts on its own, and the many natural creaks and groans of an old dying ship sets a tone and mood for Death Ship that works. This is old school horror. Death Ship was made in 1980 – way before horror movie makers started over- relying on CGI for their scares. There's none of that here and the movie is better off for it. A few random things about Death Ship that worked on me include: 1. George Kennedy – A great actor who played the possessed Captain Ashland to perfection. What a creepy performance. 2. The shower scene – I've seen several of these blood in the shower scenes over the years and this one is as good as any. Nicely done. 3. Jackie's death – It's our first indication of what the ship was capable of. The ship toyed and played with Jackie not unlike a cat with a mouse. 4. The ship itself – What a fantastic, innovative idea – a Nazi torture ship doing circles in the Atlantic, searching for victims to come on board for slaughter. It's an interesting set-up.

A mysterious ship sinks an ocean cruiser and the survivors of the crash board the ship which is haunted by....something. The captain of the cruiser is possessed and deaths start to occur. It sounds good but it is not thrilling or interesting. The ship turns out to be a Nazi one where torture had occurred but it is not clear why the ship is haunted, who haunts it and why. Rather confusing really.Stalwart actors like George Kennedy, Richard Crenna Kate Reid, and Nick Mancuso are defeated by underwritten roles. The best actor is the ship itself which looks menacing at rest or in motion. It was directed by Alvin Rakoff who never made a good film or ever made a bad one.

By the last half of 20th century film making, horror genre pictures had solidified themselves in pop culture. Plus, the horror genre began splitting off into various sub-genres like the "slasher" and "monster" flicks. But when it came to out at sea related adventures, it's hard to say whether there was a lot of them around yet that delved into the horror genre. The biggest noticeable boom in this particular kind of story / setting would be seen later with pictures like Leviathan (1989), Deep Star Six (1989), Deep Rising (1998), Virus (1999) and Ghost Ship (2002). But for Death Ship (1980), it seemed like this was the grandpap of all of them. It is by no means a true gem but it at least has certain aspects that should be respected for.After being shipwrecked and stranded in the ocean, a group of survivors from the wreck discover an abandoned rusty derelict. Once on board, they begin to realize that the ship is running with no crew. Odd. There's more than meets the eye to this ship that's for sure. Apart of the survivors are George Kennedy as Capt. Ashland, his second in command Trevor Marshall (Richard Crenna - with a full beard) and his wife (Sally Ann Howes - from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)) and kids. Although these actors are good choices, their performances aren't among anything moving. Other than these actors, the last bit of the cast is highly forgettable. Partially this is due to the writing, which addresses some motivations, like the Captain's but not all of them, and this isn't the only flaw.The ship that which these survivors take refuge on has supernatural powers. It can close its own doors, control its own chains, pump its engines, steer itself and even is accompanied by ghostly voices. Nice! So how did it get these powers? Was it cursed? Don't know, a topic that is never touched on sadly. There is an explanation to what it thrives on but that still doesn't explain its current condition. But going back to the actual ship itself, is something to behold. The production design by Chris Burke and cinematography by René Verzier blend evenly. The look of this ship is as grungy and weather worn as they come. Not to mention all of those cobwebs all over the place. Although the back-story to the ship is not expanded upon, the mystery of not knowing does make it entertaining to a point.The camera-work is also done differently. To simulate that of being on a boat, the camera sways making it unleveled with square surfaces. It can get a bit nauseating at times but it feels realistic. The practical effects are nice too. All the ship's eerie movements and creaky noises help make the vessel feel that much more bizarre. The horror aspect to the film is probably the weakest though. None of it was scary, it was just unsettling (and that's OK). Adding to that unsettling feeling is Ivor Slaney's score, which incorporates classical sounding orchestral tones and some synth. The best theme was the tune that plays for the ship's engine pistons where horns crescendo and decrescendo for the swinging movement every time they pump. Too bad the complete score isn't available. Horror fans may find something to like about, but I don't guarantee a whole lot.It has a few respectable cast members but their characters' are not developed fully. However, the ship's production value, camera work, music and all around eerie surrounding is enough to make it somewhat likable.