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Canadian International Pictures

Ghostkeeper

4.6

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

4.6 Stars (278 Reviews)

$28.99

$28.99 $41.98

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This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray.

The original limited edition slipcover was limited to 2,000 units and is sold out.

The limited edition variant slipcover was limited to 500 units and is sold out.

Description

Who next becomes the keeper of the beast that lives on human flesh?

During a New Year’s Eve snowmobiling trip, Jenny (Rabid’s Riva Spier), her boyfriend Marty (The Grey Fox’s Murray Ord), and their friend Chrissy (Sheri McFadden) veer off path to explore a patch of private property. Stranded by a heavy snowfall, they stumble upon an abandoned hotel and seek refuge for the night. But before long, they meet a menacing woman (Rad’s Georgie Collins) who shares the building with her knife-wielding son (The High Country’s Bill Grove) and a mysterious creature who feeds on human flesh. As the visiting trio comes under attack, they struggle to make a safe escape – and maintain their grip on reality.

Featuring haunting performances from its entire cast and a typically atmospheric score by Paul Zaza (My Bloody Valentine), James Makichuk’s Ghostkeeper is an essential entry in the New Year’s Eve horror canon and a dread-inducing descent into wintery isolation and madness. Long regarded as the Canadian answer to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, this slasher staple is a Canuxploitation classic and one of the enduring highlights of the tax shelter era.

Details

Director(s): James Makichuk

Starring: Riva Spier, Murray Ord, Sheri McFadden, Georgie Collins

Release Year: 1981

Runtime: 87 min

Aspect Ratio(s): 1.85:1

Language(s): ENG- English

Sound: DTS-HD MA 2.0

Subtitles: English SDH

Format: Blu-ray

Disc Info: Region A Blu-ray

Restoration: Newly scanned and restored in 4K from the only known complete 35mm theatrical print by Canadian International Pictures

Packaging Artist(s): Tony Stella, Wes Benscoter

Genre: Horror, Slasher, Supernatural, Thriller

VS Release Date: January 1, 2026

SKU: CIP-040 SLIP

Bonus Content

New audio commentary featuring stars Riva Spier and Murray Ord, plus co-writer/associate producer Doug MacLeod
New audio commentary featuring The Hysteria Continues! and author/film historian Amanda Reyes
New episode of The New World Pictures Podcast on Ghostkeeper
Ghostsneaker (2025, 16 min.) – New interview with film historian Chris Alexander
The Window of Opportunity (2025, 15 min.) – New interview with story consultant Dave Makichuk
I Need It Friday (2025, 10 min.) – New interview with composer Paul Zaza
Zaza Begins (2025, 16 min.) – Zaza reflects on his early films
Hollywood Canadians (2025, 14 min.) – Filmmakers Paul Lynch (Prom Night) and David Winning (Storm) reflect on Jim Makichuk
Calgary Underground Film Festival Q&A (2024, 41 min.) – Post-screening discussion featuring Ord, MacLeod, and Dave Makichuk
Archival interview with actress Georgie Collins (2011, 14 min.) – A conversation moderated by Ord and edited by Jim Makichuk
Archival interview with cinematographer John Holbrook (2011, 7 min.)
Alternate opening (1982, 2 min.)
Ghostkeeper 2 (2013, 6 min.) – Jim Makichuk’s Kickstarter video pitching a sequel
Night School (1971, 2 min.) – Early Jim Makichuk short
Booklet featuring a new essay by film journalist/programmer Yasmina Ketita and an essay on the film’s production history by Eric Volmers
Reversible sleeve artwork

Trailers / Videos

Label Bio

From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases!