We Have a Ghost, 2023.
Written and Directed by Christopher Landon.
Starring David Harbour. Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Anthony Mackie, Tig Notaro, Jennifer Coolidge, Erica Ash, Isabella Russo, Niles Fitch, Faith Ford, Steve Coulter, Tom Bower, Ariel Yasmine, Sarah Voigt, Taylor Shurte, and Jophielle Love.
SYNOPSIS:
Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin’s family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest’s past, they become a target of the CIA.
There are many competing plot threads in We Have a Ghost, reaching the point where its biggest reveal comes during the ending credits that writer and director Christopher Landon’s 2+ hour family-friendly horror flick is based on a short story by Geoff Manaugh. However, it is also handled with enough sincerity and care for the characters and it’s a message about the importance of family that the overreach doesn’t entirely kill the film, although there are several moments (an extended car chase comes to mind) that are superfluous, drifting too far from what is working regarding the narrative.
The Presley family has just moved into a haunted house (we know it’s haunted thanks to an amusing prologue that, from a distance, follows a group offscreen encountering the entity, bursting out the front door, and driving off, only for the home to be resold one year later.) There is also some tension between them, with 16-year-old Kevin (an impressive Jahi Di’Allo Winston, doing a great job carrying the emotional weight of the family and ghost dynamic) often bullied by his slightly older brother Fulton (Niles Fitch) and butting heads with his father Frank (Anthony Mackie).
Beyond not seeing eye to eye on pop culture, it also appears that Frank has somewhat failed as a father, causing them to relocate frequently while having a few personality traits even he doesn’t like about himself. Melanie (Erica Ash), the household matriarch, does her best to keep the peace and explain to Frank where he is making mistakes.
Shortly after getting settled into the home, Kevin discovers an intentionally cheaply rendered and traditionally transparent ghost (a solid, silent performance from David Harbour) in the upstairs attic. Rather than express fear, he laughs and chooses to record the ghost walking toward him on his phone. It’s not a new concept, but something is refreshing about watching a movie where the ghost is friendly and seeking closure. Here, there is a social commentary riff: once the other family members discover the ghost, Frank uploads the videos to become a viral YouTube sensation, followed by a montage of people saying and doing stupid things related to the spirit on various social media platforms.
Kevin disagrees with this cash grab, once again disappointed in his father, and wants to help the ghost learn his identity, how he died, if he previously owned this house, and why he is still there. Joining him on this quest is a bullied schoolmate named Joy (Isabella Russo), allowing a coming-of-age story of first love to blossom alongside the ghost mystery. They learn that the ghost is named Ernest, while a hoax medium (Jennifer Coolidge in a glorified cameo) stops by the home for some reality TV shenanigans. Elsewhere, supernatural obsessive Dr. Leslie Monroe (Tig Notaro), having been made aware of Ernest, posters the CIA to reopen a now-defunct paranormal program she once headed. They are not interested in doing so, which sets her on a mission to capture Ernest for herself.
At one point, the mystery aspect expends so widely that Kevin and Joy and up on a road trip with Ernest, which feels like a miscalculation and at odds with what the story is trying to be. Simultaneously, the writing is honest and sweet regarding these characters growing closer, so it is difficult to be overly frustrated. There’s also a tonal dissonance with child-friendly humor stemming from whimsical storytelling, but also heavier elements at play and a dark twist involving the death of Ernest. However, it is also pleasant to see a filmmaker aware that a family-friendly horror film can be a little disturbing.
Factoring in the bloated narrative, it further proves that Christopher Landon doesn’t necessarily strike the right balance. Again, this is not helped by an absurd running time of over two hours. The mystery of Ernest the ghost brings We Have a Ghost to life, but the character work remains engaging even when veering in other directions. It’s an imbalanced and shaggy work that gets by on the strength of its ensemble and serviceable storytelling that’s comfortable, allowing child-friendly horror to be both safe and dark.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
Originally published February 24, 2023. Updated February 25, 2023.
