by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
One of the great treasures of cinema is stumbling upon a director early in their career. Someone with such a unique eye for storytelling that you devote yourself to following their trajectory for years to come. That is exactly what Happy Death Day did for me and many others with Christopher Landon. Admittedly, the film wasn’t his directorial debut, and his writing career extends back to the late ‘90s. However, the refreshing comedy-horror flair he brings to Happy Death Day and its sequel really put him on the map. And while Freaky, the follow up to his breakout franchise, didn’t blow me away, there was certainly enough creativity on display to bring me back for his next release. Fortunately, that film just dropped on Netflix.
We Have a Ghost follows the Presley family as they begin a new chapter of their lives in a new home. I guess I should say a home that is new to them, because physically it’s decrepit. Kevin (Jahi Di’Allo Winston), the misunderstood younger brother, quickly learns that the house is home to a specter with no memory of his past life. The son must help Ernest the ghost (David Harbour) face his past while his parents, and the rest of the world, fight to capitalize on the fame afforded by the spectacle.
It didn’t take me long to realize this wasn’t for me. That’s not to say the film is objectively without an audience or even bereft of moments that I enjoyed. The primary strength in my eyes is Harbour’s titular ghost,. The performance isn’t perfect, but it is, generally, fun. Harbour brings some physical comedy and a handful of genuinely emotional beats to a role that easily could’ve grown old fast. Most of the other performances are a little forgettable, aside from Anthony Mackie as the father. Again, the acting here isn’t without flaws. There are even a handful of moments where I grew irritated with Mackie’s performance. However, I think the immature, tunnel-visioned nature of the character is deeper than I originally anticipated.
Aside from those two performances, the project failed to connect with me on almost every level. The exceptions being an interesting twist or two, some inventive visuals, and a bit of heart at the end that, while not feeling entirely earned, still feels wholesome.
Before moving on, I want to stress that I don’t consider the subsequent points failures. I strongly believe that Landon and company hit the exact tone they were striving for. I felt more disconnected and apathetic than anything else, and that could partially be due to personal expectations. They are still worth mentioning because I want to be true to my experience and believe many others will feel the same way.
First and foremost, this is for families. Aside from some darker turns towards the end, the bulk of this film feels like it could’ve aired originally on Disney Channel. Landon’s previous work connected with me because of the adult comedy-horror vibe, and this film is still marketed as comedy-horror. Unfortunately, the family angle dials both of these back to a depressing degree. The jokes are cheesy, and there is only one scene that accomplishes anything close to horror. The sacrifices obviously had to be made to accommodate the family feel. However, even that didn’t really work for me. I understand that the family is going through a hard time; the main character is trying to find his identity, the parents are trying to provide for their family, and the other son also exists. Their dynamic just doesn’t feel earned or consistent. It feels like they are all doing whatever has to be done to make the next story beat without any rhyme or reason.
Speaking of decision making, this project falls into the all too common horror trap of making the main characters a little too daft. I don’t expect my characters to make the perfect choice in any given situation. But I do prefer when their decisions are grounded in a little bit of logic. I can’t provide too much context without treading into spoiler territory, but I am willing to say that the bulk of these decisions occur during the climax, which really hinders the weight of the situation.
All in all, I don’t want to spend much time bashing this movie. I think it’s a fun family ride that I wasn’t in the mood for. Maybe I’ll opt to revisit this project in a decade when I have a family of my own. I am willing to say that I am not done with Landon’s career yet. I may consider this something of a misstep, but I firmly believe he has a knack for storytelling that is worth the cost of admission.
Score: 4/10
We Have a Ghost is currently streaming on Netflix
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