WE HAVE A GHOST

US, 2023, 127 minutes, Colour.

David Harbour, Jahi Winston, Anthony Mackie Erica Ash, Tig Notaro, Niles Fitch, Isabella Russo, Tom Bower.

Directed by Christopher Landon.

Most audiences enjoy a ghost story, especially if it has touches of humour. After all, Casper the friendly ghost was very popular. And, back in the days, there were some ghost classics including in the 1930s, The Ghost Goes West, with Robert Donat, and in the 1940s, The Canterville Ghost, with Charles Laughton – and a remake later with John Gielgud.

Now we have a rather 21^st-century ghost. But, not so much to be afraid of, rather to enjoy – and the mocking of our social media audiences who are eager to grab onto any sensation and conspiracy. But, something of a warning, it does become quite a grim in the explanation of who the ghost is at the end.

We see a family fleeing from a house and the lights going off. Then we see an over-exuberant estate agent, played by Faith Ford, doing an oversell of the rather ramshackle house and its interior ruins, wondering why this African-American family would actually buy it. In fact, the father wants to make a new beginning – one of several new beginnings. He is played by Anthony Mackie, rather a long way from the Marvel Universe, looking and acting very much like Will Smith. Erica Ash is his devoted wife, through thick and thin, Niles Fitch an older adolescent son, fixated on his phone, and the younger son, Kevin, played by Jahi Winston, sullen, listening to music, sitting in the car, refusing to get out until his father commands him.

And Kevin turns out to be the hero of the film, going around the house, exploring mysterious sounds, and seeing Ernest, the rather transparent, somewhat dishevelled middle-aged ghost, played entertainingly by David Harbour. He tries to frighten Kevin who rather laughs, films him on his phone. Soon enough, dad and the other son see Ernest, filming him, and especially filming the mother screaming in fright as Ernest moves through her to in front of her! Dad thinks this could help the family finances, goes online and creates quite a sensation, fans absolutely galore, the media, crowds at the house, and a medium, played in her usual humorous way by Jennifer Coolidge.

But, there are suspicions, especially from a former CIA agent, played by Tig Notaro, who is suspicious, wants to bring the CIA into the investigation.

So, lots of humour, adventures, Kevin and the young girl next door who is a whiz at the computer finding out all kinds of information, getting documents, taking the road to discover who Ernest really is.  Persuading Ernest eventually to come out of the house – and pursued all around the streets by the fans. Fortunately he go can go through walls. They can’t (although some fans actually try at bashing themselves against walls!)

There are police, car chases, CIA investigators, weapons, capturing Kevin and the family, interrogations…

Kevin also finds the friend of Ernest and uncovers quite a sinister story leading to the villain fighting the family but, of course, Ernest turning up.

Family-friendly.

1. The title, expectations? But a family-oriented film? For the teenagers to identify with?
2. The cinema tradition of friendly ghost, the Canterbury Ghost, Casper? A variation on the theme?
3. The opening, the house, looked at from a distance, light on, the family fleeing in the car, lights off?
4. The transition to the Presley family, the hectic sales pitch from the estate agent, concealing the realities? The house and comparative ruins? Why the family are buying it? A new start? Frank, his quests in life, failures, starting again, his wife, devoted to him, Fulton, teenager on the phone, Kevin, sullen teenager, listening to music, refusing to get out of the car, carrying in his boxes? His exploring the house?
5. The settling in, Kevin and his experience, Ernest appearing, ghostly, trying to frighten, Kevin laughing? Filming the experience? The bond between the two, earnest, physical appearance, ghostly appearance, unable to speak, unable to remember, unable to be touched, but yet able to touch?
6. Frank and Fulton, seeing Ernest, the filming? Putting it on social media? Especially the scene where mother discovers Ernest and screams? The increasing number of followers?
7. The background, the agent, her task, sacked from her job, learning about Ernest, going to the CIA head, commissioned, her personality, reading to the small crowd on the bookshop, autographs? Coming to the house, the confrontation with the family?
8. Joy, next door, making friends with Kevin at school? Her continuing friendship, travelling with him, the library, her skills with IT, getting the information? On the road, the adventures, the climax? The CIA agents finding them?
9. Audience sympathy for Ernest, his not knowing who he was, touches of memory about his daughter? The media, everybody at the house, Frank and the publicity, the deals with the media, for financially saving the family? Everybody wanted to see Ernest? The television set up, everybody impatient, Judy Romano, medium, getting ready, make up, Jennifer Coolidge comedy? Ernest coming into the room, frightening everybody, mayhem? Kevin enjoying it?
10. The need for Ernest come out of the house, persuading him, tentative, enjoying being outside, the fans seeing him, the pursuit and chase, his being able to go through the wall (and the satire of fans trying to imitate him and bashing against the wall)?
11. The decision to find Ernest background, the diner, the waitress and to giving the information in the photo? The police in pursuit, the television news about those fleeing, the family interned? The comedy of the car chase and Ernest moving from car to car?
12. The arrival of their destination, the house, the man, his explanation about Ernest’s grief, death of his wife, birth of the daughter, their decision to look after the daughter – and is visualised, the sinister look on the mother as she took the child?
13. The dramatic change, the man, killing Ernest, digging the grave, burying him?
14. The CIA arriving, their weapons, taking Kevin and Joy, controlling Ernest, imprisoning him? Interrogations?
15. Louise, praised, satisfied, her suspicions of the head, change of heart, letting Ernest go?
16. Kevin, at home, sad, the arrival of the man, the confrontation with Frank, Fulton and Kevin? Ernest arriving in time, overcoming his killer?
17. The family settling down, Kevin and the tentative relationship with Joy? The future of the family?