‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ – Review
When there’s something strange, in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call, Ghostbusters! You know the song, you know the uniforms, you know the mission, and now after more than thirty-two years the Ghostbusters are back in a film that is a fitting tribute to the classic that defined a generation, and which has left an indelible impact on movie history with Ghostbusters: Afterlife. And it’s thoroughly spooktacular.
After being evicted from their home, a single mother and her two children are forced to move to a decayed farmhouse in Summerville, Oklahoma, left to them by the children of their late grandfather, where a series of unexplained earthquakes are occurring despite not being situated on any fault and strange things are happening in an old mine which once belonged to the alleged occultist Ivo Shandor.
Taking up the director’s chair from his father Ivan Reitman is Jason Reitman, a filmmaker who continues to push the boundaries with each new film and whose list of credits is incredibly diverse and packed out with original stories. Now he takes up the reigns from his father for a revitalisation of the Ghostbusters franchise and you feel in watching this picture, that for the younger Reitman, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is very much a family movie. This is a film about a family, made by a family and with a great sense of nostalgia which is blended together with a terrific modern adventure story that is uniquely American and as an audience member you get a real rush of a film experience in Ghostbusters; Afterlife.
At the centre of this new chapter of the Ghostbusters franchise are siblings Phoebe and Trevor Spengler (Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard), who just happen to be the grandchildren of the late Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) who has died under mysterious circumstances and left his daughter Callie (Carrie Coon), and his grandchildren a dilapidated farmhouse in Summerville, Oklahoma. Both Phoebe and Trevor are out of their element and wishing for something fantastical to happen and very quickly they are pulled into a crazy mission to uncover the legacy of the Ghostbusters and stop the threat of a dangerous ancient power. Stars Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard are perfectly cast as the Spengler kids, and Grace especially holds the centre of the screen as the scientifically gifted Phoebe who has a knack for finding trouble and a gifted mind for curiosity and invention.
Providing a key level of support in Ghostbusters: Afterlife is Carrie Coon as Phoebe and Trevor’s mum Callie and Paul Rudd as Phoebe’s summer school teacher Gary Grooberson. Coon brings a lot of emotion to the frazzled Callie who has a lot of issues with her now-deceased father and his life as a Ghostbuster. Rudd’s Grooberson on the other hand is all too excited when he finds out who the Spengler kids actually are and is all gung-ho to get into the Ghostbusting business when he and Phoebe decipher the ancient and terrible secrets that lay at the heart of Summerville. As an audience member, it’s very apparent to see that for Rudd, the ability to be a part of Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a dream come true and his enthusiasm for the film’s story certainly shines through in his performance.
As a cinematic experience, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is just straight-up fun. This is an incredibly joyous and exciting film to watch and when the Spengler kids decide to unleash Ecto-1 and go ghost hunting the result is one crazy and rock n’roll ride through the streets of Summerville. Director Jason Reitman injects the film with fast-paced kinetic energy and you get caught up in the moment with everything that’s going on. There’s something nostalgic, but also incredibly contemporary about Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Reitman’s unique mix of action moments and laugh-out-loud comedy keep you invested in the story and its universe saving stakes. Plus the appearance of a few familiar faces will certainly have you smiling.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is just a fun time out at the movies. It’s a film filled with family, adventure, the supernatural and a terrific sense of joy and is a perfect time out at the movies this holiday season.
Image: Sony Pictures
