we have a ghost

Movie Review: ‘We Have a Ghost’ – A Confusing and Long Misfire

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Recently, I watched two very different films back-to-back: Ingmar Bergman’s “Cries and Whispers,” a 1973 drama, and Christopher Landon’s new horror comedy “We Have a Ghost,” now on Netflix. Both films deal with themes of death and grief, but that’s where the similarities end. “Cries and Whispers” is a short, detailed film that uses every minute effectively. On the other hand, “We Have a Ghost” is over two hours long and feels much too lengthy. I wished “Cries and Whispers” were longer, but “We Have a Ghost” could have ended much sooner.

Talent Behind the Camera

Christopher Landon, known for his successful horror comedies like “Happy Death Day” and “Freaky,” directed and wrote “We Have a Ghost.” These previous films were well-paced and entertaining, making good use of comedy, horror, and talented casts. Unfortunately, “We Have a Ghost” lacks clear direction and has a slow, messy pace, made worse by its excessive runtime.

The Plot

The movie starts as a typical haunted house story. Kevin (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) and his family, his mom Melanie (Erica Ash), his dad Frank (Anthony Mackie) , discover a ghost named Ernest (played by David Harbour) living in their attic. Instead of being scared, they try to become social media stars by sharing videos of Ernest. This part of the film is the most interesting and even features Jennifer Coolidge as a self-centered psychic.

However, the movie quickly loses focus. It moves away from the social media angle, tries to explain how Ernest died, and drags on with multiple endings that shift from comedy to serious drama.

Tonal Confusion

Classic horror comedies movies like “Beetlejuice” know what they want to be and stick to it. “We Have a Ghost” struggles with its identity, bouncing between being a scary haunted house film and a silly horror comedy. This inconsistency makes it hard to care about the story or characters. The movie tries to do too much and ends up failing at everything.

For example, the film tries to evoke sympathy for Ernest, a ghost who mostly acts silly throughout the movie. It’s hard to suddenly feel emotional for a character who has been a joke the entire time. Imagine if “Beetlejuice” ended with a serious, tear-jerking scene – it would feel out of place, just like in “We Have a Ghost.”

The Cast

The actors in “We Have a Ghost” try their best, but they seem to be in different movies. Anthony Mackie plays his role seriously, David Harbour acts like a goofy ghost, Jennifer Coolidge is over-the-top like in a comedy sketch, and the villain feels like they belong in a horror film. This mix of tones creates a confusing viewing experience.

Conclusion

Christopher Landon is a reknowned filmmaker, and this movie is hopefully just a minor setback in his career. Part of the problem might be Netflix’s tendency to focus on big names rather than strong storytelling. “We Have a Ghost” joins other Netflix films that could have been better with tighter scripts and shorter runtimes.

In the end, “We Have a Ghost” is a disappointing, overlong film. Instead of wasting time on this misfire, watch Landon’s “Freaky,” which is much more entertaining and worth your time.

Grade: D

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