Who doesn’t love a movie with well-known celebrities? The film “We Have a Ghost” offers viewers a comforting ghostly narrative, with familiar names including David Harbour, Jennifer Coolidge and Anthony Mackie. The movie brings a taste of paranormal October in chilly February through the adventures of a haunted house.
“We Have a Ghost,” directed by Christopher Landon, was released on Netflix last Friday. Viewers follow the Presley family as they purchase a fixer-upper house from 1904 in Chicago. But what the Presleys don’t know is that someone — or something — strange is in their attic.
The movie starts out with a predictable plot, failing to keep viewers on their toes. The main character, Kevin (Jahi Di’Allo Winston), is the youngest Presley child and is curious about the history of the home. Through Kevin, we meet Ernest the ghost, played by Harbour. He’s protective, mute, humorous and the movie’s own “Casper the Friendly Ghost” character.
Once the Presley family becomes comfortable in their new home, Kevin hears footsteps coming from the attic and decides to investigate the noise. In the attic, Ernest makes an effort to scare Kevin but comedically fails as Kevin records his attempt. Kevin’s father, Frank, played by Mackie, discovers his son’s ghostly video and decides to post it online to try to bring the family fortune. To his luck, the video takes off, and against Kevin’s judgment, Frank continues to post more videos of Ernest, making the haunted house “Insta-famous.” Meanwhile, Kevin and Joy, the Presleys’ neighbor, decide to investigate more about who Ernest was when he was alive.
Although the film seems predictable at first, the plot thickens throughout the course of the movie. In the beginning, viewers are left to assume that the story is about a family who discovers that their house is haunted and are left unsure of what to do. Instead, the family becomes internet famous and the CIA eventually gets involved.
Without spoiling the plot, the film displays the difference between the familial relationships of its characters. Frank and Kevin are seen bickering throughout the film because Frank does not necessarily see eye-to-eye with his son. When Frank learns about Ernest, he sees him solely as a money-making machine, whereas Kevin sees Ernest as a lost spirit who was once a person. Toward the end of the movie, viewers learn more about Frank as a parent.
“It’s funny,” Frank says to Kevin. “When your kids are little, it’s easy to be a parent. They don’t see who you actually are. They just see the good stuff. What you want them to see.”
Even though Frank’s motives for making money through Ernest are questionable, the audience learns that Frank is just as lost as everyone else is. Viewers also learn that he struggled prior to moving into the new house. He explains that while he might not know who he is, he wants to be the best parent and husband by trying to find any means to support his family.
The movie is described as a family thriller and while there are many comical scenes, there are a few that definitely give the movie a right to put thriller in its description. Some scenes are set in low lighting, produce eerie noises and have the Presleys fight intruders or have altercations in the home on different occasions.
After a lull in ghostly movie releases, “We Have a Ghost” is a new film that demands an audience — preferably one with friends and family. Rather than being outright terrifying, it gives viewers a good laugh with a few minimal scares. While Coolidge is not in a majority of the film, her character is Hollywoodized and comical, which is exactly what the movie needed. With an ending that will leave viewers with a warm heart, this Netflix film is without a doubt worth watching at least once.
Rating: 3/5
