Ghost stories (2017) – a review

A paranormal debunker Philip Goodman is contacted by his idol -and fellow debunker- Charles Cameron to investigate three cases. At first the cases seem separate but as Goodman travels deeper down the rabbit hole nothing is like it appears.

A few years ago I bought an interesting book on a flea market called ‘The encyclopedia of horror’ by Richard Davis. This book obviously deals with the different types of horror movies. But, I must say,  with the foreword by Peter Cushing, this rather complete beginners guide on all stories supernatural is a must read for all those interested in the macabre.

The reason I brought this book up has to do with the neat cataloguing this books does. Chapter one is about vampires, two about werewolves, then there’s a chapter about the fallen angel himself and, of course, an entire chapter devoted to what goes bump in the night: ghosts.

Ghost stories applies the same palette to the script as this book applies to its chapters. Three ghosts stories but each vastly different. There’s the haunted asylum, the devil, the ghost and then, of course, the insanely Lovecraftian weird one.

I chose not to put a spoiler tag here because it is rather obvious what kind of story you are getting even before the character tells his tale.

What I like about ghost stories isn’t because I believe in the supernatural (I don’t), it’s the wanting to believe in it. We all like a good fright every now and then. Like any magician’s routine we’d like to be amazed once or twice; second guessing what we just saw. That’s what ghostly horror movies are to me: a good time whilst ‘looking away when it gets too scary’.

Ghost stories keeps that mindset throughout the movie. It’s here to entertain the kiddies on Halloween-night and nothing more. Not overreaching itself pretending it is something it is not Ghost stories has set itself a simple task: to scare you. And yes, it does a great job!

Ghosts
One of the reasons why this movie is light on its feet is because the viewer never really gets a chance  to invest in the characters. The three main storytellers are all on screen too short to invest in. and the main character spends most of his time listening and when he’s not he is actually quite unpleasant.

Charles Goodman (Andy Nyman) immediately makes his mark in one of the first scenes

Slight spoiler: After a nicely lingering opening montage. A bit too lingering for my taste  since it 

never truly gets resolved.

as he smashes through the porcelain cabinet of the question: ‘do people need to know?’

It’s a nice introduction to a character that doesn’t get a whole lot more character work after that moment. That’s all you get and that’s fine because it allows our three storytellers to take the spotlight.

All three actors that follow play their part as if it was written for them (which I think is the case). Paul Whitehouse plays the rough common man Tony –complaining about the world between his lager and cigarette. Alex Lawther then is (again) playing a character on the brink of nervous collapse as Simon.

He’s very good at it. But now I’m hoping the poor lad gets a happy (mentally stable) character someday soon.

And finally there’s Martin Freeman as Mike who enjoys the heck out of his new-money City-boy character.

As I said, it are characters these actors can with their eyes closed. But that’s also what the movie needs: stability –because after the first story poor Charles’s world is gradually getting stranger.

Phantoms
It’s at the start of the second story that the movie misses a beat. There’s a bit of a gearshift as the movie quickly drops some weird elements on the viewer. It makes the Alex character more interesting, that’s for sure. But, then again, it is a bit of a miss as it tones down again in the third story.

Also there is a rather annoying editing jump in the church-scene just before this.

Ghost stories wants to take the viewer gradually into the inferno. However, the road down is a bit wobbly.

Spirits
Still, critiques aside the ghost stories Ghost stories tells are fabulously shot. Not being ashamed to take what is needed from the classics this movies relishes in the tropes of yesteryears.

Any moviebuff can spot the references: In the mouth of Madness, Evil Dead,

House on haunted hill, Poltergeist and many others.

Whilst, at the same time, throws some of its own elements in the ever-growing pool of horror tropes. Be it birds, mannequin dolls or freakish babies.

Making good usage of the spaces scenes take place in the camera plays with its focus to highlight bits and pieces of importance. But then, when it needs to be dark it is dark. As Tony and Alex stumble through the dark in their stories the camera lowers or angles itself just enough to give the viewer that uncomfortable feeling that something might pop into frame right behind them.

One shot I particularly liked was a green light travelling across the screen during the first story.

I am convinced that it was entirely unintentional but, for me, it worked to increase the suspense.

Ghouls
When you get right down to it ghost stories are still mysteries. The reader has to know what (to some extent) realize the truth in the end. Ghost stories ends its own mystery in the only true way it can. A choice that might, ever so slightly, unbalance what was before.

But, then, the end is never what the stories about spooks and shadows are about. The end is whether you can sleep at night.