Girl Haunts Boy (2024): A Heartwarming Ghost Film

Being invisible is a boring way to live your life.

Girl Haunts Boy is a 2024 fantasy film. When he moves into a new house, Cole meets Bea, a ghost who has inhabited the house for a century. They become friends and help one another with personal matters.

From the mere description that it’s a ghost movie, Girl Haunts Boy immediately went on my watch list. I love ghost stories. They have compelling narratives. Why is a ghost still lingering on earth? Girl Haunts Boy is a wholesome movie about how we should never give up on our lives, whether living or as ghosts.

This is the second ghost role Peyton List has starred in following the thrilling series, School Spirits. List was cast perfectly in the role, matching a 1920s look for her character. Bea Jenkins is a curious ghost who still has dreams. She has accepted her life as a ghost, a story angle not often portrayed. She’s still very enthusiastic about life.

Bea and Cole’s (Michael Cimino) friendship is sweet and comes at the right time when Cole is hurting from a loss. The actors became instant friends right when they met. Their chemistry felt natural.

Michael Cimino did a great job in his performance. He played his character with genuine emotions. I needed to watch more films with him. He has a wonderful singing voice. Three of Cimino’s songs were performed in the film, including ‘Still Haunted by You.’ He learned guitar specifically for this film.

Andrea Navedo plays Caterina Sanchez, Cole’s mother. She is also still hurting from a recent loss, but encourages her son to play music again. I teared up when Cole and his mother reminisced about past memories. It’s a heartwarming and beautifully written scene.

The film supplies the usual ensemble of characters. Lydia (Phoebe Holden) becomes an unexpected assistant in the situation. Other credits include Brandon Michael Hall, Christine M. Campbell, and an ensemble of townspeople.

Girl Haunts Boy is creative in its storytelling, which director Emily Ting took liberties with. She mentioned that everyone had a fun time working on the film. Ting made script changes based on how it would impact the story. She also drawing from genuine moments to bring an authentic feeling.

Filmmakers really got into the 1920s style of the film, matching dresses, hairstyles, and the famous Charleston dance. I was so jealous when there was a 1920s Great Gatsby party where they danced the Charleston. This (most expensive) scene took two days to shoot, and everything flowed naturally.

Music is another important element in the film. Ting hired musicians to help the actors with their instruments.

I enjoyed the film, though one idea sparked in my mind. What if Bea was evil and using Cole to her advantage? The idea for the film works either way, but it was too reminiscent of other stories. You can do anything with a ghost story concept. I will say that Cole spends too much time talking with Bea without getting weird looks from others.

Surprisingly, the film was emotional, which I was not expecting. The most important element of the film is the moral of learning to live again. We can’t bring the past back. It’s already with us as long as we can remember.

Girl Haunts Boy is not just a film for ghost lovers. It’s a film for anyone who's feeling lost. This was the first movie I watched on Netflix this year, and it was a good pick. Take a look at it if you’re in search of a new movie.