We Have A Ghost Movie Review

Over the past few years, Christopher Landon has established himself as a prominent figure in the horror-comedy subgenre with films like Happy Death Day and Scout’s Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse. Much like Joe Dante and Ivan Reitman in the ‘80s, Landon has given this subgenre a modern twist with his 21st century sensibilities and style. And with his latest film, We Have A Ghost, he continues his hot streak.

While We Have A Ghost may lean more towards YA or PG-13 content than his previous blood-soaked work, it still manages to be a spooky crowd-pleaser. Instead of relying on gore, the film is filled with good-heartedness, making it more akin to Ghost-befrienders than Ghostbusters.

The film follows the story of a young Gen-Z protagonist, played by newcomer Jahi Di'Allo Winston (known for his work in Queen And Slim). Winston's character undercuts the usual horror tropes of ghost stories, reacting to the supernatural presence with an incredulous laugh, taking out his phone to film it, and going viral on social media with hashtags, conspiracy theories, and TikTok challenges.

The ghost in question is portrayed by David Harbour, whose grumpy frustration with the standard-issue ‘wooooo’-ing is hilarious. As Ernest, Harbour delivers a wordless performance that feels like something out of a silent film, relying solely on his body language and facial expressions. He is both Chaplin-esque funny and endearingly warm, utilizing his gentle facial expressions to create a fatherly figure that audiences can easily relate to.

Like any Landon film, We Have A Ghost is packed with fantastic performances, including Anthony Mackie as a deadbeat dad looking for redemption, and Jennifer Coolidge in a typically camp and deranged cameo as ‘The West Bay Medium’ Judy Romano. The film also includes knowing nods to horror fans, with Erica Ash's character insisting that they won't be like every other stupid white family in every horror movie.

We Have A Ghost is a genre piece that is thoughtful and earnest, less concerned with scares and more with heartfelt emotions. It's a film that centers on families, and is designed to be enjoyed by them too, especially families with teenage kids. It's a ghost story that nearly everyone can enjoy.

This is mostly an earnest, thoughtful genre piece, less interested in scares and more interested in cares.

We Have A Ghost is a thoughtful genre piece that is more interested in cares than scares. It's ultimately a film about families and is designed to be watched by them, especially those with teenage kids. The Extremely Online, irony-soaked wit that characterizes Landon's previous works is toned down here to make way for a fun, heartfelt horror-comedy that showcases David Harbour's accomplished apparition-acting.

Like any Landon joint, in fact, it’s stuffed with great performances — Anthony Mackie is a great deadbeat dad, desperate for a win; while Jennifer Coolidge puts in a typically camp and deranged cameo as Judy Romano, ‘The West Bay Medium’. And in the Landon tradition, there are knowing lines for horror fans, too (“We are not going to be like every stupid white family in every horror movie,” insists Erica Ash’s obstinate mother)

In summary, Christopher Landon's latest film, We Have A Ghost, is another addition to his impressive horror-comedy resume. While it skews more towards the YA and PG-13 crowd than his previous works, the film remains spooky and enjoyable, with a focus on family dynamics and heartfelt emotions. David Harbour's ghostly performance is a standout, and the film is filled with talented performers who deliver great comedic and dramatic moments. Overall, We Have A Ghost is a fun, heartfelt horror-comedy that is well worth a watch.