Supernatural Tearjerker On Max Changes How You Think About Ghosts
If you’re a fan of ghost movies, you’ve likely seen all manner of spooky apparitions slamming cabinets, shattering plates, and bullying unsuspecting families out of homes for a myriad of reasons. Traditional ghost stories often include some kind of exorcism or horrifying murder backstory, turning the supernatural creatures into movie monsters similar to the shark from Jaws or the Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise. One supernatural film however, 2017’s A Ghost Story, takes a far more minimalist and sympathetic approach, showcasing specters as forlorn onlookers, trapped in the afterlife as they struggle to be seen or heard.
A Low-Budget Minimalist Approach
A Ghost Story was written and directed by American indie filmmaker David Lowery, who is also responsible for such underrated classics as Pete’s Dragon, The Old Man & the Gun, and The Green Knight. Lowery self-funded the low-cost effort, utilizing just $100,000 in profits from Pete’s Dragon to piece together a brief, under-the-radar shoot in Irving, Texas. Most of the filming for A Ghost Story was done in a single home, which the crew were allowed to use for free as the locale was set to be demolished later that year.
A Critical Darling But Far From A Fan-Favorite
Like many other people, I first became fascinated with A Ghost Story after seeing some promo images floating around the web, in which a man in a rudimentary ghost costume silently haunts the incredibly well-shot scenery of a small Texas home. As I looked deeper into the movie, I came to learn that professional film critics absolutely loved it, while members of the general public levied negative criticism at the film, calling it “boring,” “overly artsy,” and “not scary at all.”
Not Terrifying, And Not Supposed To Be
Indeed, A Ghost Story is just about the furthest thing you could get from a fright fest, as the film bares no resemblance at all to your standard horror haunting. The movie offers a slow, measured narrative about a man who suddenly dies with unfinished business, and stays behind on Earth in a futile effort to communicate with his bereft widow. The man, credited only as “C,” is portrayed by Casey Affleck, in a near-silent performance that sees the star donning a giant bed sheet with cut-out eye holes, similar to a child’s DIY Halloween costume.
A Certified Story About Grief And Loss
Obviously, if you’re looking for something akin to the Paranormal Activity franchise or a Mike Flanagan outing, A Ghost Story will disappoint you tremendously. The film is less focused on showcasing the terror of a haunting, and more concerned with providing some incredible shot composition, impressive lighting techniques, and strong thematic elements of love, loss, and grief.
Today, A Ghost Story holds a staggering 91 percent certified fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been called “one of best cinematic ghost stories ever made” by legendary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.
A Ghost Story Is Streaming On Max
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There’s no denying that A Ghost Story is a super weird film, but if that’s the kind of thing you usually enjoy, be sure to give this movie a spin by pulling it up on Max today. Just be sure to let your friends know that this isn’t the kind of movie you can watch with your phone in your hands, as something like 75 percent of the runtime is spent with no audible dialogue.
