I saw this on Netflix and assumed it was just a dumb horror/comedy. But considering the talent involved, I thought it might be worth a watch. It defied my expectations.
Frank and Melanie Presley (Anthony Mackie & Erica Ash) move into a new home with their two sons, Kevin (Jahi Di'Allo Winston) and Fulton (Niles Fitch). Kevin is an introvert and doesn't relate to his parents or his brother. One day while exploring the attic, he comes face to face with a ghost named Ernest (David Harbor). Ernest tries to scare Kevin, but the boy records the spirit on his cell phone and giggles at Ernest's attempts to scare him. The two form an unlikely relationship as Kevin discovers Ernest has no idea why he is still in the house or what happened to him while he was alive. Frank and Fulton discover the video and post it on the internet which blows up and Ernest becomes a folk hero. This brings him to the attention of a former agent who ran the FBI's ghost unit, Dr. Leslie Monroe (Tig Notaro). There is a hilarious send up of internet challenges as people start trying to mimic the way Ernest walks through walls, with injurious results.
The movie seemed like it was going to just be a silly horror/comedy, but it actually turns into a really sweet friendship study as Kevin tries to help Ernest discover who he is and why he is a ghost. Kevin finds another ally in Joy (Isabella Russo) the female neighbor next door, Together they track down Ernest's background and attempt to help him resolve his issues on earth so he can move to the afterlife. This is a pretty common trope in these types of movies, but they do such a good job with it and the actors are so sincere, you get caught up in the shenanigans. Jennifer Coolidge has a fun cameo as a fake psychic who Ernest scares the heck out of.
The movie is light on storyline, but the cast are game and the plot moves along so fast, you don't have time to pick it apart.
Frank and Melanie Presley (Anthony Mackie & Erica Ash) move into a new home with their two sons, Kevin (Jahi Di'Allo Winston) and Fulton (Niles Fitch). Kevin is an introvert and doesn't relate to his parents or his brother. One day while exploring the attic, he comes face to face with a ghost named Ernest (David Harbor). Ernest tries to scare Kevin, but the boy records the spirit on his cell phone and giggles at Ernest's attempts to scare him. The two form an unlikely relationship as Kevin discovers Ernest has no idea why he is still in the house or what happened to him while he was alive. Frank and Fulton discover the video and post it on the internet which blows up and Ernest becomes a folk hero. This brings him to the attention of a former agent who ran the FBI's ghost unit, Dr. Leslie Monroe (Tig Notaro). There is a hilarious send up of internet challenges as people start trying to mimic the way Ernest walks through walls, with injurious results.
The movie seemed like it was going to just be a silly horror/comedy, but it actually turns into a really sweet friendship study as Kevin tries to help Ernest discover who he is and why he is a ghost. Kevin finds another ally in Joy (Isabella Russo) the female neighbor next door, Together they track down Ernest's background and attempt to help him resolve his issues on earth so he can move to the afterlife. This is a pretty common trope in these types of movies, but they do such a good job with it and the actors are so sincere, you get caught up in the shenanigans. Jennifer Coolidge has a fun cameo as a fake psychic who Ernest scares the heck out of.
The movie is light on storyline, but the cast are game and the plot moves along so fast, you don't have time to pick it apart.