Movie Review: Ghost Stories
@imyourarsonist reviews...
Directors: Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman
Writers: Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman
Stars: Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Paul
Whitehouse, Alex Lawther
Review
Anthologies have been trying to make a comeback
the last couple of years. It's an ambitious endeavor which has yielded little
success, due mostly to a lack of cohesiveness. Ghost Stories was a pleasant
surprise. Reminiscent of the Amicus anthologies of the 60s and 70s,
particularly Vault of Horror, it bleeds damp and dreary.
The framing story is about Professor Philip
Goodman (Andy Nyman). Goodman is a TV personality whose objective is to debunk
the supernatural, from hauntings to psychics. His aspiration is to continue the
work of his childhood hero. He embarks on a quest to get to the bottom of three
unsolved supernatural cases. Cases that will test not only his skepticism, but
his sanity.
In the first case, a night watchman (Paul
Whitehouse) experiences terrifying visions at a former asylum. In the second
story, an awkward and obsessive teen (Alex Lawther) is involved in a demonic
hit-and-run. The third case is about a wealthy ex-banker (Martin Freeman), a
poltergeist and a traumatic pregnancy.
All three vignettes provide the audience with a
well executed jump scare or two. There is also enough ambiguity to keep you
guessing, but the clues to the conclusion are there. The big twist at the end
is a bit convoluted, but it's satisfying enough.
Martin Freeman may be the big name in the film
and he is fantastic, but Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World, Black
Mirror) is SO good, it's almost a shame the whole movie doesn't focus on his
segment.
Ghost Stories is adapted from the stage play of
the same name, written by League of Gentlemen scribe, Jeremy Dyson, and
longtime friend, Andy Nyman, who also stars in the film. If you've ever seen
League of Gentleman, then you know you're in for a bizarre ride. This is third
horror/suspense film, that works on many different levels, in the span of a
year, written and directed by people who are known primarily for comedy. The
other two being Jordan Peele (Get Out) and John Krasinski (A Quiet Place).
Coincidence?
Ghost Stories screened at New York’s What the Fest!?
on Saturday, March 31st and will be at The Overlook Film Festival in New
Orleans in April. The movie opens in cinemas and will be available on VOD on
April 20.
Suzanne Bell | Twitter: @imyourarsonist
Images: IMDb
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