Ghostbusters Afterlife Movie Review

Whilst I wasn’t born when the first 'Ghostbusters' film came out back in 1984, I have very fond memories of watching it as a kid on VHS with my Dad who was a massive fan and even now as an adult on 4K UHD re-watching it every Halloween with my partner. It still remains one of my favourite comedy films of all time. After the disappointing 2016 reboot, I was a little concerned of what the franchise would look like moving forward, but luckily Sony employed the right people to take care of that for this new iteration of 'Ghostbusters'. Their recently launched Ghost Corps sub-division has proven to be a welcomed addition to the Sony library, putting a strong emphasis on the franchise and employing the right people moving forward. When it was announced that the remaining trio Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray and Dan Ackroyd would be involved in some capacity and director Jason Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman who directed Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2, would be helming the project, I was on board. I am pleased to say I really liked this film,  its family fun with a little edge, brought together by a welcomed blend of the new and old. 

The film boasts an impressive cast, led by the likes of Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon. Both actors have superb acting abilities but also amazing comedic timing. The real stars of this sequel though are the niece and nephew of the beloved Egon Spangler (played by the late great Harold Ramis) Finn Wolfhard as Trevor and McKenna Grace as Phoebe. The two are dynamic on screen, stealing a lot of the scenes they’re in. McKenna Grace feels like a descendent of Egon, which adds to the film's established universe but also provides nice little nods to the original films. The cast bring Ghostbusters into a new age, paying respects to the films of the past whilst also paving the way for exciting new prospects moving forward. We of course have brief appearances from the original cast, but it is the new cast that really steals the show for me. 

 Ghostbusters: Afterlife blends CGI and amazing practical effects together almost seamlessly. This is one of the best looking big-budget films in recent years, keeping the goofy tone of the original films with the modern special effects we have come to expect from the studio system. The hell dogs are brought to life again in a fun way, using animatronics and practical make-up effects. The designs of the new ghosts we are introduced to, specifically Muncher are a lot of fun. The character feels real in this established world and I had a lot of fun with him on-screen. These awesome effects elevate the action set-pieces as well, with a great car-chase sequence that takes place half way through the film, that you see glimpses of in the trailer was a lot of fun and one of the standouts. 

 One of the big talking points coming out of Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the way Nostalgia features in the story. This is a proponent part of why the movie has been as successful as it has. The film showcases things that everyone remembers about Ghostbusters, whether it be little nods to visual gags from the first film or the way that Egon’s legacy carries out through the events of the film. We also get references to the technology used in the original film as well as Ecto 1, the classic Ghostbusters car which has a major role in the film. The film has a lot of heart that stems from this and I think it has given the franchise a different meaning and feeling, acknowledging the fanbase and giving the fans something to cheer about. It is a culmination of decades of fandom, blended with a director that has a clear love for the property and his fathers legacy behind the camera for the original films. It is a love letter to Ghostbusters and I adore that aspect of this film. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was an absolute blast and a must watch for fans. If you have never seen Ghostbusters before as well, then this film also works as a great launching pad to begin watching these films. It has a great cast and provides you with a solid understanding of what the  franchise is about. Be sure to pick up your copy on DVD, Blu-Ray or 4K UHD today from Sanity in-store or online.

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Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here