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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
In 1984, Ghostbusters was unleashed in theaters throughout the U.S. The supernatural comedy generated rave reviews and became a cultural phenomenon as one of the most successful laugh-fests of the ’80s.
A sequel — Ghostbusters II — followed five years later but saw fewer ticket sales and a tsunami of negative reviews.
Now, more than three decades later, comes Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The story this time focuses on Callie (Carrie Coon), a single mother, and her children Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace).
Evicted from their home, they move into a rundown Oklahoma farmhouse they have inherited from Callie’s father. Before long, they discover the dilapidated building houses an assortment of Ghostbuster gear, and unsettling occurrences soon become commonplace.
In time, the children learn of their mysterious grandfather’s secret legacy and his involvement with the original Ghostbuster gang.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife — the third offering — was directed by Jason Reitman, the son of Ivan Reitman, who brought the original blockbuster to life. (The younger Reitman also joined forces with Dan Aykroyd and Gil Kenan to create the Afterlife script.)
This time, the kids move about in a world of childhood innocence — think Steven Spielberg’s earlier offerings — in occasional conflict with Stephen-King-scariness in the form of CGI monsters that could come roaring out of the darkness at any time and conjure moments from the 1984 original.
This is a sequel that understands how to pay adequate homage to the original while also being able to stand alone as its own film.
There are enough iconic Ghostbusters moments here to satisfy the longtime fans, as well as fresh and unique twists and turns that a new moviegoing generation will enjoy. It’s the done-right follow-up that sci-fi fans have been waiting for.
To wit: Movie critic James Preston Poole seemed to be barely able to contain his enthusiasm when he recently proclaimed, “It’s the best of the series … Stupendously well written, not leaning too hard on nostalgia, and telling a story better than even the original could muster. A winner in every sense.”
Nearly all of the key players from the 1984 classic return here: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts. (Harold Ramis died in 2014.)
The movie, which was shot mostly in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was scheduled for a summer 2020 release, but the ongoing pandemic forced schedule changes until now. It’s rated PG-13 for some scary images and a bit of suggestive language, but overall this should be a great choice for everyone from tweens to seniors.
Look for the release around the Thanksgiving holiday.
Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming movies from his home on the Oregon coast. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.