We Have a Ghost

Listen up, this film, a creepy comedy from Netflix, is about a family that moves into a home and discovers very fast that the home has a ghost. The fact that this ghost is portrayed by David Harbour and that everyone can see him day or night, inside or out, is what I appreciate about him. He also haunts the attic like most movie ghosts do. This ghost is going viral.

Writer-director Christopher Landon is a good director of horror movies that frequently have strong comic threads, and this time around he's pushing even more into the chuckles and the family drama element, even though "We Have a Ghost" does feature a few well-executed jump-scare moments.

There are times when "We Have a Ghost" is too corny for its own good, and the revelation about what happened to Ernest is somewhat unexpected. However, there is a cool sequence in which Ernest runs slowly through an H&R Block office and a tattoo parlor to the sounds of "Words" by Missing Persons. Even still, the ensemble is fantastic, there are lots of jokes, and the ending is incredibly moving.

Staff:

Directed by: Christopher Landon

Screenplay by: Christopher Landon

Based on: "Ernest" by Geoff Manaugh

Produced by: Marty Bowen and Dan Halsted

Starring: David Harbour, Jahi Winston, and Anthony Mackie

Cinematography: Marc Spicer

Edited by: Ben Baudhuin

Music by: Bear McCreary

Production companies: Temple Hill Entertainment and Halsted Pictures

Distributed by: Netflix

Release date: February 24, 2023

Running time: 127 minutes