Ghost Stories (2018) Review

"We have to be very careful what we choose to believe."
-Professor Phillip Goodman

Ghost Stories is a British horror movie that follows Professor Phillip Goodman (Andy Nyman), who hosts a TV show where he debunks supernatural frauds and psychics.  His childhood idol, Charles Cameron (Leonard Byrne), a paranormal investigator, contacts him and they meet face to face.  Charles reveals that he is now a believer in the supernatural due to his inability to solve three cases that continue to haunt him.  Charles dares Phillip to prove him wrong.  So Phillip sets out to investigate all three cases and what he discovers along the way is more terrifying than he could have possibly imagined.  

What Works:

The biggest praise I can give Ghost Stories is that it's actually scary.  I'm not talking about jump scares either.  Ghost Stories tells three different spooky stories that manage to build the tension and the creepiness by using atmosphere and suspense.  It really is a nice change of pace from the in-your-face jump scares that plague most modern horror movies.  Personally, I think the scariest of the three was the first story, but I've heard other people say either the second or third story was the scariest.  Either way, it's sure to give you some goosebumps and leave a light on when you go to sleep.

The acting is another thing that really elevates the movie.  One of the main reasons I wanted to see this film is because Martin Freeman is in it as the storyteller of the third story.  It's an unusual role for him.  I never thought I'd see him in a supporting role for a horror movie, yet, here he is, and he is fantastic as always.  But the film's true standout is Alex Lawther, who is the storyteller of the second story.  He is so committed to his role as a traumatized teenager, that although his story is the silliest of the three, he really sells it.  It's a fantastic performance and really memorable.

What Sucks:

This section may seem a bit contradictory, but Ghost Stories has the worst possible ending, executed in the best possible way.  Spoilers below, but just know that I do recommend this movie, so go ahead and check it out and judge for yourself.

What I mean by the worst possible ending is that they go the "it was all a dream" route, which is never a good idea.  It's such a hackneyed ending.  It isn't clever and it isn't original.  If you are ever going to make a movie or write a story, DO NOT USE THIS ENDING.  Now, that said, this is the best execution of an "it was all a dream" ending I've seen in a long time.  It turns out there were quite a few hints building up to the ending, and it was very artfully done.  The shots leading up to and including the reveal are horrifying and the fact that Phillip is stuck with locked-in syndrome is basically my worst nightmare.  So, I don't love the ending, but if we have to end it this way, it's the best possible execution.

Verdict:

Ghost Stories is a refreshing horror film, but it won't be for everyone.  It's not a mainstream movie at all.  But it's spooky and has excellent acting.  The ending could have been better, but is still solid.  Ghost Stories has got it going on.

 8/10: Really Good