Jacked In Reviews ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ (2021)

As the eerie paranormal music begins to play over the opening credits of Ghostbusters: Afterlife you’re immediately transported back to the ‘80s. Quickly followed by practical effects for some ghostly smoke, demonic hands busting out of chairs and a quick glimpse of aged, former Ghostbuster, Egon Spengler with the classic P.K.E meter and ghost trap, all this in the first scene and you are f*cking ready for this movie!.. Who Ya Gonna Call?

Taking place away from the big apple, we follow the story of Spengler’s estranged daughter, Callie (Carrie Coon) and her two children, Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) & Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), who are forced to relocate to her late father’s farm after becoming flat-out broke.

This movie immediately seems to do what it says on the tin, in that, it feels exactly like a Jason Reitman Ghostbuster movie. He isn’t trying to copy his father, Ivan Reitman – who directed the previous instalments – but instead, makes it his own. That being said, although you’re following a different approach in a new setting, the nostalgic references make it feel right at home in the franchise.

The quirky, intelligent Phoebe fills the role of the new Spengler perfectly, Paul Rudd is charmingly hilarious as always, playing a very Moranis-esque type character (only less pathetic) and there are even some funky new spooks!

Unfortunately, the movie has one of the same downsides (somewhat) as Ghostbusters (2016). In that, with the originals, if you take away all the gags, you still have a pretty decent horror movie (by ‘80s standards anyway). Not to the extent of the 2009 remake – which doesn’t have much left if you take away the jokes – but this movie just didn’t have the scare factor that made the originals so infamous. Even when bringing back some familiar creepy characters, they seemed toned down compared to that of their predecessors.

However, Reitman’s strengths certainly come across with his younger cast and their on-screen counterparts. When it comes to clumsily, busting ghost’s, accompanied by comical, scientific/paranormal banter, you can definitely tell, they just get it.

The finale isn’t as epic as a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man or a living Statue of Liberty, powered by Jackie Wilson, but what it lacks in grandness, it more than makes up for in heart,

All in all, a great movie, an amazing trip down memory lane and a reminder of why practical effects can work so much better if done right. It brings something new to the franchise, has its fair share of comical moments and lastly, is an absolutely, brilliant tribute to the legendary Harold Ramis.

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