In 1945, in Brooklyn, five close friends who grew up together and served in the military come together for an evening catch-up. As the group comes together, each character faces challenges and hurdles in life, including the evening’s host, Clive (Larry Fessenden). Clive recently lost his wife and openly admits he’s not handling it well. After researching on his own through methods like attending church and seeking spiritual wisdom, Clive has come to a roadblock. He now calls his close friends over to his place for assistance with something unexpected and entirely unknown- a séance.
Clive hopes this ceremony will allow him to speak to his dead wife and find out if there is, in fact, life after death. Clive also does not fully understand how she died, pushing him to do whatever it takes to find answers and, hopefully, some peace. While everyone around the room initially declines to participate and makes alternative suggestions on how Clive can find out answers, they soon have compassion and decide to sit down to support their close friend. After all, what could go wrong with having a go, right? As the séance begins, it’s not long until the group make baffling discoveries about Clive and his wife. Suddenly, suspicions about each other grow, especially at the appearance of a mysterious ghost.
Brooklyn 45 isn’t your typical kind of horror film. Sure, some horror aspects are included, such as moments of violence, gore, and ghostly appearance. But at its core, this film is best described as a heavy drama with a solid touch of mystery and tension thrown in. The film is dialogue heavy, almost like the audience is watching a stage play. While there is a small cast, I’m proud to announce how impressed I was that they could keep the drama engaging and provide excellent performances with outstanding line deliveries from start to finish. I found myself invested early on and was eager to know how the story would play out for each character. There is a significant element of unpredictability, including the ending and final moments, which surprised me. The mystery is not only focused on the strange ghostly appearance but surrounds each on-screen character. Who is telling the truth, and who is trustworthy? These are just some examples that keep viewers guessing and curious.
The setting for this film is excellent. Set in one location for most of the film, everything, such as the furniture, props and mise en scene, is fantastic. Character costumes and visual effects are also a joy here. Dramatic moments and tense scenes pay off well, thanks to both the performances and the Director’s visual style throughout. Director Ted Geoghegan is no stranger to making horror films (Mohawk, We Are Still Here) and brings a great-looking movie to life.
As for any concerns about the film, it is slightly vague in some plot areas. Granted, the story’s core and its themes still hit strongly. You might be disappointed here if you expected a hard-core horror film with lots of ghosts and flesh and blood. Thankfully Brooklyn 45 truly surprised me and exceeded my expectations which, in the end, all felt very welcoming and fresh.
Overall, this isn’t your typical horror film. For me, that’s a good thing. Brooklyn 45 manages to introduce new, fun, horror aspects along with a solid amount of drama focused on the topic of past and present wars, trust and, most importantly, trauma. While containing such a small cast, I was pleased to see how well they all carried this film, and the work they present here is excellent. With a dialogue-heavy movie that is almost like a stage play, I found myself profoundly engaged and locked into the concept and storyline. I was kept guessing and wondering for the entire duration. Some moments here are tense and dramatic, and like a haunting ghost, the film successfully lingers after the credits roll. It’s different, highly unique and extremely clever.
Brooklyn 45 (2023) is Available Exclusively on Shudder from June 9th!
7.9/10
5th June 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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