This film is based on a well-known stage play of the same title. A professor named Phillip (played by Andy Nyman) accepts the offer to investigate three unsolved paranormal cases. Phillip will seek out and question key witnesses from each case to see if he can gain any further information from each scary and bizarre case. After a brief back story is provided about Professor Phillip, the film gives an example of his skills and then gets underway.
As Professor Phillip investigates each case, the cases naturally appear to be different to one another. The investigation of each case/story includes a Q&A with a critical witness, and then the viewers are given the whole back story from the eyewitness perspective along with a flashback. To say each case has a closure or any type of solid resolution is debatable because in the end, as the title of this film says, it’s just Ghost Stories for us to enjoy and that’s it.
After a promising start and setup to our film, I was invested, but as the stories begin, the film drops to a much slower pace. This type of storytelling is also odd for a feature film. While watching this film, I couldn’t help but think to myself that perhaps this would have worked better as a short film or internet web series. The film also decides to make a few unusual edits, particularly when Philip jumps to interviewing different people who are talking about the next case.
The film itself is rather dark and bland looking, but being a “Ghost” film, this is somewhat expected. Anyone expecting the film to be pretty with stunning visuals is merely watching the wrong movie. I particularly did enjoy the film’s audio track, but I soon got rather tired of countless jump scares within the entire duration.
From a marketing perspective, this film is a bit sneaky. For example, the front poster of my DVD has actor Martin Freeman and only this actor. If you were expecting for him to be a main lead, you’re in for a shock. The actor himself doesn’t make an appearance until over an hour into the film (like I said, sneaky, sneaky).
Overall, Ghost Stories tells some simple ghost tales which never feel completely rewarding, nor does it deliver any real closure for any of the stories/cases that are shown. The film is also somewhat bland with a never-ending amount of jump scares which never seemed to grab me. Even with the film’s final reveal, I found it disappointing and weak. Sure, it’s passable as a film, but after viewing it, I fear it will also be forgotten about.
5.1/10
2nd December 2019
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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