Yet another guh-guh-guh ghost story – I’m always game to watch another. And this one had an interesting twist.
The well-acted cast included Amanda Seyfried as Catherine (the wife) and James Norton as George (the husband). Very soon in the movie we met THE GREAT F. Murray Abraham, playing Floyd. Jiminy Christmas, I love this guy. He played such great characters, and mostly bad guys. Omar Suárez in Scarface, Antonio Salieri in Amadeus, which was spectacular. Dar Adal in the terrific series Homeland – what a bastard he played. And one of my favorites, related to this movie because it was also a ghost story – Cyrus Kriticos in Thirteen Ghosts. I really hoped his character in that movie would have a similar function later in this one. Speaking of F – I believe the F stands for FLYING DUMBO EARS. Good lord they are yuge! He looked ridiculous in the sailing scenes when he wore a winter wool cap but at least it hid his frickin’ freakish ears. But enough of that nonsense – good ol’ F has a BEST ACTOR OSCAR.
But there’s more, Rhea Seehorn from Better Call Saul played Justine. And then finally, in smaller roles, Michael “Noonan” O’Keefe played the sheriff and Karen Jane Allen (from Animal House and the Raiders of the Lost Ark movies) played Mare.
To summarize the plot, Catherine (an art restoration expert) and George (college professor) moved from a Manhattan apartment to an old farm house in upstate New York where George got a new job at a small college. Strange happenings began to occur in the house, and later, at a party, they learned that the previous owners had been in a murder/suicide, which was preceded by further violence throughout its’ history. Okay, we know where this was headed.
This movie featured a well paced and intriguing plot, and another despicable character in George to root against. Sadly, with so much potential for a more satisfying ending, instead it ended with a resounding thud. More like a fart noise. Really a shame, as it could have been so much better. But even with the disappointing ending, there was enough to recommend watching this movie. And of course, you get to see THE GREAT F Murray Abraham.
7 out of 13 guh-guh-guh Ghosts.