I came out of the theatre after seeing Ghostbusters: Afterlife with a massive smile on my face. This is how you bring back a classic property that people love. It tugged enough at those nostalgia strings, but it still stood on its own as a damn fine film. My whole family enjoyed this and I have to say it was more than worth the wait!
How to Stream or Download Ghostbusters: Afterlife
To check the film’s availability as a digital download on Google Play Store, click on the Download button at the end of this review. Read also about Ghostubsters (2006) movie.
The Movie Review
I grew up with the Ghostbusters movies, the animated series, the toys, the pajamas, and so on. I just ate this stuff up and I have to say that the all-female Ghostbusters movie (while not great) was not as bad as people made out. However, unlike many other people, I felt no need for a 3rd (well fourth) Ghostbuster’s movie.
That may sound crazy, but the reason I say this is that Ghostbusters: The Video Game which was released in 2009 and then remastered in 2019 served as an amazing sequel. It had the original cast, followed on from Ghostbusters II, and felt as much as a sequel as a movie ever could in my eyes.
Yet, as more and more information about Ghostbusters: Afterlife started to come to light, I found myself getting more excited. To start with the director of the first two movies Ivan Reitman’s son, Jason was taking charge! They were getting the three surviving Ghostbusters back and it was going to be a full sequel that was set 30 plus years later.
Add to this a talented cast including Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, and the amazing Mckenna Grace and you had a movie that looked like it could live up to the hype. The opening scene of the movie had me on the edge of my seat. Not only did it manage to offer some nostalgia, but it set the tone very well.
We have the Spengler family made up of mom, Callie, son Trevor and genius daughter, Phoebe. Egon cut his daughter out of his life and she grew up not caring for him at all. Well, Egon passes on and leaves his “dirt farm” to his daughter. As Callie is broke and recently evicted, she moves her kids to the farm.
The whole dynamic of this family is great. You have Callie who is clearly hurt that her dad basically ran out on her. Trevor is your typical 15-year-old guy and then we have Phoebe who is like a little Egon as she is smart and loves to tinker with gadgets. It does not take long for them to realize that there is something wrong in the town of Summerville.
It turns out that Summerville is ground zero for paranormal activity and the villain from the first movie Gozer is set to rise again. Phoebe along with her new friend “Podcase” finds Egon’s Proton ack and end up chasing down a ghost! Before long they along with their mom and their teacher Gary (Paul Rudd) soon realize that Egon did not run out on anyone!
I am trying my best not to spoil anything for you guys. What I can tell you is that Ghostbusters: Afterlife works very well as a sequel to the two 80s Ghostbusters movies. I really cannot think of how they could have done this any better. No matter your level of Ghostbusters fandom, this is just a super fun movie that works on so many levels. A true highlight of 2021 when it comes to movies in my opinion.
