‘Ghostbusters’: You Don’t Have To Be A Horror Fan To Adore Ivan Reitman’s Spooky Masterpiece
One of the biggest challenges I have with my friend group is finding a movie we can all agree on. I love genre cinema and always have. But the majority of my pals like less visceral fare. So, picking a flick for movie night can often be a headache. Luckily, there are a handful of features that bridge the gap between the films I dig and those with which my comrades tend to connect. One such example is Ivan Reitman’s genre-bending effort, Ghostbusters.
Ghostbusters follows a group of paranormal investigators as they go into business for themselves, following the termination of a grant that funded their research. The fellas have a rough go of it to start. But when New York experiences an influx of supernatural activity, the parapsychologists find their services are in high demand.
This week, beloved horror comedy Ghostbusters is celebrating the 38th anniversary of its theatrical debut. So, with that in mind, we thought it would be as good a time as any to look back on what makes Ghostbusters such a crowd-pleasing good time. Between a dynamite cast, plenty of jokes that land, and a couple of genuinely spooky sequences, Ghostbusters is a cinematic effort that has something for every kind of moviegoer. And that’s no small feat.
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The flick is macabre enough to appeal to horror fans but tame enough not to alienate anyone with a low threshold for spooky stuff. And in that regard, Ghostbusters is something truly special. It is the rare horror comedy that works as well at delivering laughs as it does frights.
What makes the comedy work so well is the combination of a great script from Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis along with stellar performances from an all-star cast. The film has one of the most iconic lineups of any picture released in the ‘80s. We get Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis, all in a single film.
Each of the key players (as well as the secondary and tertiary performers) turns in a memorable performance that serves as the perfect complement to a screenplay filled with clever banter and superb one-liners.
Rick Moranis really shines as Dana’s neighbor Louis. The actor plays brilliantly off his talented costars and is funny from the get-go. But he shines brightest after becoming possessed. The sequence where he wanders around NYC with a crazed and confused look in his eyes equates to comedic gold. And I couldn’t imagine any other actor taking on that role.
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As for the scares, they aren’t as prevalent as the laughs but there are still a few to be had. The sequence where Dana (Sigourney Weaver) becomes possessed used to genuinely scare me as a kid. Great atmosphere and set design serve to make the spooky sequence effective and memorable.
The historic apartment building lends itself to the proceedings in a way that adds ambiance and also works perfectly with the subject matter. The way the building comes to life and opens an interdimensional gateway provides a macabre element to the story. But the nonstop comedic energy keeps things light enough that those averse to anything overtly scary won’t be put off.
The film delivers, laughs, frights, buckets of slime, and a charming friendship dynamic between the central characters. Accordingly, Ghostbusters has something for just about every type of movie lover. So, next time you are tasked with picking a flick that will appeal to a broad audience, why not give Ghostbusters a spin?
Categorized:Editorials
