User reviews

A Ghost Story was a rather polarizing movie back when it premiered due to its misleading marketing that made it seem like a horror/suspense movie, but the reality is not that far away when we start thinking things through.

I was moved and enthralled by what, at first glance, is a slow-burn kind of movie with very, very little dialogue and long takes that seems to drag on and on, yet with each take, there's a small gift of solace in portraying a very melancholic life about loss, grief, and the passing of time. A movie that's softly strong it essence, with a simplistic narrative that tries to for the less-is-more kind of approach, and, in my opinion, it succeeds at it.

Don't expect this to be a melodrama or a romance, instead, approach it as a cinematographic experience about the inability to let go of a loved one, about the dangers of waiting, and how love can endure what seems eternity.

There's two particular scenes that completely moved me, despite their short and succinct execution, they work great at showing you what this film is about, and I'm sure that if you give it the opportunity and time, it will reward you with a very powerful story.

"A Ghost Story" haunts its way into my 7/10 rating, and I must admit, I liked it. Casey Affleck's minimalist yet poignant performance under a sheet is surprisingly affecting, creating an ethereal presence that lingers long after the film ends. The deliberate film editing, characterized by long takes and slow pacing, allows the audience to immerse themselves in the film's meditative atmosphere. Its strength lies in its exploration of time, mortality, and the afterlife, offering a unique and introspective take on the supernatural genre. Daniel Hart's haunting score adds to the film's melancholic beauty, and the cinematography, often framed in a square aspect ratio, gives a sense of isolation and eternity. "A Ghost Story" is a thought-provoking and quietly moving experience, reminding us that even in death, our presence can endure, and my liking for it is as enduring as the ghost's silent watch over time.

This is not a film to watch with a big bowl of popcorn snuggled up looking for something to entertain you on a Tuesday night. It's probably best that you know what you're getting yourself into...

It's a film that challenges you to empathize with a faceless, voiceless entity that you only get to know briefly. It weaponizes boredom and hazy, cold cinematography to put the viewer in a similar situation as the titular ghost. You are a distant, helpless observer to a world that relentlessly moves forward without you. Characters come and go without much introduction or resolution, and all you can do is watch as time goes on... and on... and on...

A Ghost Story is intentionally divisive, but if you immerse yourself in its bold and and chilling atmosphere, you will experience a film that is deeply moving and sticks with you for a long, long time.

Imagine a joke that takes 90 minutes to tell, you never get to hear the actual punchline, and part of the point is how long and incredibly boring it is to get there - yet it makes sense at the end, and in some strange way seems fulfilling. If this sounds like your cuppa joe, you might like this flick. I'm glad I watched it, but wouldn't watch it again, and can't recommend it.

I am surprised at how emotional this movie was. I fully expected this to be slow and it was so as it started off I wasn't angry but I was getting bored, anyone who has seen it can admit that the pie eating scene is a tad too long. However as the movie progresses it becomes better or even great in places, it is slow but it explores the passing of time and mortality in such a magnificent way that it makes the viewer think and reflect on their own life and what it means. As I said in the title this movie would go really well with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, especially the song Time. The story of the movie is very simple but effective and the length of it is perfect. The movie is an unexpected gem because even though people have recommended this I did not expect it to be one of the most resonant movies of 2017 for me and one that would make feel so sad and thoughtful.

Alright. I confess. I am an emotional person. After seeing the Plugged In review for this film, I cautiously threw this movie in on a slow, Saturday night. I assumed that it was going to be much like the movie "Ghost," and that it would be good, but not overly amazing. I was so wrong.

Not only did this movie make me cry for most of its duration, but it literally made me sob so hard that I was afraid of waking up the rest of my family is I cried in my bedroom at 11:45 at night. The film just hits so close to home. Time is the enemy of everyone. There's no going back, and there's no stopping it either. People pass, relationships end, romances form and then break apart. Nothing, at least in our physical world, ever stays the same. This movie beautifully illustrates this in a way that most American audiences don't seem to be understanding, which is why I am writing this review.

This movie deserves so much more recognition that it currently has; especially on this site. While this is by no means an action-packed or on-the-edge-of-your-seat film, the pure amount of artistry and raw, unadulterated emotion found in it makes stand out in my mind as one of the best films I have ever seen.

It's so simple. So astronomically simple; and that's what makes it so magical. Whether it be the haunting image of a wrecked car or the heavily-spoken about scene depicting a woman eating an entire pie for over five minutes, every single shot is filmed with so much emotion, it makes you want to pause the film and reflect on every minute the story has to offer. Everything has a purpose in this film. It all ties together in this beautiful, haunting tragedy mixed with a love song.

I know I'm just a kid. Yes, I may be only seventeen. But I beg you, if the reviews for this film on this site are making you think twice about seeing this, just listen to what I have to say and watch it. No, it's not for everyone. If you're looking for a horror movie or a blood-splattered motion pic, skip this one over. But if you're deeper than that, and you actually want to experience something you won't forget, throw yourself into this one.

It's sad to see that this beautiful masterpiece of American cinema is being so overlooked.

I didn't hate this film, but it missed the mark on so many levels. Rooney Mara's talent is essentially wasted in her role as the grieving widow. Casey Affleck is...well, Casey Affleck, and in his defense, he doesn't have much to work with here. The director gets points for making a silent bed sheet somewhat watchable. And, there are a few really good scenes, which I won't describe in case you absolutely, positively want to watch this. However, I have to warn you that unless you're willing to endure long stretches of nothing of importance happening, you probably won't care for this film.

This is what happens when a director decides to make a work of art regardless of what the intended audience wants. Points awarded for trying.

This movie is simultaneously not for everyone, while also trying to demand everyone's attention. That statement may confuse some people, so please listen closely if you're intrigued, because this review if going to be about me gushing on how incredible this film is. Whole critics seem to general love this film, average moviegoers seem to be pretty divisive on this film in retrospect. Personally, I completely see how many would be bored or turned off by this film, so whether or not you like this film is up to you. Personally, this film opened my mind in ways I wasn't expecting and I found myself in a state of transfixion when the credits began to role. So, this review will definitely lean heavily on a recommendation to everyone, but please be advised that the film itself is absolutely not for everyone. Now that I have that out of the way, let's dive in.

As a couple is about to move out of their first house onto bigger and better things, the husband (Casey Affleck) dies in a tragic accident. The film then follows the wife (Rooney Mara) as she copes with her loss. The husband returns in ghost form, walking around the halls of the house, watching her every move, stating that people really do watch over us after they die. This premise is fantastic, but the visuals themselves and the way the movie is constructed is what I feel may turn many people off. Coming off cheap by literally having the husband dressed in a bed sheet, the movie may seem cheesy to some, but that's not the point of it at all. From long takes of people sitting alone in a room to time travel in order to open viewers mind's, this movie takes many risks, but I think they are all genius in their own right if you're in the proper mood when watching this film.

Going from many short films, to independent features, to a big blockbuster in last year's Pete's Dragon, director David Lowrey has been all over the business, so it was pretty clear that this was a passion project for him, and that the amount of viewers this film gained didn't matter to him in the slightest. I think this was the best way to make a movie like this, because only the most hardcore film fans will probably discover it, which is where I feel it's best suited anyways. There is so much symbolism about the meaning of life and which aspects of it really matter the most, but I feel as though many viewers won't catch on. Once again, if you're in the right mindset and are open to literally anything, then I believe you'll have the same reaction to this film that I did.

Many viewers like being able to relate to a character when they speak to someone and open up about themselves, but this film is very far from anything like that. There are stretches of the film that can last up to 30 minutes without a single word being spoken, leaving it up to your interpretation on how they're feeling or what they're thinking. This is a very lonely-feeling film that you need to be relaxed and open-minded about. In my opinion, when a film can show you a piece of imagery and have you understand what a character is going through, what they're thinking, all while giving you a sincere look at our planet as a whole, when it's accomplishing everything it set out to do, and then some. Simply put, sometimes showing things to an audience is much more powerful than having it explained.

In the end, A Ghost Story is strangely enough one of the most powerful experiences you'll be able to see an all of 2017. Now, there isn't much dialogue, so you really have to pay attention and think about every piece of imagery, but if you're willing to do that, then I believe you will have a terrific experience as well. If you're not into this film after the first 10-20 minutes then you're either not in the right mindset or it's just not for you, which I completely understand. Many people will hate this movie, but I believe the message itself is worth waiting for alone. A Ghost Story is easily one of my favourite films of the year and I can't wait to watch it multiple times

Greetings again from the darkness. We've not previously seen a movie like this latest from writer/director David Lowery. Detractors will likely roll their eyes and ask "and why would we?", while those who find a connection here will pontificate endlessly on the existential meaning of life, love, loss and legacy. Polarized reactions to the film will lead to some colorful post-viewing discussions … exactly what would be expected from an artsy non-horror movie entitled A Ghost Story.

Yes, there is a ghost. However this ghost is neither friendly Casper nor angry spirit. Instead, for the vast majority of the run time, we see a white sheet covered Casey Affleck (at least we are told it's him) standing in static melancholic repose. We do initially meet Affleck's composer character in what appears to be a somewhat normal up-and-down relationship with his wife, played by Rooney Mara. In the midst of a passive-aggressive argument about whether to move from their somewhat dumpy suburban rental, Affleck's character is killed in an automobile accident mere feet from their driveway. We next see him back in the house, draped in a bedsheet (one way to keep wardrobe costs under control), and watching his grief-stricken wife through blackened eye holes.

We come to understand that the ghost is confined to the home and time seems to bounce from present to future to past. The residents change, but the ghost doesn't. Periodically the ghost flashes anger or some other act that disrupts the real world, but mostly he just stands and observes longingly.

A word of caution is in order. This is a deep cut, art house indie that features very little dialogue, almost no plot, and numerous extended fixed shots with no payoff for your anticipation. Oh, and it's shot in the old fashioned almost square aspect ratio. There are no creepy clowns under the bed or in the storm drains, and there is an absence of cheap jump-scares (OK, there is one that is the director's prank on the audience). This is more abstract experimental filmmaking than traditional horror, so choose your viewing partner accordingly.

Filmmaker Lowery previously collaborated with Affleck and Mara on the critically acclaimed 2013 Ain't Then Bodies Saints, and this one was filmed in secret just after Lowery completed Pete's Dragon. It takes a meditative approach to some of the issues we all ponder at times. Lines such as "We do what we can to endure", and "You do what you can to make sure you're still around after you're gone" … these provide the clues when you begin to wonder what the film is trying to tell you. In fact, it isn't telling you anything. It's encouraging you to think. The film may lack a traditional narrative structure, but if taken with an open mind, it can generate some introspection that most movies wouldn't even attempt to inspire.

In addition to Affleck and Mara, the small cast also includes Liz Cardenas Franke (the film's producer) as the landlord, and singer-songwriter Will Oldham as a hipster philosopher/prognosticator who is given entirely too much screen time. Daniel Hart contributes an excellent use of music – especially considering the minimal dialogue and non-existent special effects. The film doesn't solve the mysteries of the universe, but it does answer the question of whether Rooney Mara can eat an entire pie in one uninterrupted shot. Expect descriptions as disparate as: inexplicable, pretentious, boring, thought-provoking, and existential … whatever your reaction, you wouldn't be wrong.

A Ghost Story marks David Lowry's return to cinema since his 2013 indie hit "Ain't Them Bodies Saints". Telling the story of a young couple (Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara) who buy a home and plan to start a life together in it until tragedy strikes. The Man suddenly dies and leaves the wife to fend for herself and build a life in the house by herself instead of with the man she loves. All while she is going through this in reality, the Man begins to haunt the home in a classical white sheet donning way. Throughout the years of being trapped to haunt this home, The Ghost also has to witness the love of his past life continue on without him and experience the moments of life without him. It is a beautiful and heart wrenching film that delves deeper into what grief does to not only a person but to a ghost.

Whether you believe in an after life or not, A Ghost Story isn't worried about your beliefs. It plays out like a fantasy and that's how it stays which really bodes well for it. It never reaches beyond what is happening with the Man and the Woman and, of course, the House (which becomes a character in and of itself). David Lowry does a great job at setting up a "what if" scenario that all you can do is ask yourself, "what would I do in this situation?" The scariest part of that is there is literally nothing you can do. That rationalization is probably scarier than most horror films out today.

The film itself is a very digestible 90 minutes which is of a perfect length for this film because it doesn't go overboard and forget what it is. It's a horror film that is light on scares but heavy on thoughts and brains. There's no real scares. The big scare is putting yourself in the shoes of the ghost. What would you do if you had to witness your loved one go through grief and you couldn't do anything about it? You couldn't comfort them. You couldn't hold them. You could just watch. What if the person you loved moved on from you? What if they forget you? These questions are what made A Ghost Story scary for me. The level of helplessness that the film portrays is horrifying enough to remind audiences that death is still scary.

Overall, the film is an experimental ghost story that shows Lowry in top form both as a writer and a director. The crass nature of reality is that death is lonely and he captures that perfectly. While many who take a look at the poster will certainly think that the film is just another horror movie trying to capitalize on some paranormal money, A Ghost Story is much more than that. It is beautiful to watch, heart wrenching to experience and an absolute delight cinematically.

A Ghost Story is probably too precious for its own good. There are many scenes, including the couple much talked about long takes, that feel like they're there to announce what kind of movie this is (a litmus test of arty endurance - I kept expecting people to walk out or start screaming at the screen but neither happened during my viewing), rather than serve a dramatic purpose. But they only feel that way during the time you are first watching them. After finishing the film and reflecting on these same scenes, they take on a new elegance that wasn't there before. This is a film that probably needs a rewatch for full appreciation, not because of plot complexity but instead emotional.

I found myself stimulated, bored, confused, glum, and profoundly moved - that a movie can somehow conjure all these feelings during the course of one viewing is a true feat of experimental prowess.

If you have a soul and if you think about life versus half of these slubs reviewing then watch this film. This is serious stuff for adults and not the mindless rabble brought up on popcorn bs. Forget these crap artists. This is a poem in film. A rumination on adult themes for adults and not the slobbering mindless who get bored easily. Again, if you want a movie for thinking people with brains and soul watch this. Forget the bad reviews of these booger eating pond dwellers who have no capacity to feel and are scared of real emotion. This is for adults and not thrill a second children raised on action movies . Trust me you will be rewarded and if the ending doesn't make you weep about what it says about life and the frailty of love then check your pulse.

This film tells the story of a man who dies in a car accident. He goes back to his home as a ghost covered in a white sheet, and watch the world goes by and goes on.

Casey Affleck must have the least screen time ever for a leading credit. He appears in the film for a total of ten to fifteen minutes only. Anyone could have been under that white sheet, so it might not have been him.

This film lacks any story. It is so slow that I watched it at three times the speed and still thought it was far too slow. Watching Rooney Mara eat a pie for seven minutes is not interesting. Watching a ghost standing motionless for three minutes isn't interesting either. In fact, the whole film is not interesting. It seems like someone's very mean and twisted practical joke, by making a bad film and see how the critics declare that they love it.

I came across this movie by accident. I saw a still that made me think it was some atmospheric horror movie. After seeing the synopsis, I gave it a shot anyway.

What this movie is not: not a horror/suspense movie. Not a lot of dialog. Not any sort of traditional story. Not something with a firm resolution.

Without explaining some of the points, it's hard to describe this movie. There are parts that move very slow. Parts where you wish something would happen. For much of the movie, it is long slow shots of Casey Affleck in a white sheet.

But somehow it works. It makes you feel for this sheet. It makes you feel the loss. It also makes you wonder why sometimes. So much of what happens is left up to the viewer to try and make sense of or interpret what is meant.

While it may not have much rewatch value to it, if you have 90 minutes, it is worth watching once.

In the realm of cinematic storytelling, there are films that transcend the traditional narrative to become a piece of art that lingers in the consciousness long after the credits roll. "A Ghost Story" is such a film, a hauntingly beautiful meditation on love, loss, and the essence of time.

The film opens with a couple, C and M, portrayed with a delicate balance of intimacy and distance by Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara. Their performances are understated yet profound, capturing the depth of human connection and the pain of its potential loss. The director, David Lowery, crafts a narrative that is as much about the spaces between the words as the dialogue itself. The pacing is deliberate, each frame meticulously composed to draw the viewer into the film's introspective journey.

Lowery's choice to depict the ghost, not as a spectral figure but as a sheet-clad presence, is a bold artistic decision that pays off. It strips away the distractions of visual effects and focuses on the emotional core of the story. The sheet becomes a canvas for the audience's emotions, a silent observer to the unfolding human drama.

The film's exploration of time is one of its most compelling aspects. Time in "A Ghost Story" is non-linear, looping and stretching in ways that challenge our perception. It's a reflection on the impermanence of existence and the marks we leave behind. The ghost's silent vigil over his former home becomes a poignant symbol of the human desire for legacy and meaning.

The slow pacing and lack of conventional narrative structure may alienate viewers seeking a more traditional ghost story. Some may find the film's meditative quality to be meandering, its silences too prolonged. The minimalistic approach, while artistically commendable, can at times feel self-indulgent, leaving the audience adrift in its contemplative depths.

"A Ghost Story" remains a remarkable film. It's a cinematic poem that dares to ask profound questions about our existence. It's a film that doesn't provide easy answers but instead offers a space for reflection. In an age of fast-paced blockbusters, this film is a reminder of the power of cinema to explore the human condition in all its complexity.

"A Ghost Story" is a film that defies easy categorization. It's a bold, visionary work that may not resonate with all, but for those it touches, it offers a deeply moving experience. It's a film that stays with you, a ghostly whisper that echoes in the quiet moments, reminding us of the fleeting nature of life and the enduring power of love. It's a film that deserves to be experienced, contemplated, and ultimately, remembered.

'A Ghost Story' is a film that, as its tagline says, is all about time.

And 'Time' is what we certainly explore in the crisp 92 minute run-time of this film that meditates on what happens after we die, what our existence amounted to, and what memories have to do with time in its influence as it passes.

Much as these are weighty concepts, and ones I think could make for a spectacular film if all bundled properly together into a cohesive piece, 'A Ghost Story' seems to fumble a bit with such grandiose concepts.

Much as it sports this grand point, director/writer David Lowery struggles to get beyond this one particular point he wants to make. Like a showman, as any good director could feel they are, he displays his point he wants to make with flair and passion. You can feel his love for his message oozing from this film, and the care he feels for it as the film presents itself in a cozy and warm 4:3 presentation...

...But unfortunately, like any one-trick pony, it eventually gets old. The point of this film begins to hit home rather quickly, and it begins to feel one-note and almost tiresome at times. There's actually a certain point where a character even EXPLAINS the point of the film, in one form or another, and it almost borders on the line of pretentious.

But, just because this point feels muted and one-note, does not mean this film lacks merit. Its presentation, as I said, is unique and feels remarkably cozy, almost like the blanket of a vivid family photograph or a memory from long ago. Along with that, the score is delightfully serene and almost 'cosmic' in nature, despite this film's remarkably small scale.

Certain things will work for people in this film, certain things will not. A now-infamous scene in this film involving a pie still has me questioning whether I appreciated it for its gravity and weight to its story, or whether I disliked it for feeling self-indulgent and pretentious.

In the end, however, this film is indeed like the memories it stands to comment on. Some memories are good for people. Others are bad. I know people who ADORE this film, and I know people who disliked it and felt it had little to say.

In the end, it is mixed for me. I liked it, but in the hands of someone stronger at conveying these messages, I feel something truly profound could have been made.

That said, I recommend you all give it a chance. Maybe this will resonate with you like a long-lost song would...

Alright, I can see why and how people would interpenetrate this film as pretentious but bare with it. This film obviously focuses on the grieving stage but more so from the perspective of the deceased which is quite an innovative angle.

Parts I liked: The film uses creative camera angles with plenty of long shots taken from still angles, and from what I've read, there were many shots that only took one take to film. The camera adds to the dreary, depressing atmosphere David Lowery wants you to feel, after all this is a film about bereavement. Affleck and Mara deliver a solid, believably performance when they're both on camera together, which is no surprise as I believe Affleck is fantastic in all of his works. The ghost itself (also played by Affleck) is an interesting character to read. When watching I did start to feel a connection to the poor ghost who is left in a time lapse. There are some tear jerker scenes when it's evident the ghost (Affleck) just want's to comfort his bereaved wife. The ghost also shows anger when it witnesses it's wife close to another man. All of these aspects added to the character development of the friendly ghostly character which kept me interested throughout the movie. I noticed a lot of people are not a fan of the long scenes (pie scene) but I felt it added to the immersion of what life is like after losing someone close to you. I liked the pie scene in particular, it's a slow burner where you can see Mara's characters emotions building up as she starts to eat more and more aggressively until she ends up being sick, all the while our poor ghostly character watches over her. I felt this captured the numbness and pain Mara's character is feeling in this scene. As a final point for the positives, I felt the sound track captured the mood of the film really well and added to my experience.

Things I didn't like: About halfway through the movie I started to lose interest slightly, mainly because the story leaves Mara's character behind and focuses on the location, i.e the house. I felt this took away the sentimental value of ghosty and Mara's characters connection, I mean, surly if ghosty can walk from the hospital to the house he could follow Mara's character, right? I didn't really care about how the house was knocked down or the squatters party scene, it's like the director wanted the audiences attention to be shifted from Mara's character to the house almost? I'm sure others will disagree with me but this is where I found my attention at this point in the film. When Mara's character comes back in I was sort of like 'Oh yeah, I remember her'. I felt the film brought out more of my emotions when it was ghosty following Mara's character.

Conclusion: This film captures the struggles of someone graving fantastically and offers a unique angle from the dead's point of view which I really liked. It has plenty of scenes which you may need to bring the tissues out for, especially if you have just recently lost a loved one. I felt it lost it's way slightly and became a bit boring, however the story didn't take away from the cinematography which I think is great. The film requires you to feel a certain degree of empathy to the ghost to really feel what David Lowery was trying to achieve when filming.

My overall score is 7 out of 10. I don't believe it deserves to be slated, however I can see why people would dislike this film. It's definitely worth a watch, if you're 50/50 about it, give it the first 40 mins and see how you feel.

Also just wanted to drop in that I thought the casting of Kesha as the other ghost is probably the most bizarre cameos I have ever seen.

The exploration of the enormity of life when a recently deceased ghost returns to his house to try and reconnect with his wife. Made on a shoe string and in secret, it is a hypnotic observation of life and time after we die and it achieves to visually convey the psychological weight of certain death and that life will continue once we're gone. The people sitting next to me left the cinema about 20 minutes in because it is indeed a very slow moving film and I can understand why they left but that's the point of the film. Life is not a highlights reel, and this film achieves to show its enormity through legacy, love and loss. It is philosophical, psychological and extremely poetic. A wonderfully strange film.

I cannot believe that the top-rated comment is so very inaccurate.

To begin, David Lowry's previous offering "Ain't Them Bodies Saints" being a hit, sounds more like a plug for that film than a true statement, due to the fact that it was not considered a hit at all.

Go figure.

Secondly, when worded so nicely in that 'this story is about a young couple who ... (insert all the stuff they supposedly do such as buy the home and the wife experiencing the moments of life without him, etc.), it sounds great, only that's not true either. It shows none of this, but rather concentrates on the most menial of actions without ever exploring more of either their relationship with each other or with anything else. Literally, you get no back story and no ending, and even if you did, you have nothing to hold the two together besides scenes of total mundaneness and dull, boring, tediousness.

I will admit that there are a couple of laugh out loud moments. The problem is that given the tone of the film, I don't believe these moments are supposed to be funny, which makes the film that more awkward.

In closing, one of the reviewers before me said it best: you have been warned. This is a bore-fest.