A GHOST STORY (2017) // SPOILER FREE REVIEW

Back when I read a condensed retelling of “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight”, an Arthurian verse, I was tempted to see its visual work. Fortunately, in late July of 2021, David Lowery’s adaptation “The Green Knight” was out on the big screens. The movie had a few differences compared to the text I read but it was equally good. The cinematography, direction and Dev Patel’s mesmerizing acting made the movie extraordinary. But here we’re talking about The Ghost Story. Another movie directed by David Lowery. The thing common in the respective movies is the critical ability of the director to set the movie in an aesthetic climate. This brings the movie into life. The minimalistic approach of storytelling with slow unravelling made me adore both of the movies so much.

Spoiler Free Synopsis: The Ghost Story starts with a couple talking about moving out from their current house. They often heard random sounds outta nowhere but it wasn’t the reason for leaving the place. Also, the names of the couple aren’t revealed, hence the husband is called “C” and his wife “M”. The wife tells her husband that she hides a note whenever she leaves a house. This is because M thinks that one day she may return back to the place.

C who was a struggling musician, initially resisted her M’s decision to leave the place but one day he agrees. Then we see the couple’s intimacy and how close they are. Yet the very next day, C meets an accident and dies. This is where the story takes a turn around. We see the ghost of C, rising from the ventilator in the hospital. He walks up to a portal of afterlife but avoids to walk through it and soon the portal seizes.

The ghost of C drifts from the hospital to his house and watches M all day. He sees her mourning, listening to his song about lost love and then slowly moving on. Here our ghost encounters the cruelty of time and if you’re a human, then that must break your heart. M decides to move on and sell their house. She paints the house, packs her stuff and before leaving she slips a note through a crack in a wall. Other residents come but C scares them and they leave.

From here on we dive deep into the themes of death, time, regret and loneliness that follows us even after death. The ghost of C, waits in hope to see M again and get the note that she hid. And sorry to say but this is all I can tell without spoiling the story. But I hope you are making your mind to watch this movie, aren’t you? Well, do it. Apart from everything, The Ghost Story received various awards. As it is a kind of movie that has a separate mood of its own.

My thoughts: People will either love or hate it this movie. To some the title would seem contradictory as the movie isn’t as dark and scary as the poster looks. Yet it touches the themes of the movie involve embedded emotions which make us feel vulnerable on a deeper level. There’re also a few things that are open for interpretation. Cinematically, it was a unique movie and for sure a risky investment for the team but it was definitely worth it. Also, there are hardly any dialogues, even the visuals shots are slow yet they create a kind of feeling that is soothingly melancholic as the music tracks in the movie. In other words, it gives a sad kind of comfort that we all will experience.

RAW SCORE: 8.5 /10