Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a horror-comedy movie directed by Jason Reitman and released by Sony Pictures on November 19, 2021. The film is the fourth in the Ghostbusters franchise and features a new generation of ghostbusters. Phoebe and Trevor, played by Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard, respectively, are trying to adapt to their new home when they discover their grandfather’s equipment and start hunting dangerous ghosts. With the help of their school teacher and their grandfather’s ghost, they must complete their first mission.
The story begins with Callie Stantz, played by Carrie Coon, and her two children paying a visit to their late grandfather’s old home in Summerville. The inheritance from their grandfather, Egon Spengler, is a rundown house with a large expanse of farmland. While Trevor roams around the small town and takes notice of a café waitress named Lucky, Phoebe, who is fascinated with science, befriends her school teacher, Gary, and Gary’s friend Podcast. Phoebe realizes that her grandfather’s old home is haunted but is not afraid, instead becoming more curious about the supernatural clues she discovers. She eventually finds a mysterious box, which she shows to Gary, who is a fellow Ghostbusters fan and reveals the truth about her grandfather’s identity.
Phoebe later encounters her late grandfather’s ghost, who leads her to the equipment used for hunting ghosts. Trevor restores their grandfather’s old Ghostbusters’ car and together with Phoebe, they track down a dangerous ghost, resulting in chaos and destruction in the town. The police arrest them and seizes their equipment. An allowed phone call by Phoebe leads to a conversation with Ray, her grandfather’s former Ghostbusters teammate, who clarifies what her grandfather was up to.
After their release, the new generation of ghostbusters attempts to enter a mining area where they encounter Ivo Shandor in the Gozerian temple, who wakes up from his slumber and dies while possessed by Gozer. Callie and Gary then destroy Egon’s equipment under the demonic influence, which angers Gozer, and it decides to seek revenge on the group. Ray, Peter, and Winston, the original Ghostbusters, join the fight, but the ultimate question is whether they can stop Gozer’s plans.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a strategic move by the producers to revive the Ghostbusters franchise. The first two films were highly successful and dominated the box-office in the 1980s, and the franchise expanded to include a popular animated series called The Real Ghostbuster. In 2016, a reboot of the franchise was attempted, featuring an all-female cast, but it was not well-received, with critics lambasting it as not funny and lacking the nostalgia of the earlier films.
Jason Reitman, the son of the original director, Ivan Reitman, took over as the director for Ghostbusters: Afterlife, creating a sequel and reboot of the Ghostbusters movies. The film is a tribute to Ivan Reitman, who died in February 2022, and a fitting end to his contribution to the franchise.
In conclusion, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a film that is both funny and thrilling, delivering an exciting new chapter in the Ghostbusters series. The next generation of ghostbusters brings a fresh perspective to the franchise, and the mix of comedy and horror is sure to entertain audiences of all ages. If you were a fan of the original Ghostbusters movies, this is a must-watch film that you do not want to miss.
