Ghost of New Orleans (2011) User Reviews (16)

It was okay!

[jjohns57-186-886061 · 5/10 · 11 December 2011]

What I loved best about this movie was the fact that it took place in New Orleans. From the surroundings to the music to the characters seemed pretty authentic to me having visited a few times in my life. I am in love with the south but a northern city boy at heart.

As far as the move goes it was just okay for me. It is in sorts a weird thriller/drama/mystery type of movie. The characters were good and I especially liked Lake Bell and Josh Lucas. Terrence Howard played a weirdo but complimented the overall movie.

This movie is about the murder of a young woman, a mentally challenged brother that was blamed for it, but really a plot to cover this (is what they make you think it is about) and a lonely detective that cannot let the past go and grows to love this woman he trying to help (dead of course).

Overall, 5 out of 10. There are far better ones out there in this genre but wasn't as bad as some I have seen as well.

low production values for such a great cast and charming setting

[spasticfreakshow · 6/10 · 13 June 2012]

The opening scene reveals the problem with this film - if it was a home-made film, ala the Blair Witch project, it might be more forgivable, but even indie films should be able to do better camera work than this, better directing. It's particularly tragic as a supernatural mystery film in New Orleans sounds so good and the scenery was downgraded by the truly poor production - almost as if the director, cameramen and production crew were entirely trashed throughout filming. I liked the plot, the casting and though I'd watch a film just for Josh Lucas, here his acting was spotty (fading in and out of character, too blatant to be passed off by the character development that did happen) he was far outmatched by Terrence Howard. Deborah Woll and Cary Elwes are fun in their supporting roles and it's always good to see those two. Lake Bell is very pretty - not going to win any acting awards for this - but she didn't ruin the film. I'd say the cast must not have been overly inspired - hope nobody else gives this director a shot. What a shame because this could have been a much better film. Still, definitely worth watching if you're going to bed anyway and are watching it for free.

Good premise. Terrible acting.

[stsorrell · 4/10 · 23 September 2021]

I don't know if I should feel badly for Cary Elwes or Terrence Howard for having to portray characters that were way out of their wheelhouse, or if I should cry for those of us that had to watch them. OMG, they were terrible.

The story had potential, but was bogged down and moved way too slowly.

It's hard to believe how many really great actors were a part of this incredibly bad film.

This should have been good!!

[shbs-71594 · 5/10 · 17 May 2021]

If they'd only paid a bit more for someone over age 15 to write a script this could have been amazing. The actors 10, scenery 9, edgy noir setting 10. The most haunted city in North America 11. The prettiest dress I've ever seen Lake Bell in 9. Dialogue 2. Plot needed layering and subtlety 4.

It coulda been a contender.

Cary Elwes' attempt at a southern accent sounded like a bad imitation of Colonel Sanders.

[cdulea · 3/10 · 22 May 2021]

Mostly good actors and good story, poorly filmed and the character Barry's accent was a distraction.

All The World Is A Stage, The Men And Women In It, Merely Players.

[wandernn1-81-683274 · 3/10 · 28 March 2022]

This movie was like a ghost story but not a very good one. The cop who sees ghosts, but to me he certainly didn't see enough of them. I don't know if it was the movie that seemed unfocused or if it was me.

It was good to see Peter Jason finally get to be Sheriff! (Captain. Deadwood Reference)

Lot of talent in this movie I would have thought I would have liked it more. 4/10.

Oh wait, I see this movie changed titles at some point? I really hate that. -1 Star. 3/10.

A Haunted Noir Thriller

[grimalkin-2 · 7/10 · 2 September 2012]

Set in New Orleans, this film is a strange mixture of genres -- part film noir and part ghost story. Josh Lucas plays a detective, guilt-ridden over the shooting of an innocent boy by mistake. He is assigned to a stakeout in an empty house across the street from a suspect, Terrence Howard, who is possibly implicated in a number of bizarre serial killings. The detective soon discovers that the stakeout house has a reputation in the neighborhood of being haunted. A young female musician was murdered there several years earlier, allegedly by her own brother, who has been placed in an asylum for the criminally insane. When the detective discovers he is able to see, hear, and even touch the ghost of this murdered woman, played by Lake Bell, he realizes that she can only find rest if he can find her real killer and thus set the brother (Nick Lashaway) free. Deborah Ann Woll (of "True Blood") and Sharon Leal play friends of the murdered woman, and as such, their own lives may be in jeopardy. Cary Elwes stands out as the villainous owner of a country club that may be a front for drug trading. The movie is an atmospheric indie thriller that manages to be both suspenseful and moderately entertaining, thanks to sterling performances from Josh Lucas and Terrence Howard. Thus far, its only DVD releases that I'm aware of have been in Germany and Australia. Hopefully, it will be available in the U.S. before long.

Basements in New Orleans?

[matthewmaierhofer · 3/10 · 11 February 2021]

Since when are there basements in New Orleans? I found this very distracting that the name of the movie contains "New Orleans" and it was not fully recorded in that city...sigh

Good little murder mystery set in New Orleans

[pattipickens · 7/10 · 18 February 2021]

Lucas convincingly pulled off this eerie tale of a police detective who not only was haunted by his past mistakes but haunted by the murder of beautiful young woman in the present. The storyline kept me interested and somewhat surprised to the end.

Talented Actors in Bad Roles

[butterfliesinautumn · 3/10 · 20 February 2021]

Oh where to begin....there is nothing particularly suspenseful about this movie. When I think of a ghost seeking justice, I think of What Lies Beneath or something similar. The fact that the victim in this movie is a ghost is virtually inconsequential.

I enjoy Terrence Stamp. This was just not a fitting role for him. A Casanova that quotes Shakespeare and dribbles philosophical parables, does not a great character make.

Everything in this movie just seemed entirely overdone. There was no room for nuance. I felt like that writer/director didn't have any faith in the audience to be able to decipher the clues in the story or the back story of the characters. I like to be able to think for myself with movies. When everything is spoon fed with bites that just can't be chewed, I just feel like shouting, "it was Colonel Muster in the kitchen with the candlestick." Hell's bells - I watched the Village and was still engaged with the suspense even when the audience and main character are informed of the Boogey Man is half way through the movie.

No room here for reflection. It's so obvious whom our serial killer is and that ghost lady might as well have not been dead. A word of caution spelled out on a foggy mirror just isn't scary. It's worse than cliche.

Josh Licas and Carey Elwes are two of my favorite actors as well. I almost wondered if they were behind in paying taxes to make this movie.

That's 97 minutes of my life that I will never get back....sigh....

Murder, drugs, blues, alcohol, and a ghost - what's not to like, right!

[deager · 8/10 · 1 August 2019]

It's as if they took a plot from James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux novels and mixed up the names a bit and actually made a pretty decent movie. Terrance Howard is brilliant as the neighbor across the street who spouts Shakespearean 50's noir into a mini tape recorder. It doesn't take long to figure his importance in the plot. He & Josh Lucus carry the load in this one. Lucus serves it well as the very good but very drunk most of the time cop, because I shot a kid by mistake during a ampt up perp chase that he mistakenly walked in behind me on and I must drink mass quantities of bad liquor to hide my quilt but I still dream about it so set me up again bar keep! He sees the ghost while on a stake out, thinks its his drunken hallucination. He soon realizes it is the ghost of a murdered, beautiful singer (Lake Bell, doing her best) who begs him to solve her murder. He is also suspicious & therefore checking out Terrance for some reason or another. They become friendly and the serial killer keeps killing and Lucus begins his sobriety to find the murderer of the pretty girl, then stumbles along into the serial killer killings. With a number of characters, including Gary Elwes trying hard with the southern accent as the heavy. We have a number of suspects for both crimes. But, we all know who's who & what's what. The movie moves into a nice little film noir type mystery the bobs and weaves like the best of them. The director moves it along, doesn't waste space or time, the photographer is pretty good, sometimes the lighting gets a bit off, but nothing serious, the script is top notch I thought. Sure a few flaws, but an enjoyable who done it!

Harmless

[baunacholi-86159 · 6/10 · 6 April 2020]

Little movie. Not bad but also nothing to talk about really. An ok story which had some potential but it never evolved to the fullest. It felt almost like a family fairy tale/thriller u can watch with the whole gang as there is none to minor crime, thrill, tension or whatever u usually get.

Snooze fest

[takato0524 · 1/10 · 26 May 2021]

I tried, I really did, but this movie was just boring! I made it 45 minutes and then left to go cook. To me, it just didn't flow well. It's supposed to be basically a mystery, maybe also a thriller, but the music made it feel like it was a campy comedy. I don't know who Josh Lucas is, but his acting was awful. He seemed uninterested in the roll. And what was the deal with the ghost? He could touch her? No ghostly effects? And any scene in the house was too dark. Pass this one by unless you need help going to bed.

Washed-Up Detective

[twelve-house-books · 8/10 · 30 October 2020]

Though the story is about a ghost, there is not one scary scene in this film. But there are some great elements such as the washed-up detective who saves the day, the serial killer who poses as the kindly neighbor, the myopic police chief who hates the detective based on his own prejudices, the pretty if air-headed barmaid, and the well-captured atmosphere of several parts of older New Orleans near the Mississippi River--including the Vieux Carre ("Old Square" or French Quarter). One thing that stood out was the cinematography--very colorful and well-shot with unique angles and scenes designed not to bore the viewer. In a way this film is like the good twin of 'Angel Heart' also set in NOLA with a washed-up detective as hero.

EXCELLENT mystery, thriller, drama

[graceoverpressuretheoneANDonly · 9/10 · 16 September 2022]

A very good and twisted plot with the great setting of New Orleans and a variety of characters involved in two sets of different types of murders. Josh Lucas was outstanding as a somewhat initially, tortured detective as was the lovely, "ghostly" Lake Bell. The insertion of a bit of the supernatural really enhanced the storyline substantially as the different plots each turned and twisted to lead us to figuring out what and how. Very suspenseful and riveting in moments and the characters provided real edge to these two different murder stories. Totally entertaining and totally enjoyable from start to finish and this is a rare review for me as I always seem to find something to disillusion me but this was one I found completely absorbing in a very calculated way and thoroughly interesting.

Great Movie

[Lollylovesmovies · 9/10 · 4 February 2022]

This was a great movie. Lot of really good actors. Sorry but Cary Elwes is just not good at accents. Terrence Howard was AMAZING.yes it drags in places but most movies do. But it isn't for long and then it picks right back up. It is not a faces paced movie. But really good.