A Ghost Story (2017) User Reviews (782)

It's 30% Deeply Moving and 70% Deeply Boring

[Jared_Andrews · 6/10 · 28 September 2017]

If you prefer a movie rich with dialogue, A Ghost Story is not for you.

There is very little speaking throughout the movie. Only one scene features much talking and it's not even a conversation. One man launches into a lengthy, detailed monologue about the infinite size of the universe and our relative insignificance within it. The man believes that the speech is profound and laudable, but in reality it sounds like something a college kid would say while high at a party.

The gist of the man's speech expresses that the universe is too vast for any of us to truly leave a legacy when we die. The ghost (played by Casey Affleck) is especially compelled by this speech because he has just died and is now especially compelled by things concerning his legacy.

The ghost observes what he cared about most while he was alive. He haunts his house. He observes his wife, struggling to watch her struggle to cope with his death. He wants desperately to comfort her, but cannot. It's heartbreaking.

In addition to heartbreak, this movie evokes many other feelings: warmth, humor, boredom. Boredom comes up a lot. For every genuinely beautiful and moving moment of the movie, there is at least five minutes of emptiness. The runtime is short, just over 90 minutes, but it feels longer and could easily have been trimmed by 20 minutes.

One scene in particular that involves a pie seems to drag on for at least four days, even though it actually only lasts four minutes. In the moment, the scene is likely unbearable to many viewers. I plead for your patience. Do your best to empathize. Think about how you would feel in the situation. Do this, and the scene becomes haunting and powerful.

That's probably the best way to sum up the movie—many scenes may feel boring if given little thought, but are actually deeply moving if given honest consideration. Not all scenes fit this description—some, no matter how much your squint, are just extended moments of vapid emptiness. The emptiness outnumbers the deeply moving by about 2:1, so this movie requires patience and commitment. The movie contains no conflict, only contemplation and some glorious music.

If that sounds like enough for you, give this movie a chance. But fair warning: if you bore easily this movie will feel like a waste of your time.

A Bold, Powerful and Beautiful Film

[trublu215 · 8/10 · 2 July 2017]

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 wonderfully hypnotic and philosophical film exploring the enormity of life

[williammjeffery · 8/10 · 1 July 2017]

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.

Shocked by just how much hate this film gets

[jlagon-65391 · 10/10 · 30 November 2023]

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.

Impossible to rate

[samandor-15781 · 6 March 2018]

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.

Underrated

[chera_khalid · 7/10 · 27 September 2023]

"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.

I cried for forty-five minutes after the film.

[protectthealphawolf · 10/10 · 6 March 2018]

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.

Would've worked well with Pink Floyd

[Chance_Boudreaux19 · 7/10 · 13 January 2018]

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.

A Mind-Alteringly Realistic Depiction Of Human Life

[kjproulx · 10/10 · 25 September 2017]

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

Original and creative

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 19 July 2017]

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.

Couldn't connect

[SoumikBanerjee1996 · 5/10 · 22 June 2023]

In summation, 'A Ghost Story' is a poetic and almost meditative anecdote about existentialism that wilfully facilitates relevant discussions on what our life is and what value it exactly holds.

While being profoundly philosophical and introspective with its notion, the execution for the majority comes off as dull and tiresome, and that's because there's not much transpiring. Each one of the frames, though looks gorgeous, carries little to no significance. They look empty, devoid of tangible conflicts or palpable emotions.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not against slow burners or prolonged camera movements, or any elaborated sequences, but everything has to have some implication, some ambition. To me, it felt like most of the scenes here (except for a handful) were there just for the sake of it, without serving a greater purpose.

The power of memory

[vinidurao · 8/10 · 20 September 2017]

What a powerful and sad movie. I read in a review that the movie has no story at all, but it is exactly the opposite of that. This movie transpires stories, it is about stories. A Ghost Story is pure art, a beautiful well done movie that i will remember. Just watch!

8.2/10

It's worth watching

[ali_king-21202 · 7/10 · 30 November 2017]

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.

Oh DEAR LORD. A Most Awful Ghost Bore

[Her-Excellency · 1/10 · 23 September 2017]

To begin, let me state that I actually LIKE "pretentious" movies and films that speak to you on a different level. THIS, however, was pure torture and while I feel that the creators truly wanted to say something, it was MORE THAN APPARENT that they didn't have ENOUGH to say and so they filled it with mindbogglingly SLOW and sluggish scenes.

SPOILERS:

I see that many have already covered the scene with the pie, but I feel that they didn't quite get the point across correctly or do the utter banality of it, justice.

You have a FULL FIVE MINUTES (_time them_), although they truly feel like ten or more, of the main female lead doing nothing but EATING A PIE! And yes, she does so rather well, in that it is meant to make you uncomfortable, and it does, but not in the way I imagine it was intended to do so.

Trust me when I say that NO film EVER, in the history of films, needs a scene where for five minutes someone does nothing but eat a pie. Beyond that, it is not counting the ten minutes it took her to walk into the house, put her mail down, walk around, stand at the sink, look out the window, turn around and FIND THE PIE ... ...

.... OR for that matter, the forever minutes earlier in the film where she literally drags a chest or box of some kind to the curbside - and I must bring your attention to the use of the word DRAGS. The scene is shot in painstaking detail and unbelievable SLOWNESS as she does this, across her ridiculously lonnnnng front yard (really, can a front lawn be that large or was it CGI?), and then does not cut while she THEN walks back across her lawn into her house.

Oh! AND HOW, just how, can we forget the never-ending completely passionless / emotionless scene at the beginning where the couple is in bed? In fact, the word which fits this movie to a "T" IS "EMOTIONLESS". Trust me when I tell you that I have literally seen two Kleenex tissues at the bottom of a trash receptacle which had more chemistry and emotion and a bond than these two people had.

Honestly, it is just too much ... of nothing.

This film should have been a short of some kind, or else it needed more work before it was released.

I applaud the creators in wanting to bring this film to the screen, BUT if you KNOW a project is not ready or not worthy, WHY do it and insult your viewers with such trash?

This is probably a twisted practical joke

[Gordon-11 · 28 September 2017]

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.

Underrated by Imdb Users

[djichiban · 10/10 · 8 April 2018]

I think most of the people who are rating this movie have no clue what it is about. You have to start thinking about what happens, and watch the actors carefully. The DP did a great job, the story is complex, and this movie can bring you to tears when you watch it with patience. It is incredible how this movie forces you to think about life and death, and does give you a special view about death. I also really liked the music, which wasnt used that much, most scenes didnt even had to be underlined with music because they were powerful enough without it. There is a good reason for the critics giving it a 84 total score, man if you aren't patient enough for this movie, you should not judge artfilms at all, because you are missing some very important things aspects in them. A Ghost Story remains as one of the great artworks that need you to be an intellectual film passioned enthusiast to fully get what it is all about.

A film with a whole lot to say, but an inability to say it

[littlemankazoo · 6/10 · 16 February 2018]

'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...

Stunning, impactful, 10/10

[potternerd-26752 · 10/10 · 27 October 2023]

This is easily one of THE BEST films I have ever seen. Ever. Truly a masterpiece.

This film isn't exactly easy to digest for impatient audiences- which is part of why it has such a low rating on many film reviews apps. However, truly, the long, intentional shots where nothing happens convey the point of the film itself.

"A Ghost Story" isn't meant to be exciting. It beautifully captures the slower parts of life, and how not everything is exciting.

The majority of this film deals with grief. The premise is a wife who loses her husband in a car crash, and the ghost of the husband is watching as she moves through her life after his death. It really gets into the small details, the scenes in films that would typically be thrown out and ignored in favor of something more exciting.

The cinematography is beautiful, the story is heart wrenching and impactful, the acting is stellar, and everything in between makes this truly a masterpiece. 10/10.

Probably too precious for its own good

[spencergrande6 · 6/10 · 20 August 2017]

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.

Most wont like, but the truth is this is brilliant

[believeinflight · 9/10 · 7 March 2019]

Parts were methodically boring, but its in these boring parts that we see time move slowly as in life. In my opinion, one of the best films in that it makes you sad and puts you in a deep state of mind to where youre thinking about it days and weeks after.

A Ghost Story uses old plot devices and disguises them with a white sheet

[steeve-520 · 6/10 · 19 July 2017]

A Ghost Story begins as mundane as any other film about a couple - the couple, Casey Affleck as C and Rooney Mara as M, lounge around the house going about their daily routines as two adults.

Shortly after the film begins, C's life comes to an end. Writer and Director David Lowery ends C's life not with a murder or some sort of catastrophic event, but with a car accident outside C and M's home. C is now a ghost confined to his home under a white sheet and is invisible to those around him.

Following C's death, Lowery creates some of the most poignant and heartbreaking scenes I've seen in a long time. Whether it's M eating until she is sick or trying to find some way to connect with her dead partner, the film does an excellent job trying to show what it might feel like losing someone you love.

For the first 1/3 of A Ghost Story, Lowery connects with the audience by focusing M's experience as she grieves the loss of her partner. However, when M moves out of their suburban home the film starts to bite off more than it can chew.

The film introduces a number of characters that begin to change the tone of the story. For the remainder of the film, A Ghost Story becomes much louder with its futuristic and existential ideas. The 2nd and 3rd act ultimately has the film stray away from its core focus: love, loss and death.

The film ends with us experiencing C's journey through time with a story line with many resemblances to recent science fiction films like Arrival and Interstellar. It's here that A Ghost Story loses its impact due to Lowery's attempt to make some grand statement about how vast (or possibly minute) the universe is.

A Ghost Story had the potential to be a great film about human existence, but Lowery only successfully scratched the surface. What we end up with is a film that brings the same answers to the table as so many other films have done in the past - Lowery just puts a sheet over your eyes to fool you.

I cried for hours after watching this.

[GirlGlitter · 2/10 · 30 December 2021]

First, because I had literally wasted ANY amount of time watching this sow's ear of a student film.

Secondly, I laughed so hard that I cried, at the reviews that the ones who made it are still leaving on it in order to con viewers into dropping a couple of dollars on it. They'd be better off starting a funder page for those of us who really did watch it and are leaving truthful commentary on it, to pitch in so they'll never make a film again.

1 Star for their ongoing conning efforts.

1 Star for the movie poster which depicts the totality of the film.

The Most Existential Film in Recent Memory

[PotassiumMan · 8/10 · 15 July 2017]

This minimalist fantasy-drama by David Lowery portrays the journey of a deceased man's ghost who returns to the home where he and his wife lived together up until his untimely and tragic death. To describe the ghost's psychology in this journey might be giving away too much. The plot is straightforward but it addresses themes of human existence and eternity in a way that many big-budget films don't even try.

The ghost's simplistic form might seem odd or laughable at first. This was not the case with me. I found the ghost's emergence and entry into the film to be seamless and thoroughly convincing. The narrative initially dissects local aspects of the plot, such as what type of relationship the man had with his wife and who he seemed to be as a person. Then it proceeds to become something much more ambitious- waxing philosophical on how we spend our time on Earth and what meaning, if any, we should hope to derive from it. The film's augmentation in scope can be risky for a small, unpretentious work, but in the end, it resonates quite well.

As for the performances, everyone here is great but Rooney Mara is exceptionally understated here, not the least for the scene where she eats an entire pie in a moment of intense pain. She is able to convey the grave reality of mourning without ever resorting to histrionics or conventional acting displays. She is low-key and completely effective here, as is Casey Affleck who portrays the detached husband. They worked with director Lowery in the lesser film "Ain't Them Bodies Saints", but here their collaboration reaches greater heights.

As simple as this ghost appears, there is never a dearth of sympathy or doubt about its presence. The film's uses of long takes and pregnant silence create an unexpected degree of tension. It deploys a soundtrack that is alternately mournful and quirky. And for all the melancholy mood that pervades, there are discreet moments of humor, making for a bittersweet cinematic work of art. Strongly recommended.

The longest hour and a half I've ever experienced

[parker-58 · 6/10 · 13 February 2018]

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.

Explained:

[XERENDlPlTY · 1/10 · 30 December 2021]

In short, the 8-10 ratings are from those still cashing checks on this drivel.

The 4-7 ratings are from those posters who are sleep-posting after falling asleep having watched it.

The 1-3 ratings (mostly because, unfortunately, IMDB does not allow ratings of "0") are from those who got it right and are trying to save YOU from falling for the fake "Ooooh, watching a guy in a sheet and a silent woman walking around a house for 2 hours is SO amazingly good" fakers.