There was a lot of excitement about A Ghost Story (2017) when I first heard about it. The film appeared to have gathered accolades like a ghost in a haunted home, the trailer alluded to profound existential concerns, and the critics were raving. Does it, however, live up to the hype? I jumped right in, ready for a journey of emotions through life, death, and beyond. I ended up with one of the most confusing watching experiences of my life, a combination of intense beauty and complete annoyance. This is not your normal ghost story, so fasten your seatbelt.
The Good, The Bad, and The Confusing
A Surprising Highlight: The Music
The soundtrack, especially the eerily lovely song “I Get Overwhelmed” by Dark Rooms, is one surprisingly wonderful feature of the movie. This song captures the essence of longing, love, and time passing, and it completely changes the scene’s tone the instant it starts playing. That song is one of the few that can evoke strong emotions even when taken out of context, and I found myself listening to it again long after the film ended. Just to learn about this musical treasure, the film is worth seeing!
Outside of the movie, the song also resonates with me as a gamer girl who occasionally ignores reality in favor of “bright screens, high scores, stupid games, getting nothing done.” I am childless and have an empty nest, which is my choice and right, but it makes me sad to think about time and progress and the day my family will be gone. All I have left are my mother and grandmother, who are now 60 and 80 years old.
In addition to being a lovely song, it also has other meanings. As female gamers, we witness a lot of sexist behavior and males at their worst in some online forums. Let this song serve as a warning to them. I see “joke” memes about males wanting to be left alone to play video games every day. I understand that it’s a joke, but it gets old to see the same meme ten times a day, especially in a group of gamers who are meant to be “mature,” like “over 30” or “over 40” gamers groups. You’re all mentioned in these lines, lol.
“Are you running late?
Did you sleep too much?
All the awful dreams felt real enough.
Is your lover there?
Is she waking up?
Did she die in the night?
Leave you alone, alone?Mirror, Mirror
There’s your crooked nose
Your boring hair
A dozen wrinklesNo children
Just an empty nest
No place like home
Just a fucking mess, mess20 messages
Did you hurt your thumbs?
On that stupid game getting nothing done
With your longest track, your highest score
While you crush your back
And lament the war, warAnd all the women
that you want to fuck
on the internet
won’t give you a second lookDid you fool yourself?
That’s privilege
That’s power without power
That’s a business, businessBut we know “you” is “I”
And I get overwhelmed
Can’t sleep at night
Think I lose myselfCan’t turn it off
Can’t let go
Can’t make sense of the fucking war, warAm I running late?
I get overwhelmed
All the awful dreams
All the bright screensIs my lover there?
Are we breaking up?
Did she find someone else?
And leave me alone, alone.”
Why the Film Almost Lost Me (and Might Lose You Too)
To be honest, the majority of this film feels like an endurance test. It’s quiet, slow, and seems meaningless for a while. You’ll be asking yourself, “Is this it? Was I a waste of time? The catch is that the film’s greatness includes that suffering. It tests your ability to sit through its awkward silences and apparently never-ending stillness. And something changes right when you’re about to give up.
The Last Ten Minutes: An Unexpected Masterpiece
I was hit like a ton of bricks by the last ten minutes. All of the minimalistic elements and sluggish pacing now made sense. The film leads you through a deep contemplation of existence, time, and what it means to be human. It discusses the idea of eternal recurrence, which holds that everything in life—from happiness to suffering—repeates itself endlessly. The notion that spirits have the freedom to choose to liberate themselves and move on, however, is a ray of hope. Those final minutes made me cry and gave me shivers, but I won’t give it away. The film seemed to be rewarding me for persevering through its first difficulties.
Why A Ghost Story is the Worst Best Movie I’ve Ever Seen
Indeed, I am referring to it as the worst-best film I have ever watched. It seemed like I was stuck in an independent cinema hell of lengthy takes and artistic pretense for the majority of its duration. By the end, though, I understood that those seemingly meaningless moments were accumulating into something stunning, significant, and unquestionably poignant. It’s a film that challenges your patience, your perception of time, and the very essence of life.
Final Thoughts: Should You Watch It?
A Ghost Story isn’t for you if you’re searching for a film with a lot of conversation, fast-paced action, or a simple plot. stress it, though, if you’re up for an adventure that will stress your patience, make you reevaluate your viewpoints, and eventually leave you wondering about the meaning of life and death. Be aware that while the first hour and a half may seem like the worst movie you’ve ever seen, the final ten minutes may make you reconsider.
Conclusion:
So, is it worthwhile to watch A Ghost Story? Only if you’re prepared to put up with one of the most excruciatingly slow beginnings in exchange for one of the most surprisingly lovely conclusions. Will you have the courage to finish? Please share your opinions in the comments section!