A Ghost Waits

I came upon A Ghost Waits looking for something to watch on Shudder. I don't expect a lot from most horror movies (not that this is really horror). There is a lot of crap out there, but this one hit the jackpot for me. I love the story, I love the characters, and I love the 2 lead actors. The black and white is perfect, and the concentration on Jack and Muriel is as well. Most other characters are just voices, which I love. Such a pleasant surprise to find such a charming movie amid the dreck one sits thru as a horror aficionado! I even stopped playing games on my iPad to concentrate on this movie. And believe me, that doesn't happen often! I will return to this movie again and again, I am sure.

This movie tries real hard to be a different type of ghost story and it fails miserably. Granted, the flick is a step above a home movie, and there's a scene or two which is decent but beyond that, this movie blows. What I didn't like at all is the suicide aspect of the flick. I feel this movie advocates suicide. I'm not going to go into details or give a lecture on the morality of suicide.

I randomly came across this movie and happy I gave it a shot. It's a very simple plot about a ghost (Spectral Agent) having to scare any and all persons from a home, Clearly a smaller budget movie but one that uses that budget well, no bad looking stock effects like many other small budget films. i'm assuming it's black and white to make the make-up not seem out of place which it doesn't. The dynamic between Jack (Macleod Andres) and Muriel (Natalie Walker) were certainly the best parts, I hope I see the two get more acting jobs after this. Check out the film, you might find a small contained story refeshing.

Before deciding on which Sunday listing from the 2020 FrightFest I'd get a ticket for,I checked to see if any of the titles had gotten reviews. Finding that one film had gotten high praise from playing at the Glasgow FrightFrest earlier in the year, I decided to wait for the ghost. View on the film: Revealing in the discussion after the streaming that the movie was formed from extensive workshops with the cast, the screenplay by co-writer/(with MacLeod Andrews and Matt Taylor) director Adam Stovall is given a huge amount of warmth from the method,thanks to the dialogue getting a worn-in casualness in Jack's comedic conversation's with Muriel. Nailing a left-field Horror character introduction by Jack entering the house in order to do repairs as a blue collar worker, the writers take Jack's handyman skills as a opening to the quirky office politics of ghosting, with Muriel's glowing romance with Jack,under risk of fading out from newbie ghost Rosie being sent out to spook Jack from the house. Having not even made a short film before, debut director/editor Stovall displays an impeccable subtle touch,closely working with cinematographer Michael C. Potter to cover the haunted house in icy monochrome, bringing a striking Silent Movie star quality to Muriel (played by a alluring Natalie Walker) thanks to emphasising the delicate placement of white lights,rather than the traditional long shadows usually in a haunted house. Gradually revealing that the real thing haunting Muriel and Jack ( played with a rugged, dead-pan charm by MacLeod Andrews) are them each being in a marginal existence, Stovall conjures up lo-fi indie vibes to the final montage, turning what could be presented as tragedy, into heart-warming romanticism,as Jack waits for the ghost.

Experimental filmmaking by untalented hipster director, falsely advertised as horror, goes nowhere. We've seen this so many times before. The "ghosts" are merely used as plot device to introduce a boring drama about the romantic connection between a ghost and the main dude. The movie tries to say something about loneliness, but it's done poorly and without character development, resulting in an abrupt ending that resembles a commercial for suicide. The actors are somewhat decent which is basically the only decent element about it. P. S. Oh yeah, the black & white for no reason trope? Really? The unmistakable sign of pretentiousness.

A wonderful, wonderful film. Funny and moving. A great meditation on life, love and loneliness. You know it's hard not to reach for cliches, which feel kinda hollow when I'm so moved. I will happily sit and watch this with friends so I can share their enjoyment of it.

As soon as bearded 20 year old picks up a guitar & starts singing a dreadful song - I'm out. It's a good indicator on a film's overall quality. Plus, I like Clerks too, but I don't think shooting your whole film to look like it is a great idea.

source: A Ghost Waits

Frankly, I'm surprised at all the harping on this being a low-budget film. The sets are simple, it's filmed in B&W which I think adds immeasurably to the mood of the story, and the acting is, in my opinion, first rate. There are some wonderful, WONDERFUL scenes, where each of the two main characters shine from their own, individual emotional point of reference. Jack is a happy-go-lucky, if lonely guy, who enjoys his work readying houses for new tenants. Muriel is a serious "spectral agent" who enjoys her work scaring tenants out after they move in. Both find something they need in the course of the story. The path is entertaining - maybe a little sad at points, but joyous and heartwarming at other junctions. Everything about the film works for me. (Except maybe the fact that Jack is such a sweet, honest guy that I have a tough time believing he has no friends.) It's tight, and well paced. Each of the characters contributes meaningfully, and often humorously to the story. No wasted words or scenes here. It's a ghost story, but not a horror movie. I'd call it a lovely romance story.

I can't find the right words to express my love for A GHOST WAITS. This is one of the best movies i have watched, and i have watched thousands of movies. I was deeply touched and i got emotional watching the ending. This is a comedy/drama/horror/romance movie, and it is unique because it combines successfully these genres. If you were ever truly in love, you will understand and love this movie too. Same if you had an existential crisis in your life. Same if you are a romantic person. Same if you like poetry. I felt a connection with this movie, with the characters, with the music, with everything that happened. It is a low-budget movie, filmed in black and white. If you don't hate indie movies, watch it.