COMPLEX ‘GHOST STORIES’
HORROR FLICK STARTS SLOW, BUT IT’S WORTH WAITING FOR THE ACTION.
“Why is it always the last key that unlocks everything?”
Martin Freeman says the words, with a mysterious arrogance, in the second half of “Ghost Stories” — a thoughtful and rewarding horror film by writer-director Andy Nyman and co-director Jeremy Dyson.
Patience is necessary to enjoy the paranormal mystery, which tells three eerie tales (four including the framing story), each with a slow build. The scares are sporadic, but the payoff is worth it, with a vibe that feels more like great television than mainstream horror. (That’s a compliment.) Nyman and Dyson ably balance tension, terror and even a little humor.
Nyman also acts in the film as Phillip Goodman, a professor who was scarred by his parents and spends his life aggressively debunking paranormal claims. Goodman condemns the frauds, but he’s motivated by the same egotistical and fame-seeking needs as his sleazy targets.
Goodman meets an elderly fraud-hunting idol, is told that ghosts are real and goes on sort of a twisted Dickensian journey to confront his own doubt. In the process, his beliefs — and sanity — come into question.
The filmmakers trust the audience, and they benefit from excellent performances by the subjects of each story. Alex Lawther is solid as an anxiety-ridden teen, and Paul Whitehouse is convincing as a jaded night watchman; both have their weaknesses exploited in vulnerable moments. But Freeman stands out in the most dexterous role, as the last of three men who were ruined by the paranormal.
“Ghost Stories” is adapted from Nyman’s long-running play. The live-theater pacing is especially noticeable at the end, when the movie takes surreal and theatrical turns.
The filmmakers take viewers on a ride that can be difficult to follow. The terror disappears for long stretches, and there’s a tone shift in the end that is bound to be polarizing (and frustrating to viewers hoping for a conventional scare-fest). This is a filmmaker who cares less about horror cinema as a theme-park ride and more about mood.