Blu-ray Review: GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE

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Jan 31, 2022 Posted by Kyle Nolan in DVD/Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments

Single mother Callie (Carrie Coon) never really knew her father, Egon Spengler, who abandoned his family to live on a farm in the middle of nowhere when she was just a child. She is still bitter towards him, but somewhat emotionless at the news of his death. She’s also surprised to discover that this stranger has left her something in his will. Callie lives in an apartment with 15-year-old son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and 12-year-old daughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace). They are about to be evicted, so she hopes that there is some money in the inheritance that she can use to pay the rent. She and the kids pack up and head to the small town of Summerville, Oklahoma, only to discover a dilapidated old house and barn, which have more debt than actual value. The people in the town only knew her father as the crazy Dirt Farmer, who constantly tended to his fields, but never actually grew anything. Once again her father has let her down.

While Callie tries to clean up the house to re-sell, the kids find other ways to keep busy. Trevor gets a job at the local diner in order to be close to the attractive Lucky (Celeste O’Connor), though he’s not the most suave around girls. He also starts fixing up an old Cadillac he finds in the barn. Meanwhile, Phoebe, being the smart, nerdy one of the family, attends summer school, where Callie hopes she will finally make a friend. However, there is hardly any teaching actually going on. The teacher, Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd) usually just throws an age-inappropriate 1980s horror film into the VCR to keep the kids busy while he disappears into his office. Grooberson is actually a seismologist, studying the strange activity that has been occurring in this small town, and causing everything to shake on a daily basis. In class, Phoebe befriends precocious oddball Podcast (Logan Kim), who is always carrying his microphone, narrating and recording his latest conspiracy theories for his podcast.

While Phoebe doesn’t believe in ghosts or any of that nonsense, she starts to see some strange occurrences at home that seem to prove otherwise. Phoebe is unfamiliar with her grandfather’s ghostbusting past, but Mr. Grooberson is apparently a massive Ghostbusters fan, and remembers their exploits in NYC in the mid-80s. As they investigate the town’s history, some of the odd phenomena they’ve witnessed, and start to experiment with some of Egon’s old equipment, Phoebe, Podcast and Mr. Grooberson begin to suspect that the seismic activity in Summerville may be spectral in nature, and that things are building to a very dangerous, apocalyptic crisis. Soon the kids find themselves suiting up to continue their grandfather’s legacy, to once again save mankind from a familiar old demon looking to destroy the world.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is wild, nostalgic ride and a love letter to the original Ghostbusters film and its fans. In 2016, there was an attempt to reboot the Ghostbusters franchise, but the main problem with that film was that it ignored the original films, trying to reinvent things for a new generation. While that film had some nostalgic callbacks and references, the story and characters took place in its own isolated world. It had the nostalgia, but without any real heart or connection to the original movie. With Ghostbusters: Afterlife, writer/director Jason Reitman has done an excellent job of creating a movie that is a direct sequel to the previous films (which were directed by his father Ivan Reitman), set 35 years later. The story is a natural and organic extension of the characters and events we already know and love, with an emotional throughline that connects directly back to the first film. While sometimes the 2016 film felt like it was just working through a checklist of cameos, Ghostbusters: Afterlife brings back many of the original actors as their original characters, organically weaving them in with the new characters.

The new characters are portrayed by an excellent cast who work really well together. Mckenna Grace is a delight as the nerdy, unemotional Phoebe, who knows she’s smart and can prove it, but is also a bit socially awkward and is always trying to make these (awful) puns as a way of breaking the ice. Grace does an excellent job of making you believe her character is related to Egon, with some of the same look and mannerisms. Finn Wolfhard plays your typical teenager, Trevor, and its fun to watch him awkwardly flirt and fail with Lucky. There is also a lot of heart to this character in the way that he tries to help his younger sister break out of her shell, and how the two team up to fight ghosts. Carrie Coon is hilarious as Callie, a mother who has no problems speaking very frankly with her kids and others. If she doesn’t like something, or something is going wrong, she’s just going to come out with the truth instead of trying to sugar coat things. There is no doubt how Callie feels about the father who abandoned here and will tell this to anyone who brings it up. Paul Rudd is one of my favorites, and so much fun as the slightly dorky Mr. Grooberson. The way he fanboys over everything Ghostbusters, or how he becomes like an excited little kid when it comes to talking about science had me constantly smiling. The situation with her father kind of turned Callie off of anything scientific, but there is this wonderful, palpable and sometimes humorous chemistry between her and Mr. Grooberson. And finally, newcomer Logan Kim often steals the scene as Podcast, who provides a lot of comic relief. Podcast is constantly narrating the situation like he’s doing one of his podcasts, and just seems unflappable whatever danger the team comes across.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife finds a similar blend of action, horror and humor as the first film. I remember jumping at the librarian scene the first time I saw Ghostbusters in the theater as a kid, but also laughing a lot throughout the film. This follow-up has a very similar tone. The film also brings back all of the great gadgets and technology from the original Ghostbusters movies—proton packs, ghost traps, the Ecto-1 and more. However, even though a lot of this stuff has been sitting in a barn for decades, there are still some fun new surprises to be revealed. The filmmakers have utilized practical effects, old school filming techniques, and a delightful score to give this latest installment of the franchise a classic feel. The movie introduces some fun new ghosts like the metal-chewing Muncher, and also brings back some familiar foes, as well as a hilarious new take on a fan-favorite from the first film. This love letter to fans also provides an emotional and satisfying sendoff for Harold Ramis and his iconic and beloved character of Egon Spengler.

Sony’s Blu-ray release looks and sounds amazing. The video presentation provides a clean, crisp picture with an excellent level of detail throughout, even in the darker sequences. The effects are well done and realistic. The glow of the proton pack streams and ghosts never look oversaturated. It’s a really impressive picture, and I’m sure the 4K with HDR would add an extra level to the 4K UD release. As for the audio, one thing I always find disappointing is how Sony doesn’t include its Atmos soundtracks on its Blu-ray discs, reserving those for its 4K UHD releases. However, I was sent the Blu-ray release for review and found its 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track to be quite impressive. Dialogue is clear, and the track does an excellent job of putting the viewer right in the middle of all the action. Whether it’s the roar of the supernatural creatures and ghosts, or the sounds of storms brewing, the track provides a booming and very immersive feeling that fills the room. The surround and stereo channels are also well utilized to enhance the on-screen action as ghosts, creatures, and projectiles make their approach or fly across the screen, or just the crackling of the proton streams as they lock onto a target.

The Blu-ray disc contains over an hour of entertaining bonus material, including a deleted scene, an Easter egg discussion, many behind-the-scenes featurettes with the cast and crew, and even a reunion of the original cast. The release includes both a Blu-ray disc and a DVD packed on either side of a locking HD keepcase, placed in a glossy carboard slipcover. An insert provides instructions on how to redeem an HD Movies Anywhere-compatible digital copy of the film.

What’s Included:

Film: (2:03:56)

1080p / Widescreen 2:40:1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Audio Descriptive Service, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, French Audio Descriptive Service, Portuguese 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Portuguese Audio Descriptive Service, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Thai 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, English SDH, Cantonese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai

DVD:

480i / Anamorphic Widescreen 2:40:1
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Audio Descriptive Service, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, French Audio Descriptive Service, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish

Digital (Limited time offer):

HD digital copy, redeemable via Movies Anywhere or Vudu

Extras:
The DVD disc only includes the first featurette and the Previews.

Summoning the Spirit: Making Ghostbusters: Afterlife (19:50)
Jason Reitman talks about the genesis of the film, taking on the challenge of continuing the family business, and bringing in folks who worked on the original film. He discuses making a completely nostalgic experience that pays homage to and is a love letter to the original film. The cast and crew also join in to talk about the use of practical effects and non-contemporary/modern filmmaking techniques, the cast and characters, the filming locations, sets, and costumes, bringing back the original stars, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director/co-writer Jason Reitman, producer Ivan Reitman, co-writer/executive producer Gil Kenan, director of photography Eric Steelberg, executive producer/1st assistant director Jason Blumenfeld, production designer François Audouy, costume designer Danny Glicker, and stars Finn Wolfhard (“Trevor”), Paul Rudd (“Grooberson”), Mckenna Grace (“Phoebe”), Carrie Coon (“Callie”), Logan Kim (“Podcast”), Celeste O’Connor (“Lucky”), Annie Potts (“Janine Melnitz”) & Sigourney Weaver (“Dana Barrett”).
The Gearhead’s Guide to Ghostbusters Gadgets (6:12)
The cast and filmmakers talk about bringing back a lot of the original Ghosbusters tech—the P.K.E. meters, ecto goggles, proton packs, ghost traps, and more—while also upgrading and adding some new innovations to them. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with executive producer/1st assistant director Jason Blumenfeld, director/co-writer Jason Reitman, propmaker Ben Eadie, producer Ivan Reitman, special effects supervisor Elia Popov, production designer François Audouy, and stars Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd & Logan Kim.
Spectral Effects: The Ghosts of Afterlife (6:29)
The cast and filmmakers talk about bringing the ghosts to life and some of their favorite spectral creatures, such as the mischievous mini-marshmallow men, and the new six-armed metal-chewing Muncher They also discuss the process of bringing back Egon. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, concept artwork, and interviews with director/co-writer Jason Reitman, visual effects supervisors Alessandro Ongaro & Sheena Duggal, on-set dresser Alex Smith, producer Ivan Reitman, and stars Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace & Finn Wolfhard.
Bringing Ecto-1 Back to Life (4:49)
The cast and filmmakers discuss resurrecting and re-creating the iconic Ecto-1 vehicles, filming the car chase, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director/co-writer Jason Reitman, production designer François Audouy, special effects supervisor Elia Popov, president of Ghostlight Cyril O’Neil, special project manager of Ghostlight Josh Erb, and stars Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace & Logan Kim.
We Got One! Easter Eggs Revealed (7:49)
Narrated guide to some of the many Easter eggs that can be found throughout the film.
Ghostbusters: A Look Back (10:37)
Stars Annie Potts, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson (“Winston Zeddemore”), Bill Murray (“Dr. Peter Venkman”) & Dan Aykroyd (“Dr. Raymond Stantz”), and director Ivan Reitman look back at the original Ghostbusters film, sharing stories, and talking about why the movie has remained so popular. Potts and Weaver are both interviewed separately, while the others are seated together.
A Look Ahead (3:44)
Stars Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and producer Ivan Reitman discuss what it was like reuniting to work on the new film, continuing the story, and paying tribute to Harold Ramis. Also includes interview footage with director Ivan Reitman, and behind-the-scenes footage of the guys on set.
Deleted Scene: Is It Ever Too Late? (1:24)
Janine talks to Callie about the house, and her father’s ashes.
Previews (14:48)
Trailers for Spider-Man: No Way Home (2:56), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2:36), A Journal for Jordan (1:40), Morbius (2:47), Uncharted (2:24) and Alex Rider Season 2 (2:23) play back-to-back.

Final Thoughts:

My Rating

Film:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Highly Recommended

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a wonderful follow-up to the original Ghostbusters films, not only recapturing the same horror/action/comedy tone, but also providing a satisfying dose of nostalgia, and a really emotional conclusion for the late Harold Ramis/Egon. It feels like an organic and natural continuation of the story. While some may call it slightly repetitive to the first film, I found that it really worked for me and aided in the nostalgia. The new cast/characters are great and have excellent chemistry—I would definitely watch a second movie following their further adventures. Sony’s Blu-ray release looks and sounds amazing and contains an entertaining assortment of bonus material. This is a must own for any Ghostbusters fan, and highly recommended for anyone else.