For his last few features, filmmaker Christopher Landon has injected a real sense of fun into the slasher genre – presenting entertaining genre mash-ups like time-looping horror-mystery Happy Death Day and its sequel, and 2020’s bloodied-up body-swap killfest Freaky. For Landon’s next feature, that sense of fun remains – but We Have A Ghost marks something of a pivot for the director. The chainsaw-revving setpieces are out, and family-friendly spooks are in, with this Amblin-inspired tale of a benevolent ghost and the family that discovers him haunting their house. “I really wanted to flex certain muscles that I felt like I had, but I hadn’t been able to use yet,” Landon tells Empire. “One of those being this big, sweeping, emotional story that really pays off at the end.”
Taking inspiration from Ernest, a Vice-published short story, We Have A Ghost centers on the friendship that forms between an outcast boy and the smiley spectre looming in his new home – nicknamed ‘Ernest’ (due to his likeness to actor Ernest Borgnine), and played by David Harbour. It’s a largely physical performance from the Stranger Things star, since Ernest, who can’t remember anything of his life, isn’t able to speak – but plenty of personality shines through. “[David and I] talked about how underneath all of the sadness and memory loss, there were still the seeds of a man who was really loving, a little mischievous, and wily,” explains Landon. “I liked this idea that Ernest was this beat-down, tax-accountant-looking kind of guy.”
It’s a fitting name considering this looks to be Landon’s most, well, earnest film yet – and we’ll find out more before long, as Empire can confirm that We Have A Ghost will debut exclusively on Netflix from 24 February.
Read Empire’s full We Have A Ghost story in the world-exclusive Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania issue – on sale Thursday 19 January and available to pre-order online here.