Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘An American Ghost Story’

Written by Scott Edwards 

Do you believe in ghosts? Some people do, while others do not. While we try to find explanations for strange occurrences that happen in old homes, buildings and graveyards, sometimes science is not able to explain it completely. Those who believe, well, they know what is happening and people are even able to communicate with the spirits and find out what they are looking for while they have been trapped in limbo on the planet. But whether you believe or not, there are strange things that science cannot explain that will probably never be answered in our lifetimes. 

Paul is a freelance writer that is looking to complete something special in his time. Wanting to prove to himself and others that he can stick with a project and finish it will make him feel like he has served some purpose in his life and possibly make him some money as well. When he hears about a rental house that is haunted, he jumps at the opportunity to give his new endeavor a shot; writing a book about he and his girlfriend living in a haunted house.

Although she is up for the idea, Stella is having second thoughts as the house seems to open up to her first. Hearing crashes in the middle of the night, she is not able to get a full night’s sleep, but that is nothing compared to what happens to her next. While working in the kitchen, one of the drawers opens on its own. Thinking that it is just a fluke, she shuts it, but then every drawer and cabinet in the kitchen violently opens on its own, driving her out. When Paul reenters the house, he finds Stella sitting on the floor in shock and wants to know what is happening, and seeing the dining room table chairs stacked up is not enough to convince him of the house’s power.

Stella will not stay in the house and leaves Paul. Although she does not want to break up with him, she will not go near the house ever again. Paul is not willing to give up on his quest for his book idea and will not leave and actually wants something bigger to happen to him. Being alone in the house, Paul hears the same noises in the middle of the night, along with hearing voices, and he finds his radio being turned on, but this is not enough for him, he wants to see something real, something people will want to read about. Becoming obsessed with the house and its history, Paul tries to reach out to former tenants of the estate and have his appearances validated by them. Although no one wants to talk to him, he is able to find one woman who is hesitant but will talk about what she knows. Admitting that the house destroyed her marriage, she urges Paul to leave the house and get back to his life. But Paul is fixated on the house and will do anything to interact with the spirits that are walking the halls when he is asleep.

Who does not want to be scared by a ghost at some point in their life? I know it is something that many people would like to experience in their lifetime, if not for one reason, to see that there is life after death. But Paul is taking it to the extreme as he is doing more than most people would do, to just witness a haunting of some sort. Wanting to prove that the ghosts exist is one thing, but wanting to communicate with them is something completely different. No true answers can be given, or at least will have time to be heard as Paul’s obsession with the house grows and grows as his experiences diminish. This is one of the few movies that I have seen someone under a sheet and gotten a little bit shaken up about it, as I tried to be a ghost under a sheet and did not scare anyone when growing up. Stay Scared.

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