The main theme tune, the whirring of the sirens, the proton packs and the uniforms; these are just some of the many iconic memories of the first Ghostbusters film. It was truly revolutionary and it felt completely new and different from other sci-fi films at the time. The legacy has remained strong with video games and animated television series been adapted from the series since the original film. There was a sequel film and a reboot but it was Ghostbusters: Afterlife that jump-started the franchise again. Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a breath of fresh air. We had a brand new cast, it honoured the previous films and it had a story that reflected the themes of the first film while also adapting to a more modern film landscape. A sequel to Afterlife was therefore inevitable.
It was great seeing Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Ernie Hudson back as the iconic characters Venkman, Stantz and Zeddemore. It is even more of a delight to see them back busting ghosts in the latest film in the series, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Annie Potts is even back and with a proton pack of her own, further fuelling the nostalgia of the 80s in this new instalment. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire uses practical effects, puppets and the old sound effects of the original mixed in with some very effective CGI to create a film that blends the past and present. The cast of Afterlife, from McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon are back too. The overall result is a rather bloated cast and the film does have some difficulty balancing them, along with new cast members Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt.
The story this time is completely original with previous enemies Zuul and the Key Masters nowhere in sight for a change. Instead we are treated to a tale of an old demonic god called Garraka who was sealed away in an orb years ago and with the orb now in the possession of the Ghostbusters there is a chance for Garraka to return to power and use his frosty powers to create a new Ice Age all across New York. The icy narrative and visual effects makes this new film look and stand-out above the others with an identity of its own. The new creatures, including the opening Ghost Dragon, all look amazing and feel exciting to see the Ghostbusters battle against. There is a careful balance between nostalgia and new ideas but there are moments where the film does go into overload with nostalgia. This is definitely a film designed and made for fans of the franchise.
The humour is still there and the characters are as you remember them but the script does sometimes feel a little lacking. The character development for Grace’s character Phoebe Spengler outshines that of Wolfhard’s character Trevor Spengler, Phoebe’s older brother. The film is too short to develop each individual character especially with new ones added in too. It’s a shame because Afterlife worked so well because the Spengler family had to learn about where they came from and decide who they wanted to be. This film just feels like it was made to entertain audiences with chilly set pieces and ghostly action sequences. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is certainly entertaining but it just lacks the depth that the previous film had.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Final Verdict:
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will be loved and adored by fans such as myself. Newcomers will struggle to maintain the momentum of the film with the abundance of characters on display. Each actor does a great job but the script and pacing let the characters down a little. The designs of the ghosts and the plot are certainly a highlight, it is just a shame it doesn’t have a lasting impact. Saying that, Frozen Empire is certainly not a bad film. It is highly enjoyable and it will be great to see these characters again in the future if they decide to continue the franchise.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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