The supernatural world often breaches our reality, with its inhabitants appearing before us in all their eerie splendor. Even if we don’t always notice, cinema strives to bring these fantasies to life, telling captivating stories about encounters with ghosts, phantoms, and other supernatural beings. We’ve compiled a list of 7 ghost movies where the directors have masterfully captured these haunting tales.
Content
- Mr. Harrigan’s Phone
- Talk to Me
- The Black Phone
- They Live in the Grey
- Bed Rest
- Deadstream
- Brooklyn 45
Mr. Harrigan's Phone
IMDb: 6.0 /10
2022, Drama, Horror, Mystery
USA, PG-13
Director: John Lee Hancock
Top cast: Donald Sutherland, Jaeden Martell, Joe Tippett
In 2003, Craig met John Harrigan, a reclusive millionaire. With no family, the elderly businessman asked Craig to spend time with him, reading books and chatting. Over time, they became close friends and even exchanged letters regularly. When Mr. Harrigan passed away, Craig had a hard time coping with the loss. One day, Craig discovered he could still talk to his friend through a phone that was buried with him. Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, based on a story by Stephen King, is more than just an adaptation. The film highlights the touching relationship between the young man and the elderly businessman.
Talk to Me
IMDb: 7.1/10
2022, Horror, Thriller
Australia, UK, R
Director: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Top cast: Ari McCarthy, Hamish Phillips, Kit Erhart-Bruce
Teenagers in a small town have found a new hobby—summoning spirits. They gather around a mysterious ceramic hand and hold séances to communicate with the souls of the dead. Everything goes smoothly as long as they follow the rules and don’t stay in contact for too long. During one séance, Mia encounters the ghost of her mother, who committed suicide two years ago. She doesn’t break the connection in time, causing the boundary between the living and the dead to collapse. Now, Mia must do everything she can to fix the situation.
The Black Phone
IMDb: 6.9/10
2021, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
USA, R
Director: Scott Derrickson
Top cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke
Denver suburbs, 1978. Shy and smart beyond his years, Finney Shaw is trapped in a soundproof basement by a sadistic killer known as The Grabber. One day, 13-year-old Finney discovers that the previous victims are trying to reach him through a phone. They are determined to help him escape and avoid their fate. Scott Derrickson, one of the creators of Doctor Strange, left Marvel to direct this highly successful horror film. The plot is based on a story by Joe Hill, the son of Stephen King.
They Live in the Grey
IMDb: 5.0/10
2022, Horror, Thriller
USA, Unrated
Director: Abel Vang, Burlee Vang
Top cast: Michelle Krusiec, Ken Kirby, Madelyn Grace
Social worker Claire Yang is investigating a case of possible domestic violence involving a young girl named Sophie and her parents. Claire, who has been able to see dead people since childhood, suspects that the bruises on Sophie might be caused by the ghost of an unknown woman. She decides to use her gift to get rid of the poltergeist but accidentally brings an even greater evil upon Sophie and her family. The film was directed by brothers Abel and Burlee Vang, whose own story is like a movie plot. They Live in the Grey is their way of exploring grief and understanding the fragile journey we take between life and death when we lose a loved one.
Bed Rest
IMDb: 5.0/10
2022, Drama, Horror, Mystery
USA, Canada, R
Director: Lori Evans Taylor
Top cast: Melissa Barrera, Guy Burnet, Edie Inksetter
Julie Rivers has long dreamed of starting a family, and finally, she has succeeded. Pregnant again, she and her husband move into a new house, ready for a fresh start. But when the doctor prescribes strict bed rest, Julie finds herself confined to the monotonous life of a single room. As days turn into weeks, she begins to see ghosts. Those around her do not believe her and doubt her mental health. Trapped and isolated, Julie fights to protect herself and her unborn child. Screenwriter Lori Evans Taylor drew inspiration from her own deeply personal experiences. After suffering the trauma of a stillbirth, she channeled her trauma into the screenplay.
Deadstream
IMDb: 6.4/10
2022, Comedy, Horror
USA, UK, Unrated
Director: Joseph Winter, Vanessa Winter
Top cast: Joseph Winter, Melanie Stone, Jason K. Wixom
Self-proclaimed outcast Shawn Ruddy is determined to make a comeback among popular streamers. To do this, he decides to livestream from a haunted house where several people previously died. Setting up cameras throughout the house, he locks himself in for the night. However, it seems Shawn may have made a grave mistake: the ghosts in the house start making their presence known, trying to add the influencer’s soul to their collection. Deadstream was created by the husband-and-wife team Joseph and Vanessa Winter, with Joseph also playing the lead role. Both are fans of the genre but wanted their feature debut to be a comedy. The directors had to carefully balance the tone to avoid turning it into a parody. Ultimately, they re-recorded parts of the film to reduce the number of jokes.
Brooklyn 45
IMDb: 5.9/10
2023, Drama, History, Horror
USA, Unrated
Director: Ted Geoghegan
Top cast: Anne Ramsay, Ron E. Rains, Jeremy Holm
Set in December 1945, Brooklyn 45 brings us into the lives of five war veterans who gather in the lavishly decorated living room of a Brooklyn high-rise apartment. They come together to support their former commander, who is grieving after his wife’s recent suicide. What starts as a quiet evening of cocktails and conversation quickly turns into an impromptu séance, as the metaphorical ghosts from their pasts become all too real. Directed by Ted Geoghegan, this film dives deep into the postwar era, showing a side of history that is often overshadowed by the iconic Times Square photo of a sailor kissing a nurse. Geoghegan reminds us that this period was also marked by record numbers of suicides, job search difficulties, widespread poverty, and depression in the United States.
