Ghost Stories

A bit of an unconventional anthology. In the great majority of horror anthologies what you remember is the individual tales, while the story that frames them is something extra, but in Ghost Stories it’s actually the opposite. The spooky mini stories are functional, but dull. They are scary and can make you a bit nervous, but they don’t go anywhere because they end quickly (my favourite was the second one about the young guy in the car; it was creepy, especially the circumstances under the which the main character tells it). But the gem is the story of Professor Goodman, who leads the film. It delivers a couple of surprises after which the readings of the mindfuck-meter go higher than you’d expect before the screening. The final outcome is a shame, however. It’s a cowardly way to explain the previous events, even if, in Ghost Stories, the creators take it so literally that it becomes a joke. (2018-05-13)

Too bad it´s not better executed, this way it has atmosphere, many well-done scenes (by far the most intense scene is the purely King´s, supernatural scene, when the boys are at the sewer), a few ideas, but it covers too much and the three parts and the final par are conflicting. Also, as it follows horror classics (which is likeable), it means that one knows exactly what to expect and what it's all about. In any case, a nice piece of work from a department that has not been seen in Czech cinemas in recent years. (2018-06-07)

It looks like your typical ghost-type of horror movie to which everyone is used to in a deluge of contemporary horror films. And what you get is a play. It has a few good ideas from time to time but it is really theatrical. When you start to be bored it finally gives you a few answers and plays with you a little. An interesting piece. (2020-10-09)

Ghost Stories had an appealing pitch compared to the pathetic standard of contemporary supernatural horror. Three distinct horror mini-stories, which then coalesce into a single main thread, take us to an abandoned women's asylum, a dark forest at night, a super-modern mansion, an abandoned train station, and the corridors of an old sewer. The hero is not merely chased by a single oozing creature, but instead we encounter one-eyed girls, fiery-toothed corpses, and for a change an angry ent accompanied by Baphomet himself. Nor is the protagonist an everyday family man with no fault in the matter, but a skeptical scientist searching for rational truth (even if he is a completely passive moron throughout the film). This multi-feature reminded me in some ways of sweetly dumb horror compilations like Bava's Black Sabbath or Carpenter's Body Bags. Unfortunately, the whole concept is framed by an all-too-contemporary approach to horror, where basically all three episodes play the same formulaic game to the point of tedium, while the viewer waits with their legs spread wide open for a jump-scare that keeps getting put off. What's more, all of these barking scenes even have the same loud sample, once again sinking us waist-deep into the bog of current mundanity in the genre. Please don't let Hereditary be a disappointment, I’m begging you. (2018-09-04)

Even though the episodes suddenly end every time when things start to get very intense, they are enthralling, scary and, above all, well written. The overall story has a nice momentum and Andy Nyman carries it forward brilliantly in the main role. Only the final denouement is slightly weak and disappointing –without being a disaster. The overall impression is positive and a sequel would be more than welcome. (2018-06-20)