We Have a 👻

Directed by Christopher Landon, We Have a 👻 follows a family of four (Anthony Mackie’s Frank, Erica Ash’s Melanie, Niles Fitch’s Fulton, and Jahi Winston’s Kevin) as they discover a spirit (David Harbour’s Ernest) residing within their new home. It’s a familiar yet promising setup that’s employed to periodically watchable yet mostly underwhelming effect by Landon, as the filmmaker, armed with his own screenplay, delivers a slow-moving endeavor that gets off to an almost disastrously lackluster start – with the arms-length atmosphere initially established (and perpetuated) by Winston’s nails-on-a-chalkboard turn as the rebellious, annoying central character. (Harbour’s engaging and mostly silent performance, on the other hand, generally remains a highlight within the hit-and-miss proceedings.) And while the picture does improve slightly once it enters its egregiously languid midsection, We Have a 👻‘s ongoing emphasis on far-from-enthralling elements, including the protagonist’s continuing investigation into Ernest’s tragic past, paves the way for a third act that’s hardly as satisfying as Landon has undoubtedly intended. (This is despite the inclusion of an admittedly compelling thriller-like climax.) By the time the nigh endless final stretch rolls around, We Have a 👻 has certainly cemented its place as a disappointing piece of work that has no business whatsoever running a ludicrous 126 minutes.

*1/2 out of ****