{"id":403740,"date":"2025-11-01T07:53:54","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T07:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"urn:uuid:256b6685-f4e4-4874-8035-474970b04083"},"modified":"2025-11-01T07:53:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T07:53:54","slug":"ghostbusters-afterlife-breathing-new-life-into-the-beloved-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/ghostbusters-afterlife-breathing-new-life-into-the-beloved-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghostbusters: Afterlife \u2013 breathing new life into the beloved series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Taking the reins of a series as iconic as Ghostbusters would be a daunting task for any director. But Jason Reitman, the mastermind behind the franchise\u2019s latest chapter Ghostbusters: Afterlife<\/em>, has Ghostbusters in his blood – not only is he a massive fan of the legendary 80s adventures, he is also the son of Ivan Reitman who brought the first two entries to the big screen, and who also adds his producing chops to Afterlife<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Rather than being weighed down by the shadow of his father\u2019s films, the younger Reitman saw his dad\u2019s involvement and presence on the set of Afterlife <\/em>as a huge boon to this entry. \u201cI was lucky enough to have not only the world’s foremost expert on Ghostbusters sitting next to me,\u201d Reitman told me when we sat down, \u201cbut also one of my favourite storytellers.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s funny,\u201d he laughs, \u201cI’m the child of a Ghostbuster, so I guess it should be no surprise that when it came to making a Ghostbusters movie, I would make a movie about the granddaughter of a Ghostbuster. And there was no way to do this except with my father right by my side.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ghostbusters:<\/a> <\/p>\n

This father-son relationship has created a high level of consistency between Afterlife <\/em>and the original Ghostbusters movies, to which the new film is a direct sequel. Despite over 30 years passing, Afterlife <\/em>truly feels like a part of the same world we were first introduced to in 1984. Its tone, comedy and design will be instantly recognisable to fans of the originals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were trying to echo the original film in every way possible, and most of all in comedy. That’s why we cast actors like Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace.\u201d These big stars are joined by relative newcomer Logan Kim who plays Podcast, a wise-cracking misfit with a penchant for microphones and audio recorders.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, audiences don’t know him yet,\u201d Reitman nods, \u201cbut I think they\u2019re gonna love him. He feels exactly like the kind of guy you would have cast in the original.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the sense that you\u2019re jumping back into the world from the original movies doesn\u2019t end with the humor. Afterlife <\/em>starts with an as-yet-unnamed family discovering they\u2019ve just inherited a ramshackle farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Formerly inhabited by Phoebe (Grace) and Trevor\u2019s (Wolfhard) absent grandfather, the house is packed floor-to-ceiling with books on the paranormal, unused farming equipment and, as it turns out, ghostbustin\u2019 gear.<\/p>\n

\"Ghostbusters:<\/a> <\/p>\n

And when it comes to the appearance of iconic Ghost Trap and other classic tools, there\u2019s no sleek redesigns here. The clunky, worn-down 80s look from the original movies is preserved perfectly; these could be lifted straight from the studio\u2019s archives. Practical effects and physical props are heavily featured, with CGI limited to a small selection of scenes to preserve the style of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always wanted to get at the original recipe of what was a Ghostbusters movie. And that involved really doing the archaeology, understanding how they made the original, and finding ways to mix the bleeding edge of computer technology with the most old school Hollywood effects.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reitman\u2019s wish to blend different technologies is showcased best in a scene which sees the return of the Terror Dog, a fan-favourite monster whose image is surely seared into the minds of anyone who watched the original movie as a child. The beast is back, and more terrifying than ever, thanks to a mix of practical and digital effects. And we\u2019ve got your first look at its resurrection in this exclusive clip:<\/p>\n

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