Ghost Light (2018) Review
GHOST LIGHT is a supernatural comedy with a horrifying twist directed by John Stimpson and conceived and written by John Stimpson and Geoffrey Taylor. It’s the tale of a disgruntled actor Thomas (Tom Riley) who disregards the superstition surrounding Shakespeare’s Macbeth and unwittingly unleashes the play’s legendary curse on the troupe with tragic consequences.
GHOST LIGHT proved to be unexpected delight with Cary Elwes stealing the show. Elwes, playing Alex Pankhurst, a soap actor with hearing problems cast as the play’s lead role, is the funniest he’s been since THE PRINCESS BRIDE. He heads up an excellent ensemble cast that includes the always delightful Carol Kane (the original WHEN A STRANGER CALLS, THE DEAD DON’T DIE) and Roger Bart, the latter of whom nails the role of the under-pressure theatre director with aplomb.
On the whole director John Stimpson’s film is not always as funny as it thinks itself to be but it remains entertaining throughout, culminating in a finale that is as pleasing as it is surprising. With so many characters onscreen unfortunately not all of them are fleshed out as much as they could have been, with everyone else playing second fiddle to the main duo of Thomas (Tom Riley) and Liz (Shannyn Sossamon). Flawed but ultimately worth the effort, climaxing in a third act that more than compensates for the film’s shortcomings elsewhere.