The Innkeepers

I utterly failed at seeing this film as horror. It had a the characteristic elements of a horror film though – many empty rooms, a ghost story, a psychic seer, two very curious hotel staff, a cellar and, of course, the creepy old guy. I guess it was the slow pace and too many gag scenes (for me at least). It was set in an old hotel that was soon to be closed and attended to by two bored hotel staff members, both of whom were pretty much going nowhere with their lives and thus stuck working there. The only things out of the ordinary that happened were the appearance of the famous actress (who turned out to be psychic) and the old man who asked to stay on the top floor even when it was no longer prepared for guests to stay. The main focus of the movie seemed to be the adventures of the two hotel staff in finding evidence of the ghost of a woman that died in the hotel, even though not many details were given as to her story.

The build up of the events was extremely slow as the movie focused a lot on the routine of the staff members as well as the playful banter (or slight flirting, mostly on the guy’s side) between the two. Both have an interest in supernatural activity and decide to try filming and recording at different places in the hotel in order to “catch” the ghost. They end up drunk, however, and start playing around leading to the guy confessing to the girl only to be turned down. They eventually hear the piano playing as well as the chair moving on their own. This is followed by the exploration of the cellar where the girl “sees and hears the ghost”. The guy freaks out after this and leaves the hotel. The psychic soon warns the girl to leave, and the girl rushes to tell the old man only to find him dead in the bathtub. The girl then searches for the psychic, enters the cellar (like all annoyingly curious horror movie characters do) and ends up killed by the ghost. The plot was ridiculously straightforward that it was exactly that: ridiculous (at least that’s how I found the film).

The movie utilized the perfect setting and elements of a horror film, perhaps too by the book. Everything was anticipated except maybe for the gag scenes that only made it funny. the ending was also anticlimactic considering the really long build-up. A lot of questions were left unanswered. What really happened to the ghost? Who was the old man? How exactly did the girl die in the cellar? The psychic said there were three ghosts and the death of the girl was inevitable? Why? Like the hotel staff and a lot of horror fans, I did research to get the answer. After consulting The Fine Art Diner on Blogspot.com, I found out that Madeline O’Malley (the ghost) was ditched by her lover on the day of their wedding, causing her to take her own life in the hotel. She was said to be the “psychoanalytic double” of Luke (the male hotel staff member) as Claire rejected him. This reason was used to justify why the ghost killed Claire in the end (which made sense in that way I guess). The old man was another weird, character isolated from all the others, seemingly placed there only to complete the atmosphere of the film but apparently he was also another one of Luke’s “psychoanalytic doubles”. He was seen standing where Luke was in front of the door leading into the cellar causing Claire to fall as well as “pouring out his blood” in the bathtub just as Luke “poured out his feelings for Claire” when they were drunk. Lastly, the psychic was referring to Claire, Luke and Madeline when she said there were three entities in the cellar and there was something wrong (indicating Luke’s feelings for Claire). Also, Claire’s fate was said to be inevitable as indicated by the hopeless situation of the hotel as well as her life having no direction. I, personally, would never have come up with these insights but these small indications were very well hidden beneath the most trivial occurrences and dialogue. These actually changed my view of the film as it actually requires very close observation and critical analysis of the film (characteristic of genuine interest in the horror genre) past the very standard horror film setting and plot.

 

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Ginger Snaps

Really ugly and fake-looking werewolf aside, I appreciated this movie for its unique parallelism of transitioning into womanhood with transforming into a werewolf, which I found more significant than the horror aspect of the movie (again, it should be noted that I don’t scare easily). The movie revolves around two sisters (with an unusual obsession with death might I add) as one of them gets bitten by a werewolf and soon finds herself turning into one on top of the beginning of her menstrual cycle. I found the movie underwhelming though the initial gory scenes set up by the sisters were well-made (as opposed to how the werewolf looked). The story is set in the usual high school setting wherein the Fitzgerald sisters were ostracized and seen as weird. This changes, however, as Ginger turns into a werewolf and simultaneously becomes more outgoing in terms of both disposition and sexuality.

The setting was a quite neighborhood with a normal high school close by. This highlighted the normal conditions present in society in the beginning before the “other” or the “monster” is introduced. This happens in line with the “normal” prepubescent lives of Ginger and her sister get disturbed by “the curse” or menstruation signalling a transition into adulthood. This is typical yet very effective formula that horror films utilize and use to great effect. The disturbance of what is normal (something people are used to and, therefore, safe) by introducing what is unfamiliar which is deemed threatening and shunned (somewhat how Ginger and Bridgitte were treated at school). Peace in the community is initially disturbed by neighborhood dogs being attacked by an animal followed by Ginger being bitten by the beast responsible. Ginger then gives in to the sexual urges that accompany “the change” (due to turning into a predator or hormones I’m not really sure). It is here that we see that the more Ginger nears her transformation the more power she wields as she victimizes those who oppressed her and later on, those that stand in her way. There is a shift in Ginger being a victim of the “other” as she turns into that very being herself. Bridgitte, on the other hand, is distanced from her sister as Ginger undergoes a change setting her apart from her less mature sibling. Bridgitte can be viewed as the victim as she tries to cover up for her sister and cure her with that conveniently available monkshood. In the end, however, she kills her sister after Ginger reaches a point of no return.

I found the shifts in power, wherein the victim eventually ends up on top, to be very interesting in the film. Women, usually portrayed as the “other” in horror films, could easily rise up against oppressors and society that are disturbed by what is unfamiliar. As a film, however, I wouldn’t really say it was outstanding (much less a decent horror film). I was laughing most of the time (mostly at the werewolf). The other effects and the underlying message, however, were really interesting and made up for the horror that was lacking.

 

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Triangle

Compared to mainstream horror films that employ a lot of “startle moments” or gore, Triangle is more psychological or “emotional” in nature. The movie did not incorporate a “monster” or a supernatural entity like what other films do (which is also what I expected when I saw the ship). The movie is set when a group of people go on a boat end up stranded in the middle of the sea, in which I and a lot of others thought would be somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle. I expected really bizarre things to happen to them on an island or in the middle of the ocean but they ended up boarding a really creepy and seemingly deserted ship. By this point I really did not know what to expect, but I guessed that there would either be supernatural beings in the ship (monsters or spirits) or psychotic crew members that would chase after them with knives or guns (a slasher film maybe?). As the movie progressed and the myth of Sisyphus was explained (which was kind of haphazardly placed in my opinion), a realization formed in my mind that the events on the ship would keep repeating maybe until they found the right sequence of actions to take or solved the mystery behind the ship. I was surprised that it turned out to be Jess that was the killer, whether she resisted the role initially or gave in seeing no other option towards the end.

The character of Jess is unique in the sense that as the “main character” and “final girl” she was the victim not of a “monster” but herself as well as “fate”. Jess was initially a victim when she felt like she experienced the occurrences before and something was very wrong. She, however, could not pin-point what was amiss and ran around the ship trying to help the others and avoiding the mysterious shooter. She manages to survive and tries to help the others and fight back. She inadvertently dooms her companions despite her efforts and soon realizes that she was the killer. She soon assumes the more active role as the “monster” where she takes matters into her own hands. She decides that the only way she can get off the ship and back to her son is by killing her friends, thereby resetting the cycle. It is here that we see a shift from her more helpless, passive role to a strong, active role characteristic of a “final girl”. Her plan fails though she manages to get off the ship as her son dies and it is revealed that she hurts him. In the end, she ends up getting on the boat again at the end of the film making it resemble Sisyphus’ predicament despite everything that was revealed and learned throughout her experience.

I really liked the detail that went into the set-up of scenes that gave the Sisyphus-type effect, as I don’t really find most horror movies scary anymore. The scenes like the multiple dead bodies, dead crows, as well as Jess sending an distress call that is picked up by the “future them” on the boat. The movie really got me to think and I was amazed how everything fit in so well at the end. What really bothered me was the question: “Why doesn’t Jess figure out what she does wrong when she already experienced everything beforehand?” Does her memory reset? Does everything inevitably end up the same way no matter what action she chooses to take? Does she have some kind of mental or personality disorder? It is possible that she could have imagined the repetitive events that happened due to a mental illness. Regardless of the reason, I found this film very confusing (in a good way). I enjoyed the plot (and plot twists) as well as the psychological back story, that in my opinion, was what made the movie very effective. I would not classify it as horror but then again very few horror movies affect me nowadays.

 

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Amazing Grace

#111259 #grace

Grace was a movie that showcased a mother’s undying love – a love that can bring dead babies back to life and can sacrifice their own body to be able to cater to its deadly needs. It was able to give a glimpse of motherhood and how much a mother is willing to sacrifice to be able to make her child happy.

The monster presented in Grace is not the typical monster that we see in most horror movies. It shows us a mere baby that didn’t even possess the physical features of a monster – it had no fangs, fur, a tail, long hair, or a lust for death or pain. Though it was kind of considered a vampire, it did not possess the usual vampire qualities like fangs, an all-black outfit, a coffin to sleep in, or even a sparkling face and personality (literally). It looked like a child and acted like a child minus the lust for blood. If a person would be seeing it for the first time, he/she would never think that this child is a monster. The baby probably didn’t even know what was right or wrong because it was just a little baby, and it did not know that lusting for human blood is wrong. Again, like with Deadgirl, there is a blur on who the real monster really is in the movie. Though it is trying to give the idea that the baby is the one that the audience should fear and the monster that brings harm and chaos to the people around it, it was actually the mother that exhibited monster-like qualities. Due to her great love for her baby, she was willing to go against her humanity and her values just to be able to keep her child alive. She killed the doctor that was sent to check up on her by her mother-in-law, and who knows what other things she was willing to do just to keep on being a mother?

Aside from the baby, what made the movie a part of the horror genre is I guess how it tried to delve into the horrors of motherhood. What would you do if you had a child that was like Grace? Would you be willing to give her up despite of your great desire to become a parent? Will you be willing to sacrifice everything even your own life just to be able to save a monster?

As my friends and I were discussing the film afterwards, we found it kind of funny on how everyone seems to have a fetish in the movie. Madeline had a fetish with motherhood, the mother-in-law had a fetish with breastfeeding, and the doctor had a fetish for breast milk. Everything seemed to circulate around women and the idea of motherhood. I guess we can even push it a little bit further and say that Patricia, Madeline’s ex-lover, had a fetish with her and women in general. And in the end, these fetishes and desires is what led to the doom of each of the characters – the mother-in-law died because she went to Madeline’s home and tried to take the tiyanak baby, the doctor died because he agreed to check-up on Madeline in exchange of the mother-in-laws breast milk, and it is expected that Madeline will also die if she kept on feeding herself to her baby like what she was seen doing in the end. The movie was able to show how too much desire for something can be deadly and can make some people too obsessed to the point that they become irrational and cause their own demise.

Drop Dead(girl) Gorgeous Movie

#111259 #deadgirl

Deadgirl was a great movie that gave the daily dose of the harsh reality of the male psyche. We watched other movies in class that showcased puberty and the coming-of-age of women like Ginger Snaps, but this time, the movie is about the men and the things they feel and experience during those early stages of pubescence. The movie circulates around the after school “sessions” that two high school boys, Rickie and JT, have ever since they found the body of the “dead” girl in an abandoned hospital. JT uses her to feed his sexual pleasures and as his very own personal sex slave. Throughout the whole movie, we also see Rickie pining over and literally dreaming about his crush, “Joann”, and this simple crush soon turns into obsession. Here, the movie was able to show the basic things that any boy experiences during his transition into manhood. He experiences heightened sexual desires and raging hormones, sometimes, making him irrational and careless with his actions.

It was refreshing to see two male leads in a horror movie for a change, instead of the usual “final girl” that most horror movies present. Like Ginger Snaps, Deadgirl was able to portray the difficulties and challenges of growing up like peer pressure, increased desire for sexual pleasure, and having identity crises. There was build-up of the sexual repression within the two guys that it came to a point where they were willing to let go of their humanity just to be able to satisfy their sexual urges. A lot of people were complaining about how it was completely against the character of Rickie to replace Deadgirl with Joann in the end because his character has been resisting and been so against it for the majority of the film. But I guess the movie was trying to portray that every guy has that animalistic sexual side within them; some are just better at hiding or repressing it. It’s human nature for them and it’s only a matter of time before something triggers it, and I guess that’s one of the reasons that made this movie a horror movie – it showcased the horror of the monster within each of us.

I really liked the film but some questions that bothered me and had me searching the internet for answers were where did Deadgirl come from and what’s up with the crazy deranged dog that was also inside the hospital? One theory that I had is that the dog was the original carrier of the “zombie” disease and it bit Deadgirl, therefore making her dead too, and she was left there by the doctors because they have lost hope in being able change her back. We are also left wondering what happened to Deadgirl after she escaped the hospital. Clearly she was not herself and was a crazy person, so what if she got out and bit/infected other people? Would it be like the start of a zombie apocalypse or something? I guess it’s one of those open endings that the writers have left for us to fill in.

The Innkeepers

#111259 #theinnkeepers

Just like Triangle, The Innkeepers is one of those movies that would keep you guessing right till the very end, and would make you want to discuss everything with your friends afterwards. It’s got that rustic charm that could appeal to a lot of people especially to those who prefer horror movies that veer away from big Hollywood productions that only present cult-favorite scenes that showcase a lot of blood, gore, and over-the-top costumes. However, one thing that I didn’t really like about the movie is how slow it was especially in the beginning. It was not until the very last few minutes of the movie where the pace started to pick up and give the action that the audience was looking for, and in my opinion, it wasn’t even worth the wait. Yes, there were a few  glimpses of the heart-pounding scene at the very end, and a few jumps and scares scattered throughout the film, but overall, it didn’t really live up to my expectation. Also, they didn’t really give a clear description and enough information about the one thing that gave it the horror feel which is Madeline O’Malley. I wanted to know more about her story and about the history of hotel but it didn’t deliver and left the viewers hanging without any slightest bit of information on whether the hotel really was haunted by her spirit or if Claire was only imagining everything because she has become too engrossed by her own ghost stories.

However, there were also some scenes and parts that I did like about the movie. I liked how it made the audience think about what really happened to Claire in the end. Did the ghost of Madeline O’Malley really come after her or did she die because she had an asthma attack out of extreme fear and agitation? Or was it both? Did she have an asthma attack because she saw the ghost? The movie also never gave us a clear cut answer on who the three ghosts Leanne Reese-Jones was talking about in her premonition. Some could say that it wasn’t only Madeline who was haunting the hotel and there were other ghosts haunting and inhabiting it. Others say that she actually saw the future and how Claire would die that is why she was warning her of her own death indirectly, and that the three ghosts were actually Madeline, the old man who committed suicide (Madeline’s husband?), and Claire herself. These are the questions we would never have an answer to and the writers intentionally left hanging to let the audience decide what they want to believe in. I also really liked the setting of the film. It gave off that eerie vibe that was able to kind of compensate for the lack of horror scenes. I also really liked that there was little bit of dry humor that they have incorporated into some scenes. It wasn’t like the humor of Ginger Snaps because it was still able to keep that eerie and serious tone for the whole movie. Overall, The Innkeepers was a good one-time watch though I wouldn’t really be watching it for a second time because I already know what happens in the end and the anticipation for that was really the only thing that kept me going through the first half of the movie.

Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed

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Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed is an interesting sequel because it strays from the themes and social concerns of the first film. There is a shift in the patterns presented and the context the stories are in. In some way, it could be said that the sequel “matured” in different aspects. The setting of the film moves from the suburb to the city, and from sisters’ home and high school to the rehabilitation center and cabin. Ginger is now no longer the main character of the film, although her ghost still has appearances every now and then, but the story now revolves around Brigitte and her new found friend and side-kick, Ghost. The main symbolism and concern of the first movie was the sisters going through puberty parallel to Ginger’s transformation of monstrosity. The concern of the second movie, however, was drug abuse and self-control. The story shifts from naivety to maturity, from Ginger to Brigitte. In the first movie, Brigitte was in some way “under,” overpowered by, and living in the shadow of Ginger. In the second movie, however, she matures and attempts to take control in every way possible. She regularly injects herself with wolfsbane and tracks the duration of her transformation. She also controls her sexual desires and urges, and also tries to avoid being tracked down by the werewolf my transferring locations. Unlike in the first movie, Brigitte is not tied down to anything nor anyone anymore (Ginger, her family, school), and has learned from her experience with Ginger who was the one who lost control and gave in to the urges. It is ironic, however, that the second film is called “Unleashed” when in fact, the whole movie has been about trying to repress the transformation and ends with Brigitte as a werewolf being trapped in the basement. The appearance of Ginger’s ghost is also interesting because it seems to be on Brigitte’s side by warning her whenever the werewolf is approaching, but also seems to be a temptation to give in to the transformation. The newest and most dynamic character in the story would be Ghost. She volunteers at the rehabilitation center/hospital because of her grandmother who suffered serious burns from a fire (which, apparently, was purposely caused by Ghost). She seems to be everywhere and knows everyone’s business although she isn’t liked by the other girls residing in the hospital. For me, the most interesting scene was when Ghost was being bullied in the television room by the other girls who kept throwing coins at her. It was in that moment that Ghost, who normally appeared to be so confident and all-knowing, was shown as helpless little girl. Another interesting part of this scene was when Brigitte actually defended Ghost, which was not how she responded to when she herself was bullied in high school. In some way, she became the “Ginger” of Ghost.

The werewolf’s intention also got my curiosity because in the first movie, it was Ginger who was the werewolf and seemed to only be after eating/killing people. However, in the second movie, the werewolf was after Brigitte so he could mate her. It made me wonder where these werewolves were from, and if all of them were transformed humans? And what exactly were they after, and why only Brigitte?

The movie also focused on feminism and female empowerment. In this film, all female characters were unique and strong-willed. Brigitte was in control of her life and actions and didn’t let her situation and surroundings trap her, as she still managed a way to do what needed to be done. Ghost was also extremely manipulative and independent, which was most evident when she made a deal with Brigitte that she would help her escape if she allowed her to tag along. It was also evident when they got to Ghost’s cabin and she knew exactly what to do and how to run the whole place on her own. However, what interested me the most was the ending. Although the whole movie revolved around the build up and strengthening of Brigitte’s character, the ending seemed to negate the whole point of it because Ghost trapped her in the basement, allowing her to transform and be trapped with the werewolf. So all of her efforts throughout the whole movie to fight the urge of transformation and running away from the werewolf was put to waste because of Ghost. So there seems to be another role reversal and shift in power, which began with Ginger, to Brigitte, and now to Ghost. Another difference of the second movie from the first is the decrease in the dry sarcastic humorous moments. The second movie seemed to be a little more serious and mature than the first, that it lost its “comic relief,” which was provided by the mother in the first movie. It also left me hanging with a few questions such as, what happened to their mother? And what happened during the time in between the movies, and how did Brigitte end up in the city?

So I can say that I enjoyed the sequel of the film better than the first one because it was deeper and more exciting, since we already knew the context behind the story. It is also interesting to note how there are so many underlying social themes and issues a horror film can contain.

Ginger Snaps

#111259 #gingersnaps

Ginger Snaps was unlike any other movie that I’ve ever watched before. I wouldn’t say that it was my favorite horror movie or even in my top 10, but it was definitely worth seeing and an interesting watch. But I guess I prefer horror movies that tend to lean towards the thriller or psychological side rather than the funny side, or if ever it did try to incorporate humor, I prefer it to be dry humor so as to preserve the horror or serious tone of the movie. But for me, Ginger Snaps can be a good choice if you’re in the mood for some lighthearted humor mixed with sarcasm, fantasy, and gore.

Though I did not really like the humor aspect of the movie, I really liked how Ginger Snaps was able to bring a feminine feel to the usual masculine aura that most werewolf movies exude. The characters of Ginger and Brigitte were able to portray the different emotions and worries that go on inside a girl’s head when she reaches the point of puberty and womanhood. There were feelings of anxiety and doubt on whether they were ready to face the harsh realities of growing up, and dealing with the consequences and challenges of being a soon-to-be adult. They also showed what most prepubescent teens had to deal with when they are at that age like overly eager mothers, out of control hormones, and peer pressure. The movie was able to use the idea of blood as not only a material for cinematic gore or slasher fanatic satisfaction, but also as a psychological tool to feed the fear and uneasiness of the viewers over the more sensitive topics of womanhood and the human body. As a guy watching the film, I’m guessing I would not be able to relate to the idea of having menstruation, and the idea of it would be a whole new different realm to me. There would be times wherein I’d feel uneasy or confused and the feeling of not knowing can scare some people. But for a woman, it would feel a little bit closer to home, and at some point, I actually found it funny because of how much I could relate to it despite of their over exaggeration of the whole idea of menstruation and puberty to the point that they were comparing it to unleashing the beast within you. But I guess that was part of the charm of the movie. It was able to squeeze out different emotions from different viewers depending on how they feel about the topic that it was trying to show. It was able to sort of combine fantasy and reality, and produce a story that actually worked and could appeal as a horror movie to different types of people because of its portrayal of the gore and horror of the human body.

Triangle of Death

#111259 #triangle

Triangle was one of those films that really left the audience talking hours after the end of the film. All throughout, you are left with little clues and different twists that you would be remembering and trying to piece together to be able to make sense of it all. It’s not the typical slasher or ghost horror movie wherein the aim is to scare or make the audience jump in their seats, but instead, a psychological horror movie that at one point, leaves the audience in disbelief and confusion, and the next, clarity and awe. Triangle was a definite roller-coaster ride because it leaves you with different emotions and makes you want to know more to the point that after watching it, you just itch to go to Google and type it on IMDB so you can look for the discussions page and maybe find answers to the multitude of questions that piled up inside your head while watching the film. It was great as a film especially for class because you are able to discuss it with a group afterwards because it’s definitely one of those films that need others’ opinions afterwards.

 

What I also really liked about the movie is that it includes some ideas from Greek mythology. We see the name, “Aeolus” on a number of things throughout the whole movie including the ship and the band that we see at the end of the film, and I liked how it was connected to the movie and to the overall plot. There were resemblances in the story of Aeolus in Greek mythology and the story of Jess in the movie.

1. Aeolus is the god of the winds and one of his sons was Poseidon, god of the seas. The setting of the movie was in a ship in the middle of the ocean after their boat was destroyed by rough winds and seas.
2. Jess’ situation can be likened to what happened to one of Aeolus’ sons, Sisyphus. He was punished for being deceitful and for all his bad deeds, and was doomed to a life of repetition – being compelled to push a huge boulder up to the top of a hill only to watch it roll right back down again and again. This is similar to Jess’ situation because like Sisyphus, she herself has done her fair share of bad deeds; she was an abusive mother to her autistic child and hurt him whenever he misbehaved. Hence, she was doomed to live the rest of her life in a kind of limbo or time loop that makes her experience a series of painful events over and over again.
3. There is also a story wherein Sisyphus is punished because he cheats death and because he failed to keep a promise that he has made. Towards the end of the movie, we see Jess making a promise to the taxi driver that she will be coming back but we all know that she doesn’t because she goes on and rides the yacht to try and save her dead son. The movie can also be connected to the story of the Ferryman and Death wherein if you don’t pay the Ferryman, you are doomed to roam in the River Styx/river of the dead souls for 100 years, never being able to cross or escape it.

Gingersnaps 2

#124722

De Jesus, Cara Gabrielle A.

Most film sequels are typically stereotyped to “suck” or do a lot poorly compared to their predecessors, however Gingersnaps 2 (while not better), still lived up to it’s hype.

In Gingersnaps 2, we meet 1/2 of the Fitzgerald sisters again- Brigitte. Throughout the film, we still see Ginger, taunting and harassing Brigitte as she undergoes changes in her lycan transformation. Similar in the first movie, there are glimpses of what the fledgeling werewolf goes through in their transformation. The sequel stays loyal to the theme of death, angst, and is coupled with darker issues such as substance abuse, mental illness and sex. I liked how the approach towards these topics were slightly more subtle than the last, as the setting of this film was completely different. Mental hospitals are always effective settings for heightening the “creepiness” factor of horror movies and I think in this case it definitely worked to the movie’s advantage. Also, while I found Barbara’s character insignificant, I enjoyed how she was played out as a burn victim because again, it set a really ominious and almost gothic feel to the movie.

Ginger will always be my favorite character in this series and it was nice to know that she was still present and true to her annoying, creepy and bitchy ways. Ghost, a new character introduced in the movie was probably one of the most confusing characters I’ve encountered in all the films we’ve seen in class. At first she looks innocent, naive even, but then as the story progressed we were shown that she is also quite the aggressive one as well. It is revealed that Ghost probably also has some sort of psychotic illness as well, as she is the one who burns Barbara and was also not abused by Tyler (as she previously implied to Brigette).

What I like about this film is that the lead characters have very similar characteristics as Eli in Let The Right One In. There is the representation of the monstrous feminine again, and in this film’s case, it was seen not only in Brigette (a supernatural creature) but also in Ghost, a human, as well. I also liked how the ending was sort of a unexpected plot twist for me since I didn’t expect Ghost to claim ownership of Brigette. I had assumed that she was just interested in forging a bond with her as a friend, but not as a master. The ending does help the audience piece information together as to why Ghost has a very dominant and manipulative side and would be a good premise for another film for the series as well.