‘Ghost Game’ (2024)

A haunted house horror thriller, ‘Ghost Game’ follows Laura (Kia Dorsey) and Vin (Zaen Haidar) a couple partaking in a prank/game of sorts, whereby they enter a house unbeknownst to the occupants, sneak around and film their escapades whilst avoiding the people that live there. Getting a tip that the fabled haunted Halton House will soon pass to its new owners, Laura and Vin get more than they bargain for when infiltrating the old and creepy manor.

Opening on Vin discovering Laura’s escapades by accident, the two are revealed to be a fairly new couple. Having just moved in together, Vin finds out Laura has been partaking in ‘ghost games’ with Adrien (Sam Lukowski), much to his dismay. Besides the thrill of breaking and entering, Laura admires the mysterious Mr. Wattley, another individual playing ‘ghost games’, setting records for lasting the longest in houses without being detected, and abiding by the strict rules of the game.

Having only just learned of the practice, Vin insists on going to Halton House with Laura even though he is not sure about the venture. In turn, Laura is forced to turn her back on Adrien and cancel their plans to take the house together.

Once there, they snoop around, finding out that the homeowners will be there that night, allowing the two to disturb their things and film content. Surprised by his presence, Adrien had decided to go to Halton House as well, as he had initially forged the plan with Laura. Undeterred, the three go ahead with their plans to creep around the manor.

Seasoned horror film viewers may have been baited to see ‘Ghost Game’ via its unique premise. For once, the allure of the haunted house is not simply its dark and sordid past, rather the interest and mystery is derived from the people playing a twisted game with the unwitting inhabitants of whatever house happens to fall prey to their ventures.

Allowing for moments of intrigue, the film presents a vague suggestion towards an actual supernatural presence within the house. Without really taking the premise anywhere however, the story resolves by concluding that the ominous happenings had just been the collective work of 'Mr. Wattley'. Uncovered as a group of individuals rather than one single person, the group of ‘ghost game’ participants prepare to admonish Laura and Vin, as they have not been adhering to the rules of the ‘ghost game.’

Perhaps ramping up a little too late in the game, the film stammers and fails to get started well into it’s second act. The characters don’t face any actual threats or challenges until very late into the game, mostly resorting to stunted and awkward dialogue that adds little to the story as a whole.

The last 15 minutes or so of the film do kick it into high gear, yet the action becomes far too chaotic and rushed to be enjoyable. With the reveal of 'Mr. Wattley' being a collective, the film delivers a twist that falls flat and feels unimportant. Lacking in sustained tension throughout the feature, ‘Ghost Game’ fails to deliver suspense that would culminate in any significant form, mostly feeling dull throughout and concluding on the same.

Delivering little in terms of character development, each participant feels drab. Without any highlights amongst the group, the actors present an indistinct collective of players, each without clear motivation or drive, resulting in a tiring and inconsequential venture.

By all counts an uneventful misfire, ‘Ghost Game’ wastes what little it had in terms of a singular premise and the film fails to form a solid foundation for the story, fizzling out to conclude on an unsurprising twist. Uninspiring and too slow to incite any sense of fear, ‘Ghost Game’ is not worth playing.

Score: 0/4