Ghostbusters: Afterlife Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 27, 2022

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the end product of literally decades of effort to return the fan-favorite Ghostbusters franchise to the big screen. Following on the classic original and the serviceable sequel, work was underway for a third picture that, for any number of reasons (a quick web search will point to several), never materialized. Ignoring the awful reboot-thing, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the sequel the franchise needed, a true torch passing picture that is well versed in both franchise mythos and well capable or forging its own identity and path forward for the Ghostbusters universe.

Callie (Carrie Coon), mother of Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), has just learned that her father has passed away. She never had much of a relationship with him, and neither have her children. Broke and desperate, they leave their broken life in the city for the old, run-down farm he has left them. As they try to make the best of their new life, the children quickly discover that all is not right with the house, or the town. The gradually piece together that the truth that their grandfather was a Ghostbuster, that he has left various tools of the trade behind, and that a powerful, long-dormant evil exists just beyond the realm of reality where the family's destiny awaits.

Following on that aforementioned 2016 film, most anything with a pulse and the Ghostbusters name on it would be an upgrade. This is an upgrade, and then some (quite a bit "some," actually). Afterlife just nails it. The filmmakers could not have made a much better movie to cross the streams and bridge the gap between the 80s version and today. The pacing is right, the story is right, the characters are right, and the level of connection to the original film is just right. This is, in many ways, the Ghostbusters franchise answer to The Force Awakens (may whatever follows be better than The Last Jedi!). Afterlife is touching and fun. Its characters are unique yet...familiar without necessarily hiding the familiarity. It knows its franchise history and lore and builds upon the Ghostbusters universe in tasteful ways. The picture refuses to dabble, never mind swim, in nonsensical stabs at needless humor. That is not to say the film is humorless, but it doesn't push for the sake of pushing. Everything about it is just right.

Is this a perfect movie? No, not really. Is this a perfect Ghostbusters continuation now almost four decades removed from the original? Absolutely yes. Afterlife is very conscious about what made the original a success (and what made the 2016 film a mess) and is cognizant to build on that success rather than supplant it or, worse redefine it. The connections to the original are many but they are not forced. The various references to the original film -- some large, some small, some obvious, some tucked away in backgrounds, some making an appearance almost right out of the gate, some waiting until the final minutes -- make sense in the larger context, and the smaller ones are just nice background pleasantries. It's difficult to break it all down without approaching major spoiler territory but suffice it to say that a good memory for, or a recent watch of, the original film is a must, not only to get a grasp on how this plot connects to that plot but to marvel at how well young star Mckenna Grace inhabits the essence of her counterpart character, and not just because she wears a similar-looking pair of glasses. The entire cast is terrific, and they get to act and have fun, not just wait around for the next brain-dead gag. This is a refreshing film and everything Ghostbusters fans could have wanted to wash the bad taste of the 2016 film away while celebrating everything that's so good about the original.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife arrives on Blu-ray with a rock-solid 1080p transfer. There are practically no points for complaint here. The digital source is free of all but the finest noise and encode issues are next to nonexistent. The picture is sharp and crisp, revealing exceptionally vivid and stable textures around town and the farm. Various Ghostbusting equipment -- new and old alike -- thrives for textural clarity and intimate detail, particularly the older objects which show plenty of age and use related wear and tear. Faces are complex and clear, and so are clothes. Colors are vivid and bold. Notable are the intensely bright proton pack streams, the various swirling ghostly colors, and other high intensity tones. Clothes and other grounded colors are just as good as they are. Whites are crisp, blacks are deep, and flesh tones are accurate. This is a thoroughly enjoyable 1080p image from Sony.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

It ain't afraid of no bass. Sony brings Ghostbusters: Afterlife to Blu-ray with a potent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation could not be more intense and satisfying at this configuration. The opening sequence alone is reference worthy for not only low-end extension but also for the wild surround usage, high energy score, and overall clarity. All of these elements hold throughout. The track is never wanting for more power, more immersion, more detail. Everything is in perfect working order, balance is superb, and the level of sonic excitement can barely be matched by any other soundtrack. Add in perfectly configured dialogue and this one is one of the best 5.1 tracks ever to be heard.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife contains several extras. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• Summoning the Spirit: Making Ghostbusters: Afterlife (1080p, 19:50): Jason Reitman looks at the original idea, explores the original film's magic, making use of old-fashioned special effects, characters and performances, locations and production design, costumes, and more.
• The Gearhead's Guide to Ghostbusters Gadgets (1080p, 6:12): Looking at some of the iconic props and some new to this film.
• Special Effects: The Ghosts of Afterlife (1080p, 6:29): Exploring the film's new ghost as well as some returning characters: purpose, design, and how they were made.
• Bringing Ecto-1 Back to Life (1080p, 4:49): Reviving the franchise's famous car nearly four decades later.
• We Got One! Easter Eggs Revealed (1080p, 7:49): A look at all of the obvious, and not so obvious, secrets the filmmakers have put into the film.
• Ghostbusters: A Look Back (1080p, 10:37): Cast and crew reflect on the original film.
• A Look Ahead (1080p, 3:44): Another quick look at connecting this film to the previous films.
• Deleted Scene (1080p, 1:24): Is It Ever Too Late?
• Previews (1080p): Additional Sony titles.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife doesn't necessarily scream out for a sequel -- it doesn't end with an obvious push for another movie -- but it is certainly fixed in a comfortable position where a new generation of films might reasonably be born. As this film develops and ends, there's plenty of opportunity for a few interesting directions and turns for an Afterlife sequel to take. Everything is in place for the possibility of something special. Sony's Blu-ray release of Afterlife features superb video and audio presentations and a nice assortment of extra content. Highly recommended.