Christopher Landon is primarily known for his horror comedies, but he started his career as a screenwriter and worked on several hits such as “Disturbia (2007)” and “Paranormal Activity 2, 3, and 4” before venturing into the directing field. His recent releases, such as “Happy Death Day” (2017) and its sequel “Happy Death Day 2U” (2019), along with “Freaky” (2020), have been well received by both critics and audiences alike. Landon’s latest film, “We Have a Ghost,” will be released on Netflix by February 24th. The film follows Kevin (Anthony Mackie) as he discovers that his new house is inhabited by a ghost named Ernest (David Harbour). He quickly becomes an internet sensation after his video with Ernest goes viral. If you’re looking for similar horror comedies, then try seven of these movies that have a similar theme to “We Have a Ghost.”
Housebound (2014)
After a failed attempt at stealing from an ATM, teenager Kylie Bucknell (Morgana O’Reilly) is sentenced to 8 months of house arrest under the care of her estranged mother at her childhood home. Kylie is annoyed when her mother, Miriam (Rima Te Wiata), reveals that her house is haunted, but she soon starts to suspect that something sinister is going on. Written and directed by Gerard Johnstone, credited for his brilliant sci-fi thriller “M3GAN (2022),” “Housebound” is praised for its perfect balance of horror and comedy. The production design of the house is stunningly spooky, which adds to the overall creepiness of the film, along with a plot that keeps the audience on their toes with its twists and turns.
What We Do In The Shadows (2014)
Before Taika Waititi was making waves in Hollywood, he was creating one hit after another in his home country. Directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, this New Zealand horror comedy is a surprise package that manages to breathe new life into the stagnating vampire genre. The movie follows a group of vampires living under the same roof as they tackle the intricacies of modern life while also exploring the subcultures of werewolves, witches, and zombies in the region. The film is filled with hilarious moments, and the simplistic “documentary” style cinematography gives the film an air of real life. The performances from almost all of the cast are simply delightful. Waititi is cleverly perceptive of the type of humour he’s going for and delivers a stunningly original movie with clever situational comedy not unlike “The Office.”
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
“Jennifer’s Body” is an underrated gem. The movie was critically panned on its release but has managed to garner quite a fan following over the years. The film follows high schooler Jennifer (Megan Fox), who started murdering her male classmates after a failed satanic ritual turns her into a succubus. Her friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) seems like the only person who is able to stop the mayhem. The film has a surprisingly mature character development for a horror film; Jennifer is a tragic yet sympathetic character and is acted to perfection by Megan Fox, and the relationship between Needy and her boyfriend Chip is genuinely heartwarming. The movie is also praised for its stunning cinematography, spooky set pieces, and dark humor.
Deadstream (2022)
Directed by Joseph and Vanessa Winter, “Deadstream” follows Shawn, a disgraced YouTuber who plans to win back his ruined reputation by live-streaming from an alleged haunted house. Things go awry when he accidentally provokes a vengeful spirit residing in the house. The movie is almost entirely seen through Shawn’s camera. This follows the found-footage horror formula and works well for the premise. The film also delves into the egocentric world of internet celebrities and their need to be the centre of attention. The scares are decent enough, while the humour doesn’t land as much. The finale gets murkier and more violent towards the end, taking on an Evil Dead approach, albeit without Sam Raimi’s skill behind the camera or his slapstick humor, but the film’s dedication to its premise warrants a watch here.
Ghostbusters (1984)
This 1980s classic is one of the most famous horror comedies of all time and has gone on to inspire various sequels and reimaginings over the years. Directed by Ivan Reitman, the movie follows a group of recently unemployed men who start an organisation called “Ghostbusters” to fight the ghosts hiding in New York City. “Ghostbuster” is a fun, over-the-top comedy with bombastic set pieces of citywide destruction. Some of the visuals may seem dated now, but the use of practical puppets for a few of the monsters is still respected even today. The movie is full of satirical jokes about politics, religion, and general pop culture. Some of the jokes may not land all the time, and the pacing of the film has plenty of room for improvement, but if you can look past these small flaws, “Ghostbusters” is a fun movie with good humour, cool monsters, and some great performances.
Casper (1995)
Paranormal expert James Harvey (Bill Pullman), along with her daughter Kat (Christina Ricci), move to an old mansion to drive out the ghosts living in it. Things get complicated when Kat befriends one of the ghosts, Casper (Malachi Pearson). It is the first film to cast a completely CGI character in a lead role (the ghost of Casper). The story here is on the darker side for a kids’ movie, but the central characters of Casper and Kat (Christina Ricci in one of her standout performances) help to bring some much-needed charm to the movie, and their friendship forms the core of the film. Along with some good performances from Bill Pullman and some much-welcomed cameos from stars such as Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson, among others, “Casper” is an entertaining movie for kids and adults alike.
Ghost Town (2008)
After surviving a near-death experience, Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais), a deeply introverted man, realises that he now has the ability to see and interact with ghosts. This turns out to be a huge nuisance as these ghosts pester him for favours. Ricky Gervais elevates an otherwise run-of-the-mill romantic comedy with his charismatic performance. The supernatural elements of the movie don’t feel as authentic as you would like them to be, but then again, Ricky Gervais’s dark, wry humour and mannerisms take centre stage here, making it a watchable film with a fun concept.
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