After experiencing multiple heartbreaking delays, it seems like Ghostbusters: Afterlife’s release is nearly upon us. As is tradition with any major studio release, Sony Pictures has decided to release a final trailer a week before the movie’s theatrical release – and it certainly is a revealing trailer.
Fans of the ghostbusting franchise will be happy to hear that the spirit – no pun intended – of the original 80s movies seems to be well and mostly intact in Afterlife. There are, however, some key differences that point towards the film being more in line with modern blockbusters.
Unfortunately, as seems to be the norm with final trailers these days, the final Ghostbusters: Afterlife trailer includes a ton of story spoilers. If you’re planning to watch the movie, and prefer to be surprised by every aspect of the movie’s plot, then be aware of the fact that we’ll be discussing spoilers from this point on.
Nostalgia Overload
Right off the gate, the first thing we noticed about Afterlife is that it’s immensely aware of the popularity of the first Ghostbusters movie among fans of the franchise. We’re talking about nostalgia levels that shouldn’t work at all, and yet, it seems like Jason Reitman might be onto something.
More than a simple “remember Ghostbusters?” Afterlife looks and feels like a celebration of all the things that made the original films so great in the first place. The chemistry between the main characters, even if they’re kids this time around, seems to retain some of the dry humour that made Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis so popular in the 80s.
The scene that fans are looking for happens near the end of the trailer: the reveal of the original Ghostbusters team, donning the suits and proton packs no less. Even if their faces don’t show up, we can hear Peter Venkman speaking just as the Ghostbusters theme kicks in.
Higher Stakes
Despite its over-the-top theme, the original Ghostbusters movie never pays too much attention to its action scenes. Afterlife, on the other hand, seems more in line with the style of action-comedy we’ve come to expect from the MCU.
Everything seems to be louder in Afterlife than it was in the original movie. Even Gozer’s dogs make a comeback, and they appear to be more agile and fearsome than they were in 1984.
The quick look we got at the climax of the movie also makes it look like we’ll be getting another confrontation between the Ghostbusters and Gozer – something that, again, could be great from a closure point of view.
Resurrecting “Ghostbusters III”
For a few years, a script for a film called Ghostbusters III: Hellbent made the rounds around the movie industry. In this proposed third entry for the franchise, the Ghostbusters visit a hellish version of Manhattan, creatively titled Manhellton, where they eventually meet the Devil.
While it seems like the original idea for Hellbent has been completely abandoned, some minuscule parts of the script remain in Afterlife. For starters, the trailer begins with a quote from the Book of Revelation about the impending Judgement Day.
It seems like Ghostbusters’ Afterlife might be the most fun entry in the franchise so far, and seeing the original team back together for another round is the perfect way to pay tribute to one of the most influential movies ever made.
Ghostbusters’ Afterlife arrives in South African cinemas on 19th November 2021.
