Ghostwritten sets up a potentially fun premise that springs up often in horror but is always difficult to pull off correctly. Guy Laury (Jay Duplass, Percy Jackson and the Olympians) has not been able to write a successful novel since his one hit eight years ago. His publisher decides sending him to an isolated house for a two month stay may help him. He soon begins to hear strange sounds and decides to investigate what he now thinks is a haunted house.
Duplass is fantastic as the writer who is desperately trying to live up to the promise of his first novel. This sense of angst is replaced with the need to discover what is happening. Though it is two differing emotions both show the drive that fills Jay. It is a nice job of giving insight into a dynamic character.
Ghostwritten is filled with strong performances and the acting is tremendous as the entire cast delivers. No one seems underwritten or superfluous as even the smallest parts add something to the overall story that is being told. It is the rare movie in which everyone is important in one fashion or another.
The already strong story is aided by the visual flair of writer-director Thomas Matthews. Shot mainly in black and white, occasional moments of color add to the haunting atmosphere. Ghostwritten may have one twist too many, but great acting and a gripping old school ghost story will keep audiences watching.
Ghostwritten is available On Demand February 9
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