We Have A Ghost Ending Explained, Review, Plot, and More
by A Maria
Updated Apr 26, 2023
We Have A Ghost
"In February 2023, Netflix released a horror comedy movie titled "We Have a Ghost," which was based on Geoff Manaugh's 2017 short story "Ernest" and written and directed by Christopher Landon. David Harbour, Jahi Winston, Tig Notaro, Jennifer Coolidge, and Anthony Mackie starred in the film. Although the movie received mixed reviews from critics, it had been announced in July 2021 with Christopher Landon as the writer and director, and Geoff Manaugh serving as an executive producer."
We Have A Ghost Ending Explained
Monroe experiences a change of heart and decides to set Ernest free. Meanwhile, the real Ernest, who is now suspicious, breaks into Presley's house to kill Kevin out of fear that he will reveal the truth. This leads to a tense confrontation with the family.
In the attic, the real Ernest discloses the whole story to Kevin. Just as he is about to harm Kevin, the ghost of Ernest, also known as Randy, materializes to offer assistance. Suddenly, Frank appears and attacks the real Ernest, pushing him out of the window and saving his son.
Later, the CIA interrogates Kevin about the whereabouts of Ernest/Randy's ghost. Kevin claims he has vanished, but we see that Frank has found June and brought her back to reunite with her father's ghost in an emotional moment of closure for everyone.
In the final scene, Kevin and the ghost-Ernest/Randy are seen skipping stones on the shore. However, ghost of Ernest/Randy begins to fade away. Later, the Presley family prepares to relocate, and Kevin and Joy become an official couple. In the attic, Kevin wonders if ghost Ernest/Randy can still observe them from wherever he is, and Joy suggests that perhaps he can. As they exit the attic, a bare bulb flickers after a brief moment of stillness.
We Have A Ghost Cast
CAST
CHARACTER
Anthony Mackie
Frank Presley
David Harbour
Ernest
Jahi Winston
Kevin Presley
Tig Notaro
Dr. Leslie Monroe
Erica Ash
Melanie Presley
Jennifer Coolidge
Judy Romano
Faith Ford
Barbara Mangold
Niles Fitch
Fulton Presley
Isabella Russo
Joy Yoshino
Scott A Martin
Sheriff Brown
Steve Coulter
Deputy Director Arnold Schipley
Jo-Ann Robinson
June
Tom Bower
Ernest Scheller
We Have A Ghost Plot
One year prior, the previous homeowners left their house in a panic. When the Presleys are shown the property, the real estate agent is doubtful of the low price and cautions them about recent drops in housing prices. On their first night in the new home, Kevin hears noises emanating from the attic and goes to investigate.
He comes across a ghost, but his attempt to scare it off fails. The ghost disappears when Kevin laughs, and he returns to the attic to converse with the ghost, whom he names Ernest based on the name on his bowling shirt. The ghost has no recollection of his life when he was alive. Kevin's older brother, Fulton, finds a video of Kevin interacting with Ernest, which their father Frank uses to create a YouTube channel to prove that the house is haunted.
While in high school, Kevin meets Joy, who informs him that the house is notorious as the "House of Death" due to its abandoned condition. After the video of Ernest goes viral, Joy and Kevin cross paths at the library. Joy discovers that Ernest S., the previous occupant of the house from '65 to '71, lived there, but is not the ghost.
Judy Romano, a medium from West Bay cable TV, comes to film Ernest, but Kevin scares off the crew with clips from horror movies. Ernest frightens Judy, and Frank is enraged with Kevin and Ernest, but he quickly capitalizes on the haunting and disregards Kevin's warnings. Joy convinces Kevin to take Ernest to a bar once owned by the previous homeowner to try and trigger his memory.
As they begin to uncover the truth about Ernest's past, they find a photograph of him with the previous owner of the house and a little blonde girl at the park who gives Ernest hazy flashbacks. Unfortunately, Ernest inadvertently scares the child, causing the public to believe he is malevolent.
Dr. Leslie Monroe, a horror author, visits Frank and Mel and tells them about a prior CIA program she headed called Wizard Clip, which was designed to capture ghosts. When she attempts to persuade them that Ernest is dangerous, Frank tosses her out. The viral video of Ernest at the park puts the CIA into action.
They break into the Presley home, but Kevin, Joy, and Ernest have already departed for Oklahoma to find the previous homeowner. Ernest S. identifies Ernest as Randy, the brother-in-law of Ernest S.'s wife, Ramona. Randy became an alcoholic, unable to cope with his wife's passing from childbirth.
He left his four-year-old daughter with them and vanished. The couple never planned to have children initially, as they enjoyed traveling, but instead continued to raise their niece, June. Ernest reveals himself, and the CIA moves in. Back home, Frank apologizes to Kevin, acknowledging that he has been selfish at the family's expense.
In the CIA facility, an aggressive agent triggers Ernest's memory with a pin. During a visit to the house, Ramona carried June away while Ernest S. killed Randy with a blow to the head. Ernest S. shows up at the house to murder Kevin, thinking he is assisting ghost Ernest in seeking revenge. He discloses that when Randy's wife passed away.
We Have A Ghost Review
"We Have a Ghost" is a supernatural horror comedy film written and directed by Christopher Landon, based on the short story "Ernest" by Geoff Manaugh. The film stars David Harbour, Jahi Winston, Tig Notaro, Jennifer Coolidge, and Anthony Mackie. The movie was released by Netflix on February 24, 2023, and received mixed reviews from movie critics.
Some critics praised the film's humor and inventive take on the haunted house genre, while others found it to be uneven and overly reliant on genre cliches. The performances of the cast were generally well-received, with particular praise given to David Harbour's portrayal of the ghost, Ernest/Randy.
Despite its mixed reviews, "We Have a Ghost" has been noted for its unique blend of horror and comedy and its fresh approach to the haunted house trope. Fans of horror-comedy may find this movie to be a refreshing addition to the genre.
We Have A Ghost Overview
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Directed by
Christopher Landon
Screenplay by
Christopher Landon
Based on
"Ernest"
by Geoff Manaugh
Starring
Distributed by
Netflix
Release date
February 24, 2023
Running time
127 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
We Have A Ghost Ending Explained - FAQs
"We Have a Ghost" is a supernatural horror comedy film written and directed by Christopher Landon, based on the short story "Ernest" by Geoff Manaugh from 2017. The film stars David Harbour, Jahi Winston, Tig Notaro, Jennifer Coolidge, and Anthony Mackie.
"We Have a Ghost" was released on February 24, 2023.
The film was written and directed by Christopher Landon, based on the short story by Geoff Manaugh. Manaugh served as an executive producer. The film stars David Harbour, Jahi Winston, Tig Notaro, Jennifer Coolidge, and Anthony Mackie. The film was distributed by Netflix.
The plot of "We Have a Ghost" revolves around a family who moves into a new house and discovers that it is haunted by a friendly ghost named Ernest. However, as they try to uncover Ernest's past and help him remember his life, they also attract the attention of the CIA and a vengeful spirit who wants to harm them.
"We Have a Ghost" received mixed reviews from movie critics.