The 2023 American horror-comedy film Forever Home combines the supernatural with biting irony, a hallmark of Sean Oliver’s directorial work. The film is lighthearted and humorous, yet soaked with horror themes, attempting to subvert the audience’s expectations of haunted houses in horror films. It aims to deliver thrills and chuckles in equal measure over its 1 hour and 55 minutes runtime.

Plot Overview

As Jules and Ryan, a young couple in love, sink all their life savings into their ‘dream house,’ little do they know the house is home to several ghosts. Ranging from helpful to mischievous, the ghosts are intent on spending time with their new owners. To help them get their house back, Ryan and Jules call upon the services of medium Meg. She, however, cannot help but make things worse with her hedge ‘witch’ magic – messing with séances and otherworldly advice. From side-splitting antics to hilarious chaos, the couple must navigate the narrative while grappling with a dark truth threatening their existence.

Cast

Sammie Lideen as Jules. One half of the couple facing the uniquely stressful duality of owning a new home – and a murderous ghost.

Drew Leatham as Ryan. Jules’ partner who miraculously has remained alive and is equally committed to transforming a house into a warm home.

Alison Campbell as Meg. The all knowing witch whose annoyed but skilled magic causes the couple more trouble than she intended.

Michael DeCamp as The Dead Man: One of the numerous ghosts that occupies the premises.

Shelly Boucher as Peggy: Someone relevant to the narrative’s intricate dark motives stemming from the location.

Cody Hunt as Max: A friend or business partner who has a role in the accretion of events.

The ensemble cast incorporates a blend of fresh faces alongside established actors which adds unique flavor to the film.

Themes and Style

Forever Home marries the elements of a haunted house tale with comedic features for a lighthearted story that is both spooky and funny. The film satirizes issues of homeownership, commitment, reckoning with the past, all laced with humor and fright. The inclusion of various ghostly characters adds depth and variety to the supernatural encounters, moving beyond the typical malevolent spirit narrative.

Reception

The film has been met with mixed reviews from fans and critics. Some audiences liked the unique blend of horror and comedy the film had to offer, praising its creativity and charm. A review from Morbidly Beautiful, for example, described the film as “full of humor, charm, and heart.”

On the contrary, some criticized the pacing and dialogue, among other factors.

An IMDb user reported that “the dialogue was clunky, and just didn’t come off as natural,” which indicates that the concept was clearly there, but the implementation fell short.

Final thoughts

Forever Home is a unique blend of horror and comedy as it additionally seeks to comment on love, commitment, and the difficulties of home ownership while offering a fresh twist on the haunted house trope. Not everyone may enjoy this film, but those craving a lighthearted spooky engagement may appreciate it. As with many films that balance creepy and comical elements, personal taste is bound to have the strongest impact on how one enjoys the movie.