Halloween is a season full of cherished customs, including costumes, candy, and, of course, movies. Even though October is dominated by horror movies, some of the best scary season movies are actually more whimsical. ‘Hocus Pocus’ and Tim Burton’s family-friendly classics are still beloved by fans, but recent years have seen a decline in the number of Halloween movies that are lighthearted.
‘Girl Haunts Boy’ can help with that.
Based on Cesar Vitale’s book, it combines sentimental themes with ghosts and curses to give the frightening rom-com genre a new twist.
The main character of the movie is Bea (played by Peyton List), a naughty adolescent from the 1920s who dies and becomes confined in her family’s house after stealing a piece of a cursed ring. In the present, Bea encounters Cole (Michael Cimino), a teenager who is mourning the loss of his father. Their relationship swiftly blossoms into romance, providing a distinctive interpretation of the well-known cliche of a human and ghost falling in love.
Image Courtesy: What’s on Netflix
Although there are similarities between Casper and Bea in ‘Girl Haunts Boy’, Bea and Cole’s relationship is far more complex. After decades of loneliness, Cole gives Bea a sense of belonging while Bea teaches Cole to appreciate life, and they both aid in one other’s healing. Because of Bea’s curse and spectral presence, their relationship is both joyful and tense. Can they have a future together? The stakes are great.
The picture gains depth via Michael Cimino’s portrayal of Cole, a lonely and sorrowful teenager. It is heartbreaking that he finds it difficult to let go of Bea even though he knows she deserves to be free.
With Bea and Cole parting ways, the movie concludes on a bittersweet note, leaving Cole to deal with his own loss and grief. The film’s message—that you never really move on from loss but learn to live with it and treasure the memories—is eloquently conveyed by Cimino’s performance.
–Farheen Ali