Casper (1994)

Casper is a 1995 live action adaptation of the comic strip by the same name, of the ‘friendly ghost’ that still inhabits the house he grew up in with his father. When a new family move in to try and help the ghostly inhabitants move on, Casper’s Uncle’s make sure this isn’t an easy task.

~

It begins with two children exploring Whipstaff, home to Casper and his Uncles, who enter with trepidation. Our young ghost soon makes himself known, borrowing their camera to take a snap, which prints a photo of their terrified faces as they run screaming. I think this sets the scene perfectly, especially for younger viewers who enjoy the thrill of ghost stories.

~

We move forward to a will reading for the father of Carrigan Crittenden, who anxiously anticipates what she’ll be bestowed with after playing the dutiful daughter at his deathbed. Sadly for her, it becomes apparent most of his wealth has been left to a myriad of charities, her only inheritance a run down manor located in Friendship, Maine. This strongly displeases her and she discards the will papers into a fire, only to notice that there’s a clue on the back, gesturing to something valuable hidden within the walls of her new home.

~

When she and her close friend Dibs go to investigate, they soon get scared off by paranormal activity in the manor, and exhaust a number of options including bulldozing the house and hiring Ghostbuster Ray Stantz, who comically quips ‘Who you gonna call? Someone else!’. Casper sees a documentary about a James Harvey, therapist to the living-impaired, and becomes smitten with his daughter after longing for a friend. He points Carrigan in this direction, who soon hires him to complete the job.

~

Harvey’s daughter Kat struggles to fit into yet another school, and is terrified when first confronted with an actual ghost, never believing her fathers ideas. James himself is riddled with fear when the thing he’s built his career off actually materialises, but they soon learn to live with Casper and even tolerate Stretch, Stinky and Fatso, his prankster relatives who Harvey begins to counsel in his office.

~

When Kat’s schoolmates learn she lives in Whipstaff Manor, she suddenly becomes much more interesting and is the prime choice to host that years Halloween party. Casper reveals to her he has no memory of his life before, and she manages to find his old playroom, restoring it to what it once was. This unlocks some memories and in the loft he finds his sled, reminding him that he died of pneumonia while playing outside in the winter, leaving his father bereft and looking for a way to revive his son.

~

The ‘Ghostly Trio’, also known as Casper’s Uncles, decide to take Dr Harvey out for some drinks to loosen him up, planning to end his life until he makes them feel loved and appreciated in a drunken speech. Meanwhile, Carrigan and Dibs make their move into the house, and are lucky enough to stumble upon Casper showing Kat exactly where this valuable treasure is - a lair beneath the house where Casper’s father did his best inventing, including the Lazarus that can give ghosts a chance at life again.

~

Carrigan steals the potion fuelling the immortality machine, hoping to use it herself, and both her and Dibs try to kill each other for the chance. Dibs is successful, as Crittenden’s car drives over a cliff and she returns as a very angry spirit. They make their way back to the hidden room, breaking into a safe where they find Casper’s treasure, a signed baseball from when he was human. Carrigan launches Dibs out of a window, and Kat manages to trick her into moving into the afterlife.

~

While not intended, Stretch, Stinky and Fatso get their original wish as James falls into a construction site and loses his life. At first he feels free and detached from the real world, until Kat reminds him what he’s left behind. Forfeiting his chance to be alive again, Casper lets Harvey use the last dose of revival potion, as he becomes corporeal again.

~

The Halloween guests arrive upstairs, and the party is soon in full swing. Kat sits despondently on her own, while upstairs Casper is visited by her mother Amelia who grants him humanity for a few hours as repayment for his act of selflessness towards James. He walks down the stairs as ‘Remember Me This Way’ by Jordan Hill plays, moving over to Kat and leading her to the dance floor while she looks perplexed. Everyone stares in awe as she realises who it is and rocks in his embrace.

~

As they dance, Amelia visits James too, something he’s hoped for since her death. She reveals the ghosts he’s been counselling kept their promise and contacted her as a thank you for his support - she gives him some tips for raising Kat and comforts him that they will be reunited again one day. 10pm strikes as she leaves, Casper reverting to his ghostly form as everyone flees in terror.

~

Not only is this a quintessential spooky season watch for me, but it’s also one of my favourite films. It’s so easy to watch and cosy for this time of year, with some amazing CGI effects and great acting, especially from Cathy Moriarty who plays the perfect comic book villain. Christina Ricci is wonderful too alongside Bill Pullman as her father, and Malachi Pearson who lends his voice brilliantly to the title character.

~

I also have to commend the set design, because I don’t think Casper would feel so special if they’d have used a standard house. Everything was built from scratch and it lends to the atmosphere of the film beautifully - and I think the ‘Up and At’em’ machine is one of the most wonderful creations I’ve ever seen. Who wouldn’t want a ride on that?

~

The special features includes one of the longest behind-the-scenes videos I’ve seen, which comically begins with the cast talking about Casper as if he was a real ghost they had to act alongside. This clip gives some good insight into the creative process and just how staggering the sets really were. It seems everyone was thrilled to work on the project. There’s also a deleted scene that wasn’t within budget, which is a shame because it was a musical number, along with some fun games and downloadable content.