The Ghost Within (2023) – Movie Review
Margot Richardson can’t escape nightmarish visions of her facially deformed sister murdered by her father long ago. She desperately struggles to find meaning by returning to her abandoned childhood home.
“The Ghost Within” is a return to an old-fashioned mystery surrounding a haunted house with a tortured soul reaching out to avenge her murder 20 years past.
| Director(s) | Lawrence Fowler |
| Screenplay By: | Geoff Fowler and Lawrence Fowler |
| Date released (In Theatres) | March 17, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Horror, Mystery, Thriller |
| Duration | 1 hours and 43 minutes |
| Content Rating | No Rating |
| Noted Cast | |
| Margot Richardson | Michaela Longden |
| Evie | Rebecca Phillipson |
| Mason Richardson | Tom Millen |
| James Knightley | Victor Mellors |
| Barton Bailey | Simon Davies |
| Greta | Sarah Alexandra Marks |
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Summary/Review
“The Ghost Within” is reminiscent of a classic old-fashioned haunted house ghost story. The pacing of this film is slow and deliberate, interlaced with some jump scares, but it is not in service of indulgent graphic kills. This is a worthy watch for classic horror film enthusiasts.
The story focuses on a troubled young married woman, Margot Richardson (Michaela Longden), with a memory block plagued by vision/dreams of her facially deformed sister murdered 20 years past in her childhood by her self-confessed father, who was killed in prison. Her therapist feels she is regressing and warns that if she doesn’t get a handle on her mental stability, she may have to return to an asylum. In an attempt to stave off this eventuality, she feels strong enough to face her fears and returns to her abandoned childhood estate home to hopefully trigger the awakening of her repressed memories.
The pacing of this film is slow, sometimes too much so, with a good number of scenes dedicated to Margot incredulously left alone by her husband, Mason Richardson (Tom Millen), to explore atmospheric dimly lit long ago abandoned rooms with not much in the reveal of their significance. The pacing is quickened with the introduction of a father and son duo of paranormal debunkers/investigators. Most true horror enthusiasts will be able to figure out the murder mystery before the reveal.
This film is not for horror enthusiasts looking for hard-core graphic scares. This is a slow burn with a fairly decent and compelling enough story. The true ghost within lies in Margot’s repressed memories locked away inside her versus the physical manifestation of her murdered sister’s ghost. Some memories should not be drudged up as there may be devastating and deadly repercussions in wait. The acting was not remarkable, but it is a worthy watch, albeit not memorable.
Things To Note
Why Is “The Ghost Within” Unrated (British Film Release)
• Dialog: some mild profanity
• Violence: bloody attacks by a hideous ghost
• Sexual Content: There is no nudity and or sexual reference
• Miscellaneous: no drugs, drinking of wine
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Margot Richardson
Anxiety-ridden and troubled young woman suffering from memory loss plagued by disturbing visions/dreams revolving around the 20 years past murder of her adolescent facially deformed sister by her self-confessed father.
Mason Richardson
Unfaithful self-absorbed, cheating husband of Margot Richardson with plans to leave his wife for another woman with whom he works and have his wife committed to claim her inheritance.
Evie
Malicious and vengeful ghost apparition with murderous intent.
James Knightly
A young man that works with his father, Barton Bailey as a paranormal investigator as a result of having visitations by the ghostly spirit of his dead mother who wants to help Margot with proof in her assertions.
Barton Bailey
A respected debunker of claims of mysteries attributed to paranormal activities working with his son James Knightly, both of whom were once believers.
Greta
Self-absorbed young woman with designs on stealing Margot Richardson’s husband Mason for her own.
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