After over 30 years, Ghostbusters finally returned home to New York City. Ghostbusters is forever written into pop culture, along with their iconic car the Ecto-1 and returning to New York makes it feel complete and like a full-circle moment. In this franchise, New York City is like another live character with its recognizable landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty in “Ghostbusters 2” (1989) and the Manhattan Museum of Art for “Ghostbusters” (1984), and the library lions coming to life in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024). This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Ghostbusters franchise as well as the powerful theme song by Ray Parker Jr, which was also nominated for an Oscar in 1984 for best original song.
WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER: If you say that something will happen when hell freezes over, you mean that it will never happen.
The Spengler’s including Egon’s daughter Callie (Carrie Coon), grandson Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and granddaughter Pheobe (Mckenna Grace) along with Gary Grooberson played by the ever green Paul Rudd, have all moved back to New York City to live back at the Firehouse and take up the mantel of being Ghostbusters. Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) who is now a successful businessman/philanthropist and billionaire bought the Firehouse and everything in it, and is currently funding research on the paranormal at his facilities. This includes creating a larger and alternative containment unit to keep the ghosts in, but during this research they unknowingly release an ancient demonic cryokinetic deity from an ancient relic, who has been trapped for centuries named Garraka. Unfortunately, the demon has the power to control other ghosts and therefore begins to bring back the Ice Age to a Summer themed New York City. This installment seems to really use the vibe of the original animated series “The Real Ghostbusters” from the 80’s and “Extreme Ghostbusters” in the 90’s, which were both dark themed and edgy, and kept true to the mythology.
In an Interview with Empire Magazine, Director Gil Kenan talked about The Real Ghostbusters influences on the movie below:
“We wanted to bring that show’s looseness and fearlessness to this movie. I think it’s going to surprise people just how big this film is.“
Producer and Co-Writer Jason Reitman also commented adding John Hughes 80’s classic movies as a influence in the same interview:
“John Hughes was a big touchstone. That thing of a family in a station wagon, living in a crumbling home, the teenagers kicking back against their parents. (Finn Wolfhard’s) Trevor’s 18 now, so he’s like, ‘I’m an adult!’”
Lucky (Celeste O’ Connor) is an intern at Winston’s research center for the summer while Podcast (Logan Kim) is learning under Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) at his supernatural occults store. When things begin to get out of hand, we see the reunion and return of Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) and Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) to help a new generation of Ghostbusters along with all the originals. We also see the return of the Ghostbusters arch-nemesis Walter Peck (William Atherton) whom ironically is now Mayor of New York City trying to be a menace to the Ghostbusters.
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