The beloved British sitcom *Ghosts*, which centered on a quirky group of spirits haunting a countryside mansion near Hemel Hempstead, has made its transition to the big screen with *Ghosts: The Possession of Button House*. Directed by Simon Hynd, the 2023 film retains much of the original show’s warmth and humor while expanding the story beyond the confines of the haunted estate.
The television series, which concluded earlier in 2023, was praised for its inventive comedy and appeal to family audiences, standing out among recent hits for its live-action format. The film, however, challenges the premise that ghosts are trapped within Button House, as it introduces a new narrative device in which the spirits can possess the bodies of living people, allowing them to interact with the outside world.
The first ghost to test this new ability is Julian Fawcett, a fictional Tory MP portrayed by Simon Farnaby. Julian’s spirit inhabits Jack, a hoodie-wearing teenager played by Scott Ellis Watson. The humor of the film draws heavily from Julian’s out-of-time perspective, highlighted by his comic exclamations upon experiencing modern clothing and culture, a stark contrast to his 1993-era mindset when he died amid scandal.
This premise creates a situation reminiscent of body-swap comedies, with several scenes featuring the ghost actors performing as their characters now in the bodies of their human hosts. While some viewers might find this switching between actors and characters disorienting, it provides clear comedic moments. Scenes such as Kitty, a Georgian noblewoman played by Lolly Adefope, and Thomas, a Romantic-era poet portrayed by Matthew Baynton, struggling to ride bicycles exemplify the film’s blend of historical characterisation with present-day scenarios.
The storyline itself is relatively straightforward. The living couple, Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe), have vacated Button House, which is slated for redevelopment into a golf resort. This has attracted protests from hippie activists, humorously dubbed “smelly jugglers” by Julian. However, the plot primarily serves as a framework to reunite the ensemble cast, now given the opportunity to physically interact with the world around them.
A recurring comedic thread follows Pat, a scout leader played by Jim Howick, as he attempts to finally secure a Scotch egg, a quest emblematic of the film’s light-hearted tone. Overall, *Ghosts: The Possession of Button House* offers fans of the series a chance to revisit beloved characters in a fresh setting while maintaining the show’s signature blend of humor and affection.