I saw Johnny Ghost at a festival in Minneapolis and loved it! The film is moody and atmospheric with a fantastic soundtrack. Without giving much away, its about a woman (a music teacher and performer) haunted and hindered by people and events of her past. The opening sequences are exceptionally strong; they draw you in and set up the film beautifully. I really liked the pacing and storytelling which worked perfectly to reveal the story and the main character's complexity and torment. The lead actor gives a really strong performance, she wears a lot of her struggle on her face, and it's an interesting, emotive and watchable face. I found myself immersed as the film moved between scenes of her daily ritualistic repetitions, to small interactions which give us a clearer picture of how she copes, to hypnotic flashbacks. It weaves back and forth from the past to present, the past being played out in the music scene in the post punk era, which lends an unexpected edge and mystery to our protagonist. I found the film to be surprisingly beautiful and emotional, an uncommon mix of subtle and strong, and would recommend it highly.
