User Reviews

This heartfelt film revolves around a family that is disintegrating due to a tragedy, and how they ultimately confront their loss through involvement with a community theatre group. I was blown away by the performances, especially the father and daughter (who are father and daughter in real life).

One of the better movies we've seen. Another twist on Romeo and Juliet with compassion and very well done. Well paced script with the focus on the family that was left. We'd rate this: "get some popcorn and Kleenex and enjoy."

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Messy and real in a way that felt offputting at first, but paid off as we were allowed to learn the story. Gave me the biggest smiles and several moments of tears.

This is by far my favorite movie of the year, out of more than fifty I've watched. Where to begin? And how to proceed without spoiling the thing? One of the attractions of this movie is that I totally couldn't tell where it was going, or even whom to root for. Some of the plot gimmicks were so totally unexpected and yet, by the end, so RIGHT! You owe it to yourself to study this film.

Ghostlight is a little indie film with no budget and a big heart. 10/10 Dad and daughter in real life, Keith Kupferer (Dan) and Katherine Mallen Kupferer (Daisy), play the father and daughter duo in the film. Tara Mallen (Dan’s real-life wife and Katherine’s mother) plays the wife and mother, Sharon. The audience slowly learns the family is dealing with a tragedy that each person copes with in their own desperate way. Daisy, a talented high school actor, is expelled for cursing and disrespect. Her anger is palpable. Dan’s anger is under the surface, like hot lava ready to erupt. Serendipity causes Dan to secretly join a community theater group of misfits staging Romeo and Juliet. Daisy finds out and joins the troupe. What therapy couldn’t achieve, the theater unites the dad and daughter duo. Most importantly, the family moves past the anger stage of grief. Written by Kelly O’Sullivan. Directed by Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson.

Deeply real. As a parent who has lost children, I felt along with the families, the people. Cathartic for me. I’m in circles who have similar experiences -will tell them about the movie. Also, it allowed me to recognize the genius of Shakespeare.

Movies which are about redemption always fascinate me! When a tragedy becomes an unwanted opportunity to find yourself again. Don't miss this gem. It truly is a MUST SEE.

It is very good idea and i think everyone should watch this movie atleast one time

Superrrrrrrrrrrr...Finnneee. l likeeed.....This is very good.................

Good dramatic movie i watched it two times that was goodyouhave too watch it too kkkkkkkkk

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

One of the best dramatic films I've seen in 2024. Great script, uniformly great acting. Will particularly appeal to theatre lovers and to parents.

I took one critic's advice and went in knowing almost nothing about the plot. It was beautiful. I was in tears. One of the most unpretentious and powerful movies I've ever seen about family, love, grief and art. I hope it gets more attention!

IN A NUTSHELL: The story is about a stressed-out construction worker who gets recruited to join a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet. The drama starts to mirror his own life. The film was written by Kelly O’Sullivan, who also co-directed it with Alex Thompson. Already, the film has been nominated for and won awards at several film festivals. Congratulations to the team! THINGS I LIKED: This film does an amazing job blending comedy with drama and tragedy. One of the coolest elements of the movie is that the central family is a family in real life: Keith Kupferer, Tara Mallen, and Katherine Mallen. Speaking of Katherine Mallen, I think she has a bright future in Hollywood. Roles for feisty teens are very popular right now. At the beginning of the movie, we hear the song “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” being sung from the famous classic Broadway hit Oklahoma. My father used to sing that to us kids to wake us up in the morning. My niece sung it at my father’s funeral last year and there was not a dry eye in the house. Later, we hear other lyrics sung in small clips as we learn they have meaning that correlates with the characters. Speaking of tears, be prepared to have tissues while you watch this movie. You WILL laugh and you WILL cry. There were so many moments in the movie when people expressed their rage and impatience with one another, something I have seen more and more in our society. It’s an alarming increase of disrespect people have for others that frightens me about my country. Is it happening where YOU live too? The movie shows a clip of the Leonardo de Caprio version of Romeo and Juliet. Have you seen that one? It’s not until 45 minutes into the movie that we learn there has been a death in the family and we finally understand why each member of the family has been acting in certain ways. The play that the community theater group puts on is “Romeo and Juliet.” The layers of how that story connect with what the characters are experiencing in their lives slowly unfold. I love layers. The movie is very well written and it’s a pleasure to discover the nuggets of wisdom and touching moments in the film. There is an interesting moment in the film where one of the characters sees an image off stage. It’s a bright light but in the shape of a man’s image, making you wonder if it’s the son who died. I’m assuming that is how the movie gets its title. THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE: A lot of time is spent on anger and F-bombs before we begin to understand and appreciate what’s really happening to the characters. TIPS FOR PARENTS: Profanity, including a lot of F-bombs

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

While it connects as authentic and heartfelt, there’s also a sneaky profundity to match. Experiencing that in a theater alongside strangers is a very good thing.