Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

After the events in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (2021), where we saw the Spengler family, along with the three remaining ghostbusters, contend with the demon who had first tried to conquer the world in the original “Ghostbusters” (1984), they make the move from Oklahoma to become New York ghostbusters. Financially supported by original ghostbuster Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), they defend the city from the continuing onslaught of ghosts.

Brilliant 15-year old Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) relishes the role of ghostbuster. However, Mayor Walter Peck (William Atherton), has her removed since she is a minor and puts the team on notice. Dejected, Phoebe wanders Central Park at night only to find and befriend a chess-playing teenage ghost named Melody (Emily Alyn Lind). Finally, Phoebe believes she has found a kindred spirit.

Little does anyone know, an ancient evil, last seen over a century ago is planning an escape from its mystical prison. A prison in the form of a brass ball that finds its way into the hands of Winston and his team of paranormal scientists.

The final act depends heavily on Phoebe’s natural curiosity, which was spurred on by an earlier talk about ghosts with founding Ghostbuster Ray Stantz (Dan Akroyd). Phoebe is fascinated by her new ghost friend’s existence and wishes she could know what it feels like to be a spirit, free of her body. As the old adage goes, “be careful what you wish for,” because her desire may just be the key to releasing the ice demon and ushering in a hellish, frozen empire.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’s New York setting invokes nostalgia for the original movies, as do the presence of the original team members, Ray, Winston and Dr. Venkman (Bill Murray). The great chemistry of the original quartet is mostly missing here and has been replaced with the family dynamic of the Spengler’s occupying the lead roles. However, this does not make the movie family friendly.

Objectionable Content

VIOLENCE: Heavy. Many frozen corpses are seen and many explode. Frozen body parts are shown grossly breaking off and ice-stalagmites emerge everywhere as the evil entity begins to freeze New York. Ordinary objects are possessed and attack. Several supporting characters are either frozen or seen having hands frozen, but are never fatally wounded or seriously hurt.

LANGUAGE: Moderate. Regarding profanity, the Lord’s name is taken in vain twice as in “Oh my G**” and a character declaring, “I am a g*d.” There is also reference to a ‘monstrous deity’ and a “g*d from another dimension.” At least half a dozen times the main demon is heard chanting, but although it is indiscernible who can say how real the chanting may be? This would not be the first time actual demon names are used in a movie, and this goes back to Disney movies such as Bedknobs and Broomsticks or perhaps even earlier.

Other inappropriate language heard includes: h*ll (4x), a**-h*** (3), a** (1), scr*wed (1), testic** (1), and sh** (1), h**kers (1), s*cks (1), devil (1), demons (1). Various sexual innuendos are spoken, such as the parents getting action, indicating something appears to be a sex dungeon, sex jokes and horn*y (1).

SEX/NUDITY: Mild. Beachgoers fleeing from the approaching supernatural winter storm include some in bikinis. No sex or kissing is ever featured. The budding friendship between Phoebe and Melody hints of a closeness bordering on romantic, but nothing develops. This may have not been the filmmaker’s intention, but overt and covert suggestiveness has become a staple in virtually all modern movies.

ALCOHOL: Mild. Venkman (Bill Murray) takes a long drink from a bottle before a battle.

WOKE IDEOLOGY: Moderate. The young female character is the smartest one, while the brother is shown as particularly slow witted, all of which was established in the previous entry, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” The character of Gary (Paul Rudd) never marries the mom, but by the end of the movie earns the title of dad nonetheless. This shows the belittling of marriage that has become common in media.

Additionally, couched within this not so innocent supernatural sci-fi comedy, there are concepts strikingly similar to tenets of New Age philosophy with the film openly promoting what happens to us after we die. All of this is supposedly based on science, in this case quantum physics.

Those ideas the film attempts to address include, ‘what is on the other side,’ ‘what is it like to be a ghost,’ and ‘where has your dead family gone to.’ Ray also speculates that heroes throughout history have been people who were born with powers and abilities above their fellow man, that includes Biblical figures such as Moses and Samson who are compared right alongside mythological characters.

Lessons

Some of the film’s underlying themes that merit addressing include: Moses, Samson, spiritism, death and eternal life.

MOSES - The film introduces Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani), a “Fire-Master” who understandably may prove useful in a showdown with an ice demon. Ray (Akroyd) suggests this ability might even explain Moses and the burning bush. Why the Director chose to blaspheme Holy Scripture is unclear as this is a made-up claim for the movie. The Bible affirms that God, not Moses was the cause.

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.” —Exodus 3:2-3

SAMSON - While the film suggests that he may have been a man of extraordinary strength, it is without God. Interesting that the Bible contains no description of him as appearing any different than anyone else. Maybe that is why the Philistines bribed Delilah to coax the secret of his strength out of him (Judges 16). If Samson had ‘looked the part’ and been huge, why would they need to uncover his secret? Perhaps, with the exception of his long hair, he may have looked no different than those around him. This may fit in with another Scripture:

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” —1 Corinthians 1:27

There are many unimposing people throughout the Bible that God has likewise used.

SPIRITISM - Ray continues to run “Ray’s Occult Books,” and while he is never shown practicing ‘black arts,’ he still consults and even sells the literature. The Word of God, ever looking out for what is good for us, is also clear on this.

“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” —Deuteronomy 18:10-11

Furthermore, when Phoebe decides to enter the ‘ghost realm,’ how exactly does quantum physics help her achieve this? I know, it should be argued first how proton accelerators can affect anything in the intangible realm in the first place, but I digress.

Incidentally, nowhere in Holy Scripture does it even mention ghosts. There are demons aplenty in both the Bible and throughout human history, not to mention their influence which can be seen even today.

Lastly, there are more than a few mentions that what they are dealing with is “an evil god” and that it is “from another dimension,” which may be another nod to a multiverse. Never called a demon, although that would necessitate help from an Almighty God to defeat and that would negate the need for comic-book type heroes.

DEATH — Contrary to folklore and fiction, there is no escape from this and spirits do not linger on waiting for something to happen.

“Who can live and not see death, or who can escape the power of the grave?” —Psalm 89:48

God, the author of life, has made through His son Jesus the only way to defeat death.

“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” —1 Corinthians 15:21-26

Besides, compared to eternity, this life is incredibly brief. And isn’t an eternity with our Lord what we should be striving for?

“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” —James 4:14

ETERNAL LIFE — I would be at fault if I did not take this opportunity to point out what truly awaits us all on ‘the other side.’ The Word of God has made it plain that we are all destined for an eternal life, the only question for us is where we choose to spend it?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” —Matthew 25:46

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” —1 John 5:11

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” —Romans 6:22

Closing Thoughts

Paul Rudd’s character, Gary, is given a larger part in this film than he had in “Afterlife,” and the film owes much of its comedic moments to him. The most ridiculous, and cringeworthy moments can easily be credited to any scene with Nadeem the ‘Firemaster’. Finn Wolfhard’s role as Trevor has been greatly reduced and his erstwhile girlfriend Lucky (Celeste O'Connor) bizarrely shows up working with Winston’s team.

Lucky’s surprising appearance, Phoebe’s late night chess games in the park, the improbable steps needed to have her release the evil ‘god’ are all examples of poorly written contrivances used to move an already shaky and shallow plot along. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” while featuring easter eggs and nods to other films, even “Men in Black III,” needed instead to take itself more seriously to rise above this mediocre effort. Add to that the offensive and blasphemous content, and it will be no wonder that these ghostbusters may fail to trap an audience.

• Occult: Heavy
• Wokeism: Moderate
• Violence: Moderate
• Profane language: Moderate
• Vulgar/Crude language: Moderate
• Nudity: Mild
• Sex: Mild
• Drugs/Alcohol: Mild

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