I Still See You [2018]

January 2, 2024

What’s the last good movie about ghosts you’ve seen? And we’re not counting Ghostbusters, just to be clear. Okay, okay, I guess right about now you’re screaming Talk To Me, but that movie was a straight-up horror. I Still See You is a teen supernatural thriller featuring a solid cast, excellent visuals, and a mediocre story. It’s been ten years since a terrible disaster that brought our world and the world of ghosts together. Now, ghosts are everywhere but they cannot interact with us, at least not yet. In this world, we find Veronica, an attractive teenage girl who will soon find herself in the middle of a big conspiracy.

The first movie I thought of when I read the synopsis for this one was Ghost Town starring Ricky Gervais. However, in that movie, ghosts kept pestering poor Ricky while here they just go about their days, oblivious of our existence. I Still See You is actually based on the novel Break My Heart 1000 Times by Daniel Waters. Wait a minute, supernatural creatures, teenagers, based on a novel, this sounds a lot like Twilight, doesn’t it? The only thing that it’s missing is romance and that makes all the difference. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there will be romance here. It’s just that it’s handled more appropriately.

You know that feeling when you watch the right movie at the right time? After my cheesy nineties action movies phase and a sharp turn with a couple of zombie movies, I was looking for something that doesn’t require too much effort. Something that features a fully fleshed-out world and a mildly engaging story. And I Still See You is exactly that type of movie. It stars Bella Thorne, an actress who became hugely popular a couple of years ago when her OnlyFans page broke all records. She became the first person to earn $1 million in the first 24 hours of joining the platform. And no, she will not be appearing nude in this movie.

She will be wearing some pretty skimpy outfits but that’s about it. I think that Thomas Elms, who plays Brian, stole the show here with his perfectly sculpted ass. However, Bella has that early 2000s goth chick vibe about her, complete with a choker. And, what can I say, that’s my fucking weakness. Apart from her, I would also like to mention Dermot Mulroney, an underappreciated actor who’s always on point. I also loved the special effects here and the cinematography in general. Something that I found to be quite odd considering just how obscure the movie is. The way the ghosts or apparitions disappear was fucking awesome

The pacing is also quite good and the movie is short, just ninety minutes long, which is a huge plus. Mostly because things start getting quite preposterous towards the end. I haven’t read the original novel, so I can’t tell you if they butchered it. A bit unrealistic and melodramatic, the final third feels underwhelming. However, by that time you’ve already had a bit of fun and forgot about your real-world worries. I just want to add that the story ends in an expected way, so there’s a sense of closure. The source material seems potent enough to warrant a miniseries in the future.

I just hope it’s going to be a bit scarier than this one featuring exactly one jump-scare scene. Especially when you consider that these types of adaptations are all the rage now on all the streaming platforms. I also liked that snowy and melancholic small-town Illinois setting. It seems perfect for a story like this.