GHOSTS OF THE OZARKS: A Cinema Scholars Review

Co-Directed by Matt Glass and Jordan Wayne Long, Ghosts Of The Ozarks is a dark and lovely fable about a mysterious town set in post-Civil War Arkansas. The film features solid performances across-the-board from its talented cast, a decent storyline, and an artfully pleasing esthetic.

Synopsis

In Ghosts Of The Ozarks, a young doctor, James McCune, played by Thomas Hobson arrives in the town of Norfork. He has accepted an invitation from his uncle, Matthew McCune, performed by Phil Morris, to replace the town’s previous doctor. Matthew is the leader of the community, a rare position for a black man during this time period, and one that he attributes to the special qualities of Norfork.

It seems that Norfork doesn’t suffer from racism or such influences corrupting the outside world. Instead, the town is surrounded by a wall and the woods are haunted by a ghost. Apparently, this both protects the town from corruption, while also forcing the people to stay within the walls.

James is instantly enthralled by the town’s mysteries. With his intelligence and knack for inventing new medical gadgets, he quickly wins over the people he meets.  His natural curiosity and compassionate nature shine against the darker truths surrounding him. Inadvertently, he triggers the unraveling of the secrets entrenched within Norfork and the plot thickens.

Atmosphere and Artistry

The atmosphere in the film is gorgeous with beautiful set designs. From the establishing shot of the town as James arrives in each building and individual setting, you feel like you are within the pages of an old-timey fable.

The interior sets are particularly embracing, with warm lighting and enchanting decor. The set inside the town’s bar feels just like the place that close-knit town folk would come together to drink and revel. The filmmakers created a beautiful space to film. The wardrobe in Ghosts Of The Ozarks is also spot-on as are the props in the film. The film is visually decadent and transports the viewer with this strength.

Cast and Performances

Speaking of the cast, here too is another strong point for the film. Thomas Hobson, as James is a delight. He brings honest empathy and vulnerability to his role. His energy is genuine and likable to the extreme. The actor emotes his character’s intentions beautifully and with a tangible warmth.

While James is the protagonist, the townspeople make up a strong supporting ensemble. Tara Perry, as Annie, is good as the tomboy turned nurse. She and her brother, William, played by Joseph Ruud, also hunt to provide for the town. They share honest chemistry ad Ruud is effective as the gentle giant who lumbers alongside his independent sister. David Arquette, like Douglas, the town tailor is magnetic with his affable energy. He’s one of the first people to befriend James and plays a satisfying part in the story.

Neva Howell, as the gruff schoolmarm, Miss Roberts, is convincing and great on-screen. Phil Morris, as Matthew, the patriarch of the town sparkles in his first scenes with James. His gravitas follows suit wonderfully as his character develops throughout.

The show-stealing characters are Torb, played by Time Blake Nelson, and Lucille, played by Angela Bettis. Torb is a blind barkeep and butcher, who has can see with his sense of hearing, using help from Lucille.

This could have potentially come off as silly, but instead, it’s presented in such a way that it deepens the feeling of being within a fable. These two characters personify the vibe of Ghosts Of The Ozarks. They offer up the film’s most fun moments and were a pleasure throughout the movie.

Critique

The talent-laden artistry of the movie transports you into the story and helps distract from the film’s few faults. Chief among the negative aspects is that the movie has a bit of a Scooby-Doo ending. Thus, it wraps up a bit tongue-in-cheek while trying to address a serious theme. Without spoiling the ending, let’s say that the conclusion lacks the depth it was trying to achieve.

The other weak aspect is that the incidents with the ghost aren’t given much attention until the end. The forest specter is responsible for heinous injury to some of the townsfolk. James turns a cheek to this violence for much of the movie and that doesn’t seem consistent with his character. Apart from a few small continuity issues, this sums up the worst of the film.

In Conclusion

If you are looking for an enchanting and dark mystery, Ghosts Of The Ozarks is a worthy film to catch. What it may lack in impact and depth, it makes up with a wonderful cast, a satisfying mystery, and superb esthetics.

Ghosts Of The Ozarks releases On-Demand and digital on February 3^rd, 2022.

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