A Useful Ghost

Name: A Useful Ghost
Genre: 35, 18, 14
Released: 2025
Rating: 6.9

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After dying from a respiratory disease, a mother's spirit possesses a vacuum cleaner to protect her husband when he begins showing the same symptoms.

Who would love this

♥Audiences who appreciate quirky, independent cinema, genre-bending narratives, dark comedies, and films that offer social commentary alongside supernatural elements. Fans of unconventional love stories and those interested in Thai cinema or films that explore themes of grief, memory, and societal expectations would likely enjoy it. Those who enjoy films that are both thought-provoking and humorous would also be drawn to it.

Who might not

✗Viewers who prefer straightforward genre films with clear narrative structures and predictable outcomes might find "A Useful Ghost" too peculiar or confusing. Those who are uncomfortable with dark humor, supernatural elements mixed with social issues, or non-traditional romantic pairings might also dislike the film. Audiences seeking purely lighthearted entertainment might be put off by its more profound or politically charged undertones.

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What critics are saying about A Useful Ghost

Note: This review was originally published as part of our 2025 Cannes coverage. A Useful Ghost opens on January 16. While ghosts and spirits have long been the conduit for cinematic scares and jolts, from The Innocents to Poltergeist to The Ring, a relatively recent wave of films exploring the supernatural has been more concerned with the tangible, emotional effects these specters can have on the living.

A Useful Ghost Review: A Peculiar, Humorous Paranormal Tale

A Useful Ghost, 2025. Written and Directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke. Starring Davika Hoorne, Witsarut Himmarat, Apasiri Nitibhon, Wanlop Rungkumjad, Wisarut Homhuan, Gandhi Wasuvitchayagit, Orna…The plot of A Useful Ghost shouldn’t be delved into much, as its unpredictable nature is a force unto its own. However, it can be said that there are multiple threads, with stories taking place inside other stories, which inevitably connect into something larger.

A Useful Ghost (2025) - Movie Review