Watch Clara's Ghost

Clara's Ghost is a dark comedy film directed and written by Bridey Elliott, a renowned American comedian and actress. This movie is set in a haunted house in New England, where a family of actors spends a weekend together. The cast includes Paula Niedert Elliott, Chris Elliott, and their daughters, Abby Elliott and Bridey Elliott. It was released in 2018.

The plot of the movie is centered around the Reynolds family. Ted Reynolds (Chris Elliott) is a former sitcom star who is struggling to find new roles due to his age. His wife, Clara Reynolds (Paula Niedert Elliott), is a loving mother who is overshadowed by her family's show business success. Their daughters, Julie (Bridey Elliott) and Riley (Abby Elliott), are both aspiring actresses who are trying to make it big in Hollywood.

The story begins with the Reynolds family arriving at Ted's childhood home, a Victorian house filled with old furniture and a dubious history of paranormal activity. Clara, who is a skeptic of the supernatural, immediately senses a strange presence in the house that the rest of the family dismisses.

As the family settles in, they begin to experience a series of bizarre events that suggest the house is haunted. The family members are visited by ghosts, and Clara is the only one who can see them. The ghosts are apparently the Reynolds' ancestors, who are not happy with the family's lack of interest in their history and heritage.

The supernatural events become a catalyst for the family's dysfunction, as they struggle to come to terms with their own inadequacies and desires. The daughters are constantly bickering and trying to one-up each other, while Ted is hoping for a new acting job to prove his worth. Meanwhile, Clara feels unappreciated and ignored by her family.

Throughout the movie, Clara's encounters with the ghosts force her to confront her own insecurities and desires. She finds herself drawn to the ghosts, who provide her with a sense of companionship and understanding that she cannot find with her family. As she becomes more involved in their world, she finds that she is able to invoke them through séances.

Clara's Ghost is a quirky and subversive movie that explores the complexities of family relationships and the impact of the past on the present. The humor is dark and sometimes absurd, and the performances from the cast are excellent. Paula Niedert Elliott gives a standout performance as Clara, showcasing her range as an actress by effortlessly portraying both the loving mother and the unsettled protagonist.

The film's aesthetics are also notable. The old Victorian house has a gothic and eerie atmosphere that adds to the movie's overall tone. The cinematography is also interesting, with playful angles and perspectives that add to the surreal and otherworldly quality of the movie.

Overall, Clara's Ghost is a unique and thought-provoking movie that will appeal to fans of dark humor and unconventional storytelling. It combines elements of horror, comedy, and drama to create a singular vision of dysfunction and the supernatural. The film should be considered as a testament to the talent of the Elliott family, who manage to create a movie that is both personal and universal in its themes.

Clara's Ghost is a 2018 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.1 and a MetaScore of 66.