Watch I Am a Ghost

I Am a Ghost is a psychological horror film from 2012 that will make you question the limits of our perception of reality. Directed by H.P. Mendoza, the movie features an excellent performance by Anna Ishida, who plays Emily, a ghost haunting her former home. Emily's only chance to escape from her limbo state is to figure out how she died, but as she pieces together the fragments of her past, she realizes that her story is not as straightforward as it seemed.

The movie is set in a Victorian-style house on the outskirts of a small town. Emily, a young woman dressed in a white dress and sporting an old-fashioned hairdo, wanders around the empty halls of the mansion, a voiceover recounting her thoughts and feelings. At first, Emily seems like your typical ghost, often mischievous and playful, as she messes with her new potential roommate Sylvia (Jeannie Barroga), a clairvoyant who moves into the house seeking inspiration for her paranormal TV show. However, as the days go by, Emily's behavior turns more sinister, and she starts to interact with Sylvia in unsettling ways. The dynamic between the two women becomes increasingly tense, and the audience is left wondering if there's more to Emily's spectral state than she's willing to reveal.

I Am a Ghost is not your average haunted house tale. Instead of relying on cheap jump scares or gore, the movie builds suspense through atmosphere and character development. The Victorian house, with its gloomy interiors and creaky floorboards, enhances the sense of unease, while the eerie sound design, featuring whispers and distorted noises, adds to the sense of disorientation. The cinematography, with its use of long takes and unconventional camera angles, creates a dreamlike quality that fits the story's themes of memory and perception.

One of the highlights of the movie is Anna Ishida's performance as Emily. Ishida conveys a wide range of emotions and moods without ever showing her face, using her voice and body language to create a character that is both tragic and unsettling. Emily is not a classic horror villain; she's a lost soul whose desire for closure has turned into an obsession, and Ishida makes us empathize with her plight while still being wary of her intentions. Jeannie Barroga also deserves praise for her turn as Sylvia, the self-proclaimed medium who realizes too late that she's in over her head. Barroga brings a natural charisma to the role, making us care about Sylvia's fate even as the plot takes some unexpected turns.

The script, written by Mendoza, is a masterclass in minimalism. There's not a wasted scene or line of dialogue, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps the audience engaged even as it leaves them guessing. The movie's themes of memory, identity, and perception are explored with subtlety, never overstating the obvious or descending into cliché. I Am a Ghost is a movie that trusts the intelligence of its viewers, and it's all the better for it.

In conclusion, I Am a Ghost is a haunting, thought-provoking movie that deserves more recognition than it received upon its release. H.P. Mendoza's direction, combined with Anna Ishida's and Jeannie Barroga's fantastic performances, creates an unforgettable experience that will linger in your mind long after the credits roll. If you're a fan of horror movies that challenge conventions and push boundaries, I Am a Ghost is an absolute must-watch.

I Am a Ghost is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 16 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.