“Brooklyn 45” is a film that only Ted Geoghegan is capable of. It’s a ballsy, richly developed, and fascinating character study masking as a supernatural horror film. It’s like watching a stage play unfold on film with a seasoned, brilliant cast putting to life an absolutely compelling narrative. While “Brooklyn 45” features ghosts, and poltergeists, and some gnarly gore, it’s merely window dressing for a deeper look at the aftermath of a horrible war, and our grappling with the concept of death. Director Ted Geoghegan has a real flair for ensemble movies and creating genre entries that are just out of left field.
On the evening of December 27th, 1945, four lifelong friends gather for cocktails at the home of their friend and colleague, who is mourning the recent suicide of his wife. After coercing them into an impromptu séance, the group connects with a supernatural presence, discovers that they do not know each other as well as they believed, and are confronted with an unexpected guest who may or may not be hiding a secret of her own
Much in the realm of “We Are Still Here,” writer Geoghegan deals a lot in the what-ifs about the after life and what, if anything, could possibly be awaiting us after death. “Brooklyn 45” is set primarily in a small townhouse as the tension is buzzing around these five characters from the moment they see one another. Although they are friends in the traditional sense, they’re broken by a war that they realized too late, tore them to shreds. Although they’re not dead, they’re considerably worse off in life, as they’re tasked with bearing the guilt of so many deaths in the name of duty. It’s not at all a surprise to say that the collective cast are all remarkable, especially Larry Fessenden, who is just a crusty and angry man whose only purpose in life is now gone.
With his wife’s suicide he not only has to confront the senselessness of death but, like his days in the war, is looking for justification for death. This is where Kristina Klebe’s character enters, as a seemingly hapless maid, thrust in to this extraordinary situation. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Anne Ramsay, Ron E. Rains, Jeremy Holm, and Ezra Buzzington, respectively. Each member of the cast offer their own wonderful contribution with characters stuck in tones of grey. They’re neither protagonists nor antagonists, just individuals stuck in this purgatory. “Brooklyn 45” is about ghosts but more in the metaphorical sense than the traditional sense.
Director Geoghegan does deliver on some genuine jump scares, and some fantastic special effects, but the ghosts that take center stage are mainly the small group of ex-soldiers that don’t quite know what to do with themselves. Like the possibility of what lies after death, they’re stuck in limbo, and things escalate once they proceed with their séance. “Brooklyn 45” really is a master class in simple but effective horror laced drama, as it’s about real people with problems that are as resonant today as they were back in 1945. Ted Geoghegan’s film really is a genre gem I hope audiences look out for, if only because it’s so provocative and memorable from its creepy opening right down to its sepia toned closing credits.
Streaming on Shudder (US, CA, UKI, ANZ) June 9th.