Pay the Ghost (2015)

Director: Uli Edel

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Veronica Ferres

A professor frantically searches for his son who was abducted during a Halloween carnival.

One night, seven-year old Charlie believes he saw something outside his window. His mother, Kristen (Sarah Wayne Callies) , convinces him it was just a dream. His dad, Professor Mike (Nicolas Cage) is always working late.

After going trick or treating without Mike on Halloween night, Kristen agrees for Mike to take Charlie to the fair when he arrives late. After an enjoyable start to their night together, Charlie disappears in the blink of an eye. Kristen blames Mike, and they subsequently drift apart following the year of Charlie’s disappearance.

Mike never stopped looking for Charlie, but he would only find clues to Charlie’s disappearance the following year – in the nights leading up to Halloween. Mike embarks on a renewed mission to find Charlie. I enjoyed the mystery element, but throughout the movie I couldn’t help but wonder why Nicolas Cage agreed to this movie. I understand he is a very versatile actor and he has taken his share of risks in the past, but this was so not his kind of character.

Although there were foreboding moments scattered throughout, the film is never scary or suspenseful. The ending is somehow reminiscent of ‘Mama’ but here I found the antagonist under-developed, and the visuals were not as good or creepy. It’s not a bad movie; it’s just not all that memorable.

Would I watch it again? No.