Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the fifth film in the Ghostbusters franchise and a sequel to 2021’s film Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It was directed by Gil Kenan and co-written by Jason Reitman, son of the original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman. The film weighs legacy and the need to pass the baton to a younger team of ghostbusters with equal care. Blending the old with the new, the film brings forth a new threat in the form of an ancient force that literally freezes New York City.
While nostalgia still plays a significant role, Frozen Empire attempts to expand the Ghostbusters Universe by adding depth to lore, team dynamics, and multigenerational collaboration—all features of the franchise’s original supernatural comedy.
Plot Summary
The events of the film take place three years after the last one in Summerville, Oklahoma. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire features the Spengler family—Callie, Gary Grooberson, and her children Trevor and Phoebe—who relocate to New York City to join the surviving members of the original Ghostbusters crew. They aim to restore ghost containment and operations at the famous firehouse headquarters.
The film starts with the team capturing a massive ghost called the Hell’s Kitchen Sewer Dragon, an exciting set piece that brings back the chaotic proton-pack destruction fans have grown to love. However, the Ghostbusters long-time nemesis, Mayor Walter Peck, steps into the limelight and takes it upon himself to threaten them with closure because the presence of ‘underage’ Phoebe further complicates the legal ramifications of paranormal activity.
In a different part of town, Ray Stantz and Podcast come across a peculiar item with Nadeem Razmaadi, a sus-looking seller with no grasp of the object’s true worth. To {INSERT book title here} and the readers’ surprise, the orb is revealed to be a prison for Garraka, an ancient death god with the power to birth an age of ice.
As the commotion of accidentally releasing Garraka continues, chaos only begins with the freezing of New York City and a drastic drop in temperature. Alongside the threat of a second ice age, the old and new Ghostbusters are forced to work together to eliminate the god before humanity faces the risk of being encased in ice for eternity.
Main Cast and Characters
Though Jason Statham is absent from the film, the supporting cast consists of:
Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson – A friendly science teacher who later takes up ghost hunting.
Carrie Coon as Callie Spengler – Egon Spengler’s daugher and the mother of Phoebe and Trevor.
Finn Wolfhard as Trevor Spengler – The older sibling, decked out and ready to wield the proton pack.
Mckenna Grace as Phoebe Spengler – The youngest member of the team who serves as their heart and mind.
Kumail Nanjiani as Nadeem Razmaadi – The addition’s eccentric nature is a result of their past, which relates to the birth of Garraka.
Patton Oswalt as Dr. Hubert Wartzki – A ghost historian who aids in revealing the orb’s ancient secrets.
James Acaster as Dr. Lars Pinfield – A technological consultant for the Ghostbusters, helping to refine the technologies for containment and capture.
Emily Alyn Lind as Melody – A redemptive role who becomes a ghost and helps Phoebe.
Logan Kim as Podcast – Back for more with his ever-present curiosity and recording equipment.
Celeste O’Connor as Lucky Domingo – Returned from Afterlife to assist with the NYC operation.
Original Cast Assets:
Bill Murray reprising Dr. Peter Venkman
Dan Aykroyd reprises role of Dr. Ray Stantz
Ernie Hudson returns as Dr. Winston Zeddemore
Annie Potts returns as Janine Melnitz
William Atherton returning as the Mayor Walter Peck
This casts adds returning veterans who keep the story grounded while also helping the newcomers in a meaningful way.
Themes and Analysis
Legacy And Mentorship
The theme of legacy is centered in Frozen Empire and the passing the baton wish is present in both the original Ghostbusters and the newoneds. The driving force of Phoebe wanting to do something meaningful despite her being is a major conflict, representing generational conflict, agency, and growth.
The Spenglers might not be the perfect example of an orderly family but they sure are relatable. As co-parents and team leaders, Callie and Gary’s character is crucial for balancing the chaos of ghosts and gods. Their journey is one of support, trust, and immense resilience.
Echoes of the Past
Symbolism serves to deepen the conflicts within the narrative when considering Garraka, the death god. The return of forgotten threats is a broad issue. This idea is further sympathetic to modern narratives where ancient evil is released through today’s ignorance, and indifference toward history is often tied to lack of the understanding of the importance of one’s past. The orb’s discovery and subsequent misuse cuts across indifference to history and its outcome, carelessness with history leads to catastrophic consequences.
Narrative Conflict and Resolution
Redemption and sacrifice underpin the evolving story arcs of most characters, not only drawing empathy but eliciting deeper emotions. Melody, a ghost tethered by guilt, redeems herself by assisting Phoebe, whereas Nadeem, the unknowing orb seller, opts to redeem himself by fighting alongside those he sold the orb to. Their stories add emotional complexity and illustrate the film’s message that everyone can choose to do what’s right.
Film Aesthetic, Style, and Tone
Like its predecessors, the film adopts a ghostbusters tone and spirit through the implementation of substantial practical effects and comedic timing. The banshee scream effects on ghost action and overall city destruction maintain a chilling, supernatural quality while modern visual storytelling, practical effects, and comedic timing anchor the film to today’s era. The use of familiar equipment like proton packs and ghost traps align with the franchise’s legacy, deeply embedding it within its roots.
Restoration of visual spirit is best felt in the framing style, the interplay of freezing temperatures against explosive, fiery proton blasts serves eye-catching set pieces, while Garrakas’s design—mythological and chilling—marvelously menacing, breathtakingly compelling artwork.
Reception and Impact
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has received fair reviews. It has been particularly praised for its scope, nostalgic elements, and the emotionally balancing performances of the returning cast. The emotional complexity brought in by Phoebe and Melody’s interactions was often noted as a highlight.
Alternatively, some reviewers thought characters and subplots were too numerous to the point of being overwhelming. While many franchise fans enjoyed the more elaborate exploration of ghost-related lore, some believed the film strayed too far from the light-hearted nature of comedy that marked the first film.
Regardless, it appears to be Frozen Empire’s consensus that the film manages to blend old with new in a reliable manner, preserving the legacy of Ghostbusters, while leaving opportunities for new stories to be told in the future.
Conclusion
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is an adventure filled with supernatural elements, all while feeling equally thrilling and chilling. The film expands the franchise lore, whilst incorporating classic nostalgia, giving new and old fans alike a reason to pick up a proton pack.
Exploring family, sacrifice, legacy, and atonement, this narrative encapsulates more than just a supernatural thrill; it serves a poignant reflection on the inheritance we leave behind and the reasons that underpin its significance. When the credits start to roll, it becomes painfully obvious that there are still many ghosts left to bust.
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