‘The ghost of the past would like to have a word with you’
Brooklyn 45 is a 2023 American horror film about five military veterans who get together for cocktails and hold an impromptu seance.
Written and directed by Ted Geoghegan (director of Mohawk and We Are Still Here; writer on Satanic Panic; Night of the Pumpkin; The Disco Exorcist; Sweatshop; Don’t Wake the Dead; Nikos the Impaler; Demonium). Produced by Seth Caplan, Emily Gotto, Michael Paszt, Pasha Patriki and Sarah Sharp.
The Divide/Conquer-Hangar 18 Media-Raven Banner Entertainment-Shudder co-production stars Anne Ramsay, Ron E. Rains, Jeremy Holm, Larry Fessenden, Ezra Buzzington, and Kristina Klebe
Plot synopsis:
December 27, 1945. Five military veterans gather in the ornate parlour of a Brooklyn brownstone. Best friends since childhood, they’ve reunited to support their troubled host–but when his invitation for cocktails turns into an impromptu séance, the metaphoric ghosts of their past become all too literal…
Trapped in their host’s lounge, the Greatest Generation now finds themselves put to one final test, with their only route to freedom being more bloodshed…
Release:
Brooklyn 25 premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival. Shudder and AMC+ will stream Brooklyn 25 from June 9, 2023.
Reviews:
“Packed with incredible performances and a smart script that explores the lingering ramifications of war, Brooklyn 45 is a rousing horror-thriller that already feels timeless.” Bad Feeling
” …this is a horror film, one with plenty of supernatural elements abound, but it spends a good amount of its very efficient 92-minute runtime (every busy person say, “Thank you, Ted!”) building on character and natural tension, but trust that before the end of the film, it becomes a true Geoghegan film, descending into chaos at a disorienting rate.” Elements of Madness
“Geoghegan’s most accomplished film to date, this is a fantastic showcase for some highly talented actors whose chemistry makes the viewer feel like a guest – or voyeur – at a long-established gathering. It packs in a couple of great surprises, but it’s the dialogue and performances which will keep you hooked.” 4.5 out of 5, Eye for Film
“The attention to period detail in the set design and wardrobe are both sharp, and the proceedings are marvelously captured by cinematographer Robert Patrick Stern. Set for the large part in Hockstatter’s parlor, the film gives the proper amount of a claustrophobic feeling. Indeed, the film could work tremendously as a stage play, but it wraps viewers up in its world so well that it never feels stagey.” Gruesome Magazine
“Geoghegan may traffic in serious matters, but he’s very much here for the fun of the exercise, as well, working with a team that delivers terrific practical effects on cue. The ensemble—with the addition of Kristina Klebe (Sinister Seduction) as a late, surprise guest—is strong throughout, deeply engaging us in the issues at hand. Sit back and let the horror take hold. It’s a wild ride.” Hammer to Nail
“Given the setup, the story is incredibly dependent on dialog and when it works, it works. It’s occasionally overwrought, sometimes repetitive, but it’s all delivered by a talented cast who all really understand their characters. Geoghegan does a good job of fleshing out exactly what it is that haunts each of these people individually, I just would have appreciated a little more ghost haunting.” Nightmare on Film Street
“There’s clearly a lot of research done to capture the characters and this post-war world, making it successful in feeling real and easily connectable to our world today. With that said, it read almost like a play with the setting, the pacing, and the emphasis on character. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but, for the impatient viewer, may be a bit of an issue for murder mystery solving longevity.” Nightmarish Conjurings
“Brooklyn 45 is a character-driven ghost story with numerous chuckles to be had as it twists and turns. While stylistically quite different with a modest production design embracing the period with broad strokes, it harkens back to such Twilight Zone episodes as ‘The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street’ with its themes of mistrust and paranoia.” Grade: B Reeling Reviews
” …might have worked better in an hour-long anthology series form as the script repeats itself with the same argument a few too many times, especially in the final act. However, give me a flawed film that’s willing to be this personal, unexpected, and thematically complex over a more traditional genre piece any day.” RogerEbert.com
“Yes, there are some extravagantly gory moments, but like many ghost stories, this is a drama, first and foremost, and then a mystery, and then a horror movie. Horror purists may blanch at the pacing, as it really has the pace and feel of a mystery, and I am completely down for that.” 3 out of 5, The Scariest Things
“The film’s terror lies in the talky, psychological horror of it all rather than the traditional shock and awe some may expect (there are moments that feature ghosts and blood, including some gruesome practical effects that will delight genre fans). The unexpected surprises really make the movie tick, so avoiding spoilers is highly recommended.” Screen Zealots
Trailer [1080p HD]:
Cast (in credits order)
Anne Ramsay … Marla Sheridan
Ron E. Rains … Bob Sheridan
Jeremy Holm … Mjr. Archibald Stanton
Larry Fessenden … Lt. Col. Clive Hockstatter
Ezra Buzzington … Major Paul DiFranco
Kristina Klebe … Hildegard Baumann
Lucy Carapetyan … Susan Hockstatter
Film facts:
Writer/director Ted Geoghegan developed the screenplay with his late father, Michael, who was a quadriplegic Air Force veteran and U.S. History teacher.
