The Screen Scribe

Some movies aren’t just hits, they’re cultural lightning strikes. Ghostbusters is one of those rare films that didn’t just dominate its decade but embedded itself into pop culture forever. Released in 1984, it combined comedy, horror, sci-fi, and a dash of the absurd into something fresh and timeless. This Halloween, if you want a film that delivers laughs, scares, and one of the most iconic theme songs in cinema history, you know exactly who to call.

The setup is beautifully simple. After being kicked out of Columbia University for their questionable research methods, three eccentric scientists, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), decide to go into business for themselves. Their specialty? Busting ghosts. Armed with proton packs, snark, and more confidence than budget, they set up shop in an abandoned firehouse and soon find themselves swamped with spectral clients. With the arrival of new recruit Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), the team faces a supernatural threat that escalates from slime and spooks to world-ending apocalyptic stakes.

Why should Ghostbusters be on your Halloween list? First, it’s one of the greatest genre blends ever put on screen. It’s legitimately funny, Bill Murray’s deadpan sarcasm alone could power a small city, but it also takes its horror seriously. The film never treats the supernatural as a joke, the ghosts are genuinely creepy, from the library spectre to the demonic terror dogs. That balance between laughs and scares is what makes it work: the comedy never undercuts the danger, and the danger never smothers the fun.

The cast is absolute dynamite. Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis have flawless chemistry, bouncing off each other with effortless wit. Hudson’s everyman sensibility grounds the team, while Sigourney Weaver adds unexpected dramatic weight as Dana Barrett, whose haunted apartment becomes central to the plot. And let’s not forget Rick Moranis, who steals scenes as Louis Tully, the hapless neighbour caught in the supernatural crossfire. It’s an ensemble firing on all cylinders.

Importantly, the effects, while very much of their time, still have undeniable charm. The proton streams, the grotesque apparitions, the miniature models of New York City: all of it carries that tactile ‘80s craftsmanship. Sure, you can tell when stop-motion kicks in, but that’s part of the appeal. In an age of glossy CGI, there’s something refreshing about effects that look handmade and a little rough around the edges. They feel alive.

Then there’s the iconography. From the Ecto-1 siren to the instantly recognisable logo, Ghostbusters has left an indelible mark on pop culture. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man remains one of the greatest third-act surprises in film history, equal parts hilarious, terrifying, and utterly unforgettable. Add in Ray Parker Jr.’s theme song (good luck not singing it for the rest of the night), and you’ve got a film that’s as much a vibe as it is a story.

Ultimately, Ghostbusters endures because it captures the joy of cinema at its best: inventive, funny, scary, and endlessly quotable. This Halloween, if you want a film that doesn’t just deliver thrills but creates an atmosphere of sheer fun, this is essential viewing. Because let’s be honest, half the joy of Halloween is putting on a movie that makes the room come alive. And when the lights go down and something strange is in your neighbourhood, well, you already know the answer. Who you gonna call?