There's a long history of supernatural romances, arguably dating back to ancient mythology, which makes sense in many ways. Real love, after all, can be a miserable and impossible thing, and a natural depiction of it is not very mainstream. Putting it in a fantastical, mythical, or supernatural context makes it much more magical and romantic without having to deal with its complexity. From Beauty and the Beast and Ghost to modern YA romance, fantasy is often invoked to make romance more palatable. Girl Haunts Boy continues that tradition. It's a sweet, lighthearted little film starring Peyton List and Michael Cimino, and while it doesn't do anything new, it uses the format well.
List plays Bea, a precocious and nosy 17-year-old student in the 1920s whose class hits the museum for a field trip. Sneaking beyond where she's supposed to be, Bea discovers a beautiful green ring and, well, steals it. The ramifications of that choice come quickly — as soon as she steps outside the museum, she's flattened by an old automobile and dies. The fact that speed limits in the 1920s were roughly 15 miles per hour in cities shouldn't be considered here (it's a cursed ring, after all).
Flash forward 100 years, and we're introduced to high school student Cole, played with quiet charm by Michael Cimino. His mother has just moved them into a new suburban home in an attempt to start fresh after the death of her husband and his father. Cole is understandably still grieving and living a somewhat solitary and shy existence; his dad was a serious music lover, and Cole shares the same obsession as one of his only sources of comfort. That changes when he discovers the other half of the green ring; when he wears it, the ghost of Bea appears, and he's the only one who sees her.
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Peyton List & Michael Cimino Share Memories Making Girl Haunts Boy and More Ghostly Thoughts
The stars of Girl Haunts Boy discuss their supernatural romance movie, and Peyton List teases School Spirits Season 2.
Ghost Meets World
After the death of his father, Cole moves with his mother to a new house in a new town to discover he’s also sharing a room with the ghost of 17-year-old Bea, an adventurous, funny teenager from the 1920s who is trapped in present day and has been haunting the house under the curse of an ancient ring. The two lonely teens become fast friends and eventually fall in love – but when Cole discovers a way to undo the curse, he must decide whether to keep Bea with him or let her go.
- Release Date
- October 10, 2024
- Director
- Emily Ting
- Cast
- Michael Cimino , Peyton List , Phoebe Holden , Andrea Navedo
- Streaming Service(s)
- Has some cute chemistry, good editing, and its love of music is infectious.
- Michael Cimino is very good, and the film has a simple, sweet feeling.
- There's no risk-taking or anything new here, though the final image is beautiful.
- The script and dialogue can be a little a trite and sometimes sappy.
At first, Cole is rightfully freaked out, and Cimino has some fun doing a little bit of slapstick and mime with the ghost girl no one sees. Bea is both nonplussed and delighted to actually communicate with someone. Unlike many other supernatural romances, there's nothing ethereal, spooky, or psychedelic to her presence here; Bea simply cuts into the frame, looking just like she did 100 years ago, perfectly coiffed with a smile that says 'hello!' It's all very lighthearted, even less spooky than old-school classics of the genre like The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.
The 100-year leap that Bea experiences also helps set Girl Haunts Boy apart from the usual supernatural romance. Instead of spinning the pottery wheel together, Cole and Bea bond by learning about each other's culture, especially with Cole giving Bea a quick course on 20th century culture, cleverly filtered through his love of music. Big band, bebop, blues, rock, mods, punk, disco, whatever special weirdness David Bowie was — Cole details them all and their corresponding cultural moments in quick fashion.
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This is arguably the best part of the film, an extended bit in the middle. With a few montages, a dance scene, some nighttime conversation, and a walk down memory lane, the way that Bea and Cole bond is delightful. Watching them sit outside by patio lights and discuss hypothetical concerts with musicians from the past century (Post Malone opening for Cole Porter, for instance) has a warm fall feel to it and is highly memorable.
Pacing Problems Before an Unexpectedly Good Ending
Girl Haunts Boy slows down quite a bit after its halfway point. Whether it's exposition detailing the ring and its effects, a sappy love song played in full (though filmed well), or unnecessarily lengthy and melodramatic conversations, the snappy rhythm of the first 45 minutes dissipates into somewhat of a slog.
Netflix’s Supernatural Fantasy Movie Released Just in Time for Halloween
Netflix's latest streaming release is the fantasy romance flick Girl Haunts Boys, which chronicles the unlikely romance between a ghost and teen boy.
Fortunately, you still care about these characters enough to keep watching, and the film eventually finds its way to a surprisingly mature and satisfying ending (with a haunting and beautiful final shot). Other than that ending, though, things run in a mostly predictable YA fashion throughout. That familiarity can be comforting though, and for people looking to celebrate Spooktober in a way that doesn't churn their stomachs, though, this kind of movie serves a great purpose. It's a fine fit for fall if you're looking to cuddle up with someone and drink a hot apple toddy (or drink alone and fantasize about that cuddle).
Girl Haunts Boy is available to rent or buy on digital platforms and is streaming on Netflix through the link below:
Watch on Netflix
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