Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Overlong horror tale has suicide, violence, cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ghost Lab
What's the Story?
In GHOST LAB, Wee (Thanapob Leeratanakachorn) and Gla (Paris Intarakomalyasut) are doctors and believe fully in science. But one night at the hospital they work at, they both unquestionably see a ghost. But their phone cameras and the hospital security cameras capture nothing. They then agree to set out to study ghosts, their behavior, their nature. But as warning signs begin to happen, the two ghost hunters may be too far into their quest to notice them.
Is It Any Good?
There's a lot to like about this Thai horror film, but unfortunately, a few things bring it down. For one, Ghost Lab is simply too long at 2 hours. Many scenes that happen between the horror and action moments feel drawn out and melodramatic. The movie also bounces back and forth between melodrama, horror, comedy, and romance genres, but this could be a factor of cultural differences.
Nevertheless, the sheer absurdity and stupidity of the two supposed doctors greatly detracts from the believability of their actions and decisions. These moments happen numerous times before the film decides that it has adequately explained how these doctors and "men of science" are now without a doubt into the whole ghost thing. It also might be dangerous to suggest that ghosts' appearances and "power" increase as people they care about are in danger; then again, ghosts aren't real. But the acting is surprisingly good, the thrills are occasionally surprising and fun, and the places the main characters end up are quite far away from where they began. If you do believe in ghosts, this film might be even more of a frightfully good (if silly) time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in horror movies. Do you think the violence in Ghost Lab is effective? Why or why not?
Is it possible to do a good and scary ghost story without violence? Can you think of any?
If you knew that ghosts existed, but also knew that you couldn't ever capture any on film, how would you go about proving their existence?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 26, 2021
- Cast : Thanapob Leeratanakachorn , Paris Intarakomalyasut , Nuttanicha Dungwattanawanich , Suquan Bulakul
- Director : Paween Purijitpanya
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 117 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 5, 2025
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