In this engaging supernatural story, the movie begins with [Lakeith Stanfield](actor/lakeith-stanfield) playing Ben Matthias, an astrophysicist who lives a nostalgic yet somewhat lonely life in New Orleans. His past is marked by a romantic relationship with [Charity Jordan](actor/charity-jordan)’s character Alyssa, a spirited woman who ran ghost tours around the area. The two fell deeply in love, married, and shared moments filled with wonder and fascination for the supernatural. However, tragedy struck when Alyssa tragically died in a car accident, leaving Ben devastated and increasingly detached from his former enthusiasm for ghost stories. Now, Ben spends his days giving ghost tours that seem more like routines than adventures, often dismissing guest questions or showing frustration towards their curiosity about the paranormal.
The narrative shifts to a different location where Rosario Dawson](actor/rosario-dawson)’s character Gabbie moves into Gracey Manor with her young son Travis (Chase W. Dillon), intending to transform the historic mansion into a charming bed-and-breakfast. As Travis begins exploring, he encounters eerie phenomena—most notably a ghostly bride portrayed by Lindsay Lamb—who appears terrifyingly real, causing him to panic. When Travis reveals his experiences to Gabbie, she initially dismisses his fears, but things escalate when a suit of armor mysteriously animates and starts moving, forcing both to flee the scene. The ghostly presence, including the sinister Hatbox Ghost (Jared Leto), remarks with a chilling laugh that their return is inevitable, hinting at deeper, unresolved spirits lingering within the mansion.
Ben is approached by Father Kent (Owen Wilson), who seeks his help to capture photographs of these spirits as proof to be shared with the world. Initially hesitant, Ben is tempted by the offer of a $2000 reward and arrives at the mansion equipped with a specially designed lens that can reveal dark matter and ghostly forms. He pretends to take pictures but remains skeptical about the supernatural claims. However, when returning to his apartment, strange occurrences intensify—wet footprints follow him, and his closet transforms into an ocean landscape with a boat, complete with water and a harpoon. It becomes clear that Ben is being followed by the ghost of a sea captain, and soon he recognizes that the paranormal activity is more than just illusions—these spirits are very real and hostile.
Realizing he is entangled in something much more dangerous, Ben reunites with Gabbie and Travis, who have also experienced ghostly manifestations outside the mansion. Father Kent confesses he’s experienced similar phenomena, and together, they face the reality that Gracey Manor is a nexus for restless spirits. Ben shows them a photograph taken with his new lens — revealing the ghost of the sea captain — confirming the supernatural presence. He decides to stay and investigate further, determined to understand why these spirits are haunting the mansion and how they can be freed.
As the story unfolds, the team consults experts like Professor Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito), who delves into the history of Gracey Manor, unraveling its dark history. The mansion once belonged to William Gracey, and after his wife Eleanor’s death from yellow fever, strange and tragic events began. Gracey’s attempts to communicate with Eleanor through séances inadvertently opened a portal for other spirits to enter, culminating in Gracey’s own tragic suicide after being manipulated by malevolent spirits. The Hatbox Ghost and Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis) are revealed as trapped spirits, with Leota being a former medium who aids the team in their quest.
Through séances and investigations, the characters discover that the Hatbox Ghost seeks to gather 1000 souls to gain power and escape his cursed imprisonment. To stop him, Harriet (Tiffany Haddish) leads a daring plan involving a reverse-seance to banish the spirits back into the underworld. Ben enters the spirit realm, witnesses the tragic past of Gracey and the other spirits, and learns that the Hatbox Ghost’s true identity is Alistair Crump, a wealthy, murdered man with a vengeful past. They uncover that Crump’s spirit is haunting the mansion, which is now a historical site, and must find a way to banish him permanently.
The climax involves a tense showdown, where Crump possesses Bruce in a bid to trick the team into drinking poison, and Travis faces danger in the basement while searching for a critical artifact—a skull buried beneath Crump’s estate. With the help of ghost allies and a determined group, Ben sacrifices himself to lure Crump into a trap, ultimately rescuing Travis and banishing the evil spirit for good. The spirits, including Madame Leota’s, are freed, and the mansion begins to settle from its centuries-long torment.
In the aftermath, characters like Harriet, Kent, and Bruce find personal growth — Harriet embraces her genuine mediumship, Kent becomes an ordained minister, and Bruce enjoys newfound friendships. Ben, having faced his grief and fears, adopts a stray cat named Tater Tot, a nod to Alyssa’s favorite snack, symbolizing his acceptance of her memory. The movie concludes with a joyous party at the mansion, involving the cast and spirits, celebrating the victory over darkness—and emphasizing that even in loss, hope and love endure. The story blends supernatural adventure with themes of healing, remembrance, and the power of friendship, leaving audiences both thrilled and touched.
> “Sometimes, the things we fear the most are the keys to really understanding ourselves.”
