Written and directed by Paul Harrill
Starring Marin Ireland, Jim Gaffigan, Josh Wiggins and Atheena Frizzell
Run time 1 hour, 22 minutes

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport

“Do you believe in ghosts?”

When it comes to the subject of the afterlife, I am very wishy washy. On one hand, I think it would be rather exciting to know that there is something beyond this breathing existence. However, then I think, wouldn’t it be nice to just close my eyes and catch up on all those zzzzzzs I have missed from the comfort of a plush coffin?

Many have speculated on whether there is a light at the end of this mortal existence tunnel. The idea of poltergeists and a ghosting life has been a subject in Hollywood since the silent era. Many of these stories have managed to turn me into a paranormal zealot. In the Paul Harrill film Light from Light, Marin Ireland stars as Sheila who is, more or less, a believer of the metaphysical. Sheila is a single mother working at a car rental agency and moonlighting as a ghost hunter. After recently making the decision to take a break from her role as a paranormal investigator, she is sucked back into the fold following a visit from a local priest that heard her speak about her experiences on a radio show. The priest, Father Martin requests that she assist a member of his church, a recent widower named Richard (Jim Gaffigan). Richard is convinced his home is haunted with the spirit of his dead wife, after she tragically died in a plane crash.

The film is set in East Tennessee and Richard’s home is located on a sprawling farm land. The type of place, that if you screamed, no one would hear you. Sheila meets with Richard for a consultation and decides to take on the case.

This is not your typical jump scare, ghost story. Light from Light is a very quiet, slowly-paced character film. The specter yarn is merely a way to reveal who these people in the story are and some of the real fears they are facing. For Richard, he is up against a darkness filled with grief, whereas Sheila is vulnerable and searching for answers. Harrill makes many good decisions with telling this story, in particular the run time. With the story clocking in at an hour and twenty minutes, it kept me engaged. I cared about these characters and, as much as I wanted to see a ghost, it became somewhat of an afterthought. There are some side plots going on, such as Sheila raising her son and the son’s relationship with a classmate. However, the story does not fall into the typical pitfalls that a lower budget film does. Light from Light keeps these stories from being too complicated.

Richard is not only living with a ghost, but also grief. There is a wonderful scene between Richard and Sheila, in which she asks, “If she was a ghost, would you want her to be around?”. Richard responds that he would feel sad for her (his wife) and that it would be easier, yet disappointing if there was not a ghost. This really hit me, as maybe it is easier to just let someone go rather than never moving on.

Opens in theaters today.