We Have a Ghost (2023) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A family discovers a forgotten ghost and becomes entangled in a dangerous search for his identity, justice, and release.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Ghost in the Attic

The family moves into a cheap abandoned house, where the youngest son discovers a mute, amnesiac ghost. A recorded video and a chosen name turn the frightening discovery into a personal mystery.

Key Events

• The Presley Family Buys the House — The family purchases a large, cheap, abandoned house despite financial problems. Location: Abandoned house
• The Attic Ghost — A mute ghost is discovered hiding in the attic. Characters: Ernest Location: Attic
• The Ghost Video — The boy records the ghost, creating evidence of the supernatural discovery. Characters: Ernest Location: Attic
• A Name from the Shirt — The ghost cannot speak or remember his past, so the boy calls him Ernest. Characters: Ernest Location: Attic
• The Video Goes Online — The father publishes the ghost video to make money without permission. Location: Presley house

A Mystery Made Public

The children investigate an old photograph and uncover a connection between Ernest and the former owner. Meanwhile, the father's attempts to monetize the ghost attract dangerous outside attention.

Key Events

• The Search for a Past — The boy commits to helping Ernest recover his memory and cross over. Characters: Ernest Location: Presley house
• The Photograph Clue — The children find a photograph linking Ernest to the former house owner. Characters: Ernest Location: High school
• Memories of a Daughter — The photograph triggers Ernest's flashbacks of having a daughter. Characters: Ernest Location: Presley house
• The Television Deal — The father attempts to sell Ernest's story to a ghost-hunting television show. Location: Presley house

The Fugitive Search

A former government ghost hunter leads an effort to capture Ernest, forcing the children and the ghost onto the road. Their search reaches Oklahoma, where the former owner supplies a misleading account of the past.

Key Events

• Monroe Breaks In — Monroe and federal agents break into the house to capture Ernest. Characters: Dr. Leslie Monroe, Ernest Location: Presley house
• The Escape to Oklahoma — The children leave with Ernest to find the former house owner. Characters: Ernest Location: Road to Oklahoma
• Fugitives on the Road — Monroe has the children registered as fugitives, leading to dangerous pursuits. Characters: Ernest, Dr. Leslie Monroe Location: Highway
• The Former Owner Identifies Ernest — Scheller identifies the ghost and explains his supposed disappearance after his wife's death. Characters: Ernest, Ernest Location: Oklahoma
• Federal Capture — Federal agents arrest the children and capture Ernest with a torturous weapon. Characters: Ernest, Dr. Leslie Monroe Location: Oklahoma

Murder Revealed

Ernest is captured and tortured, but his recovered memory exposes the former owner's murder. The ghost hunter changes sides and releases him before the killer attacks the family home.

Key Events

• The Ghost Remembers Murder — While imprisoned, Ernest remembers that Scheller killed him. Characters: Ernest, Ernest Location: Captivity facility
• Monroe Changes Sides — Monroe abandons the operation and frees Ernest from captivity. Characters: Ernest, Dr. Leslie Monroe Location: Captivity facility
• Scheller Returns to Kill — Scheller arrives at the house intending to silence the boy who knows the truth. Characters: Ernest Location: Presley house
• The Murder Confession — Scheller reveals that he ordered the murder to take the ghost's daughter. Characters: Ernest, Ernest Location: Attic

A Peaceful Goodbye

The killer is defeated during the attic confrontation. Ernest reunites with his grown daughter, says goodbye to the boy who helped him, and crosses over, leaving behind a possible final sign.

Key Events

• The Attic Showdown — Ernest arrives to protect the boy as Scheller prepares to shoot him. Characters: Ernest, Ernest Location: Attic
• Scheller Falls — The father knocks Scheller through a window, killing the murderer. Characters: Ernest, Ernest Location: Presley house
• A Daughter Reunited — Ernest is reunited with his grown daughter before saying goodbye. Characters: Ernest Location: Presley house
• Ernest Crosses Over — After an emotional farewell, Ernest peacefully moves on to the afterlife. Characters: Ernest Location: Presley house
• The Final Attic Light — A light flickers after the attic is empty, suggesting a final goodbye. Location: Attic

Story Breakdown

• Household Disruption — The family enters an abandoned house and encounters a supernatural presence.
  • Cheap Abandoned House — The family purchases a large house despite financial instability.
  • Ghost In Attic — The youngest son discovers a mute ghost hiding in the attic.
• Ernest Connection — The ghost's apparent identity and emotional vulnerability create a bond with the boy.
  • Silent Amnesia — The ghost cannot speak and has no memory of his former life.
  • Promise Of Peace — The boy decides to recover the ghost's past and help him cross over.
• Public Exploitation — The ghost's existence becomes a source of money and unwanted attention.
  • Viral Ghost Video — The father publishes the recorded evidence online for profit.
  • Television Pursuit — The father tries to sell the ghost's story to television producers.
• Memory Investigation — The children use physical evidence and flashbacks to investigate the ghost's past.
  • Photograph Discovery — An old photograph connects Ernest to the former house owner.
  • Daughter Flashbacks — The ghost begins remembering that he once had a daughter.
• Government Capture — A former government ghost-capture director escalates the pursuit into a national threat.
  • Monroe Breaks In — Monroe and federal agents raid the house to capture Ernest.
  • Torturous Detention — Ernest is forcibly captured and held with specialized equipment.
• Road To Truth — The fugitives reach the former owner, whose story eventually exposes the hidden crime.
  • Oklahoma Search — The children and Ernest travel to Oklahoma seeking answers.
  • Murder Revealed — Ernest remembers that the former owner murdered him for the child.
• Final House Battle — The former owner attacks the household, forcing Ernest and the family into a deadly confrontation.
  • Killer Confession — The former owner explains the plan behind the murder and attempted child theft.
  • Window Defeat — The father knocks the murderer out of a window during the attack.
• Crossing Over — Ernest receives emotional closure and departs after reconnecting with his family.
  • Daughter Reunion — Ernest meets his grown daughter before leaving the living world.
  • Flickering Goodbye — A final attic light suggests that Ernest may still acknowledge his friends.

Directed by

Christopher Landon

Key Cast

• David Harbour — Ernest
• Jahi Di'Allo Winston — Kevin Presley
• Anthony Mackie — Frank Presley
• Erica Ash — Melanie Presley
• Niles Fitch — Fulton Presley