After I had watched and thoroughly appreciated Rite Here Rite Now by Ghost, I read a review on the film and the critic was not kind with their words or review, but there was a line that stood out that ultimately said, “die hard fans will like this movie”.
Well duh.
The critic poked fun at the film segments of the lore, calling them cheesy, cringy, a bit weird, and unnecessary, and that was the red flag that indicated the critic who wrote the review had zero idea who Ghost was or even knew there was a lore to the band. And while the critic did their job, watched a movie, wrote a review, I was kind of annoyed by their two star review.
Am I a die hard fan of Ghost? No. “Rats” off of Prequelle was my entry point for the band and I couldn’t get through the whole album but nonetheless, Ghost kept popping up in curated playlists, and I developed an appreciation for the band, eventually loving Prequelle and the entire back catalogue and the lore.
If you have never heard of Ghost, there’s a one hundred percent chance you won’t go see Rite Here Rite Now unless someone asks you to join them and that’s okay. Would I take a non Ghost fan to see the movie, absolutely. It’s a great entry point for newcomers to Ghost. One is introduced to the band’s hits, who they are, and the lore. The film does a pretty good job of giving a recap of the back story without having to go watch the entire back catalogue of videos.
Filmed in 2023 at Kia Forum in Los Angeles, Rite Here Rite Now wonderfully captures the theatrics and pageantry of who Ghost is live. The band are top notch performers whether a Nameless Ghoul is wailing on a guitar or Papa Emeritus IV aka Cardinal Copia is enticing the crowd, they are not only enthralling to watch but to hear as well.
The thundering sounds of the bass and drums, soaring guitars, and vocals are wonderfully imprinted on the film, giving those who may never have a chance to see Ghost in person, a real experience of what they would see and hear. Even if you have seen the band live, it gives one a chance to be up close without having to fight through a crowded pit for a prime spot.
My favourite moments in the film are when the songs are filmed in red. There’s an extra heaviness and shudder to the songs. The bass resonates louder and the drums hit a little harder, and one can feel it in their seats and see it with their eyes. This is a band who has come a long way by putting their very best each and every night. There’s a reason they’re playing arenas across the globe, they’re damn good at what they do.
Under the eagle eye direction of directors Tobias Forge and Alex Ross Perry, the film captures stunning moments from the performance itself and crowd shots. These curated moments are more than just a stamp in time but allow a first hand experience of what it’s like to witness a Ghost performance.
