Is We Have a Ghost woke?
We Have a Ghost (2023)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2023
Wokeness Score
4/10
Light Social Awareness
Some light diversity or inclusion elements that feel natural and organic. Woke themes are subtle, non-intrusive, and fully integrated into the story without drawing attention to themselves.
Key Summary Points
- Black family leads in haunted house comedy with organic representation.
- Single brief line nods to horror movie tropes without preaching.
- Story emphasizes family fun and ghost mystery over social issues.
Wokeness Analysis
The film features a Black family as the central protagonists in a typical haunted house comedy setup, with Anthony Mackie and Erica Ash as the parents and Jahi Di’Allo Winston as the teenage son Kevin. This casting provides natural representation without forcing identity politics into the narrative. The story centers on family dynamics, social media fame, and uncovering the ghost’s past through a light conspiracy plot involving a CIA agent played by Tig Notaro. A single line referencing avoiding the 'typical white people horror movie thing' lightly nods to genre tropes but remains a brief, humorous aside that does not dominate or preach. No explicit LGBTQ themes, racial grievance narratives, or heavy social commentary appear; the focus stays on entertainment, adventure, and emotional resolution for the ghost character. Diversity elements integrate organically into the family comedy structure without interrupting the plot or feeling like agenda-driven insertions. Overall, the movie prioritizes escapism and fun ghost antics over any ideological messaging, aligning with mild modern sensibilities in casting and minor trope acknowledgment rather than overt wokeness.
Plot
The Presley family moves into a new home and discovers a ghost named Ernest haunting the attic. Young Kevin records the ghost, turning the family into social media sensations. As Kevin and Ernest investigate the ghost’s mysterious past, they attract the attention of a shadowy government agency led by a CIA operative. The film blends supernatural comedy, family bonding, and light adventure as they work to uncover the truth while navigating fame and danger.