Film Review The Ghost Game (2025) – A Forbidden Ritual That Fails to Deliver Fear

 

The Ghost Game | 2025 | 1h 34m
Genre: Horror / Mystery / Thriller | Country: South Korea
Director: Son Dong-wan | Writer: Son Dong-wan
Cast: Kim Ye-rim, Lee Chan-hyeong, Seo Dong-hyun
IMDb: 4.9
My Rating: 5/10

Ja-yeong and her friends perform a dangerous ritual for content and a competition win. But for Ja-yeong, this is not about money—it is about an unresolved past, one she is willing to gamble with by using her stepsister as the medium in a ritual that spirals out of control.

Warning:

Scenes of violence, self-harm, and strong language

 

Synopsis:

Ja-yeong and four of her school friends plan to create video content for a YouTube contest that promises a large cash prize. To attract viewers, they agree to imitate a spirit-summoning ritual they once saw—believing it to be nothing more than a hoax.

They go to an abandoned building believed to be the ritual site. To meet the required number of participants, Ja-yeong brings along her stepsister, Seo-woo, without fully explaining the risks involved. At first, the ritual is meant to be nothing more than an act. But pushed by Ja-yeong, the dangerous game turns into a real ritual.

Things quickly go wrong. The questions they ask receive answers, and the presence of something unseen begins to feel real. The real problem begins when the evil spirit they summon refuses to leave Seo-woo’s body, which has been used as the medium. From that moment on, terror follows them relentlessly, turning their lives into the price of decisions they once thought were harmless.

Will they be able to drive the spirit away and escape safely, or will they be trapped by the consequences of their own mistakes?

 

Review:

Would you dare to play with evil spirits? Spirit-summoning games are often played for many reasons, without fully considering the dangers involved. The Ghost Game shows six teenagers treating a dangerous ritual as a game, as if the threat it carries is nothing to be afraid of.

The core idea of the story is actually interesting. Unfortunately, the underdeveloped execution prevents that potential from being fully realized. As the story unfolds, several weaknesses begin to appear and gradually disrupt the viewing experience.

The foundation of the story is built quite strongly through the opening scene—a dream in which Ja-yeong encounters her deceased older sister. This scene promises emotional horror. Sadly, that promise is not fully delivered in the parts that follow.

Characters are gradually introduced—Ja-yeong’s friends and her stepsister, who plays a crucial role in the story. The ritual itself, as a gateway to horror, is visualized in a way that feels promising. The motivations behind their actions are also conveyed clearly enough.

Conflict develops slowly through the characters’ hesitation—torn between believing and not believing in the ritual. Tension rises when the decision is made to perform the real ritual. However, this escalation is not supported by sufficient character depth, making the emotional impact feel weak.

The ending presents an interesting twist in concept, but it loses its strength due to poorly placed additional scenes. Certain narrative choices end up damaging what should have been the film’s strongest climax.

The performances are underwhelming. This is especially disappointing considering that some of the cast—particularly the lead actress, Yeri—have prior experience and have received praise for their acting skills. Unfortunately, that potential does not truly surface here.

The film’s biggest weakness lies in its character portrayal and dialogue, which often feel stiff and unnatural. This makes the characters’ reactions to danger seem illogical and weakens the tension. Still, the film does have strengths in its music, sound effects, and camera movement, which help support the atmosphere, even if some moments still feel empty.

The Ghost Game carries a promising idea but fails to deliver it with the depth it deserves. This review stands as a reminder that horror does not rely solely on concepts, but on how characters and conflict are given room to grow. Without that, even the most dangerous ritual will feel like a game that leaves no lasting impact.

 

Memorable Scene:

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Memorable Dialogue:

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Ending:

Sad Ending

Recommendation:

Okay to Watch

(Aluna)