Ghosts of War (2020)

Overview
"Ghosts of War" is a supernatural mental thriller war motion picture directed and written by Eric Bress. Released in 2020, the film includes a star-studded cast including Brenton Thwaites, Theo Rossi, Kyle Gallner, and Skylar Astin. The story follows 5 American soldiers appointed to hold down a French Chateau towards the end of World War II. Nevertheless, they experience a lot more than they ever expected, as the house turns out to be haunted by vicious supernatural entities.

Plot
The plot begins with 5 American soldiers - Chris (Brenton Thwaites), Kirk (Alan Ritchson), Eugene (Skylar Astin), Tappert (Kyle Gallner), and Butchie (Theo Rossi) - tasked to guard a French Chateau formerly inhabited by the Nazi high command. Their regimen is uneventful and charming until they find eerie occurences within the mansion. They are haunted by strange noises, things carrying on their own, terrifying apparitions, and nightmares connected to their individual guilt. The soldiers begin to suspect deadly supernatural forces at play.

The Twisted Revelation

As the entity grows more violent, Eugene, who has a bit of knowledge about spectral entities, recommends the theory that the uncomfortable spirits are not at peace since they need revenge on the Nazis who murdered them. Driven by this theory, the soldiers dig up the lawn, discovering dead bodies that they presume to be the mansion's former inhabitants. Following a series of supernatural events, Chris uncovers the truth behind the hauntings. The soldiers are not in World War II, however in truth in today day, depending on a tension pod, virtually living out a restorative algorithm.

The Futuristic Turn

The chateau isn't a WWII construct, however rather a cryogenic-type experiment designed by Dr. Engel (Billy Zane), a therapist, to deal with PTSD of soldiers returning from war in Afghanistan. The supernatural spirits were not those of the French killed household, however symptoms of their regret over wrongly killing innocent civilians throughout a bomb-clearing objective. The soldiers are reliving war-time horror as part of their PTSD treatment.

Conclusion

Ultimately, all soldiers other than Chris die from their injuries sustained in Afghanistan. He wakes up in a lab experiencing the bodies of his associates lifelessly plugged into the simulation. Dr. Engel notifies Chris that this fantasy world was conjured to help him resolve his guilt over leading his team into a fatal mistake. Overloaded, Chris makes a doomed demand to go back into the simulation to remain with his 'ghost' friends in the simulated WWII instead of enduring in the bleak truth without them. The movie ends on a chilling note as Chris deals with to live his eternity in the haunting chateau.

Critical Analysis

"Ghosts of War" is an elaborately woven psychological thriller that effectively camouflages its true theme till late into the screenplay. The unusual blend of war and supernatural scary sticks out and is matched by outstanding performances. However, the film tends to lose its strength due to various plot components and excessive focus on dive terrifies rather than insightful exploration of the soldiers' trauma. Yet, the distinct execution of the plotline keeps the category fans engaged.

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