Ghosts: the friendly ghosts of TF1 (review)

An amusing supernatural comedy, which becomes almost endearing, even if it is not intended to move towards the light…

You can see the American version on Netflix (with Rose McIver). After a stint on Disney Plus in the spring, the French adaptation of Ghosts arrives today in prime time on TF1. A remake directly taken from the English comedy created in 2019 on the BBC and which was a hit for 5 years. This tricolor version repeats exactly the same story.

That of Alison (even the first name from the original version was kept) who unexpectedly inherits a very beautiful castle in an advanced state of disrepair. A gift falling from the sky, while she is struggling with her companion Nabil. The property is sumptuous and full of potential. So the couple plans to transform it into a hotel. However, the house is haunted by numerous ghosts from different eras, who died on these lands and are invisible and intangible to the living. Determined to prevent the arrival of tourists in packs of twelve, the ghosts decide to scare the couple away. But how to do it?

Camille Chamoux does the job admirably as the mistress of a haunted house, who tries to come to terms with the specters that surround her. But the real strength of Ghosts is obviously the ghosts themselves. Keeping the profiles of the English series, we find Fred Testot as a politician fond of orgies, Tiphaine Daviot as a medieval peasant woman, Bruno Sanches as Chief Scout, Monsieur Octopus as a prehistoric man or even Camille Combal as a Gaulish chief. The little troupe is funny and continues with nice gags for 6 nice episodes. No more.

Ghosts is a fun supernatural comedy that never goes beyond the stage of schoolboy banter. We often smile, we sometimes laugh, but Arthur Sanigou and Joris Goulenok have already done crazier things (we owe them A Stunning Christmas on Prime Video and La Vengeance au triple gallop on Canal +). The series being co-produced by TF1 (for unencrypted and bonus broadcast), we can guess that the script could not go too far into spooky madness.

So nothing to die of laughter about. Ghosts leans more towards Casper than Beetlejuice. But these kind legacy ghosts end up becoming devilishly endearing, while their relationship with Camille Chamoux takes on a quite touching human form over the course of the 3 short hours that the season lasts. Not the kind of series that will haunt you for a long time, but it might just give you a good time.

Ghosts, season 1, in 6 30-minute episodes, to watch from November 10 in clear on TF1 and streaming on Disney Plus.