''Mostly Ghostly'' (also known as ''Mostly Ghostly: Who Let the Ghosts Out?'') is a 2008 American

horror comedy Comedy horror (also called horror comedy) is a literary, television and film genre that combines elements of comedy and horror fiction. Comedy horror has been described as having three types: "black comedy, parody and spoof." Comedy horror can a ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

film directed by

Rich Correll Richard Thomas Correll (born May 14, 1948) is an American television actor, director, writer, and producer. After working as an actor during his childhood and teenage years, he transitioned to directing in the 1990s, and he has gone on to dire ...

. The film is based on the first book, ''Who Let the Ghosts Out?'' by

R. L. Stine Robert Lawrence Stine (; born October 8, 1943) is an American novelist. He is the writer of '' Goosebumps,'' a horror fiction novel series which has sold over 400 million copies globally in 35 languages, becoming the second- best-selling book ...

and the first installment of the ''

Mostly Ghostly ''Mostly Ghostly'' is a series of books written by children's horror author R. L. Stine. Its target audience is primarily middle school-aged youths ages 11–14. The book series has led to a film series. Books * ''Who Let the Ghosts Out?'' ...

'' film series. It was released on September 30, 2008, on DVD, and was broadcast on

Disney Channel Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...

on October 31, 2008.

Plot

Max Doyle (

Sterling Beaumon Sterling Beaumon is an American actor and producer. He is known for his roles as Max Doyle in the 2008 film, ''Mostly Ghostly (film), Mostly Ghostly'', and as young Benjamin Linus in the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television series, ' ...

) is an 11-year-old whose love of performing magic disappoints his father (

David DeLuise David Dominick DeLuise (born November 11, 1971) is an American actor. He has had roles in numerous films and television shows. He is best known for playing Coop on ''Megas XLR'' and Jerry Russo on ''Wizards of Waverly Place''. Career The son of ...

) and draws ridicule from his older brother, Colin (

Adam Hicks Adam Paul Nielson Hicks (born November 28, 1992) is an American actor and rapper. His first leading role was in ''How to Eat Fried Worms''. He was also known for playing Luther in the Disney XD series ''Zeke and Luther'' and Wendell "Wen" Giffo ...

). While doing laundry in the basement, Max hears voices. While investigating the source of the sound, he sees a hand come out of the wall. A hidden tunnel behind the wall happens to harbor the evil Phears (

Brian Stepanek Brian Patrick Stepanek (born February 6, 1971) is an American actor known for his role as Arwin Hochhauser on the Disney Channel original series ''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'' and Brian on '' Brian O'Brian''. He was also a Sector Seven Agen ...

) and his cadre of

ghosts In folklore, a ghost is the soul or Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit of a dead Human, person or non-human animal that is believed by some people to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely, from a ...

. Phears is intent on freeing himself and his minions from the world of ghosts to inhabit the physical world but will be able to do so only on

Halloween Halloween, or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve), is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christianity, Western Christian f ...

. Later, Max finds the ghosts of two children, Nicky (

Luke Benward Luke Aaron Benward (born May 12, 1995) is an American actor and singer. He is most known for his Disney Channel roles as Charlie in ''Minutemen'' (2008), Ryan in '' Girl vs. Monster'' (2012), and Will in '' Cloud 9'' (2014). He played the role ...

) and Tara Roland (

Madison Pettis Madison Michelle Pettis (born July 22, 1998) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Sophie Martinez on the Disney Channel comedy series '' Cory in the House'', as Peyton Kelly in the 2007 film '' The Game Plan'', and as Allie Broo ...

), have suddenly come to occupy his room. They explain that they need his help in learning who they are, how they came to be ghosts, and what has happened to their parents. Although they cannot be seen by anyone but Max, they are able to interact with objects in the physical world. This allows them to frighten a boy who has been bullying Max at school. Shortly thereafter, Tara and Nicky learn it was Phears who killed their parents and now holds the ghosts of their parents captive. During rehearsal of Max's magic show, Tara is captured by Phears. Max tells Nicky about it and suggests Nicky throw him into the basement tunnel to find her. The same way (most) people don't see ghosts, ghosts cannot see Max. He retrieves a box from Tara that contains a ring to defeat the evil ghosts, but Phears prevents her from escaping with him. Traci (

Ali Lohan Aliana Taylor "Ali" Lohan ; born December 22, 1993) is an American singer, actress, model and television personality. She is the younger sister of actress and singer Lindsay Lohan. Early life Lohan was born in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, on ...

), a girl Max has been crushing on, becomes his assistant for his magic show. They perform with the help of Nicky moving objects around, making it appear as if it was Max moving them with his magic. On

, Phears finally breaks the tunnel wall and crashes the show. There, Max chants the spell (''From the light of earth the dark descends, should they return that all depends, when hands point up to moonlit skies, on 10–31 the darkness dies'') and Phears' minions are sent back to the depths of the earth. Max receives applause from the audience who believed that everything was part of the show, while Phears himself escapes in the form of a roach without anyone seeing him.

Cast

as Max Doyle – An eleven-year-old boy who is forced to keep Nicky and Tara away from their enemy, Phears, because only he can see them. *

as Tara Roland – A nine-year-old ghost of a young girl who likes Max more than her brother, Nicky. She is the youngest. She lived in the house Max lives before the Doyles moved in. *

as Nicholas "Nicky" Roland – Tara's older brother who sometimes dislikes Max. *

as Phears – An evil ghost who is after Nicky and Tara after taking their parents. *

as Traci Walker – A popular girl that Max has a crush on *

as Colin Doyle – Max's older brother *

as John Doyle – Max and Colin's father *

Kim Rhodes Kim Rhodes (born June 7, 1969) is an American actress who is known for portraying Cindy Harrison on the soap operas '' Another World'' (1996–1999) and ''As the World Turns'' (2000–2001), Carey Martin on the Disney Channel sitcoms ''The Suite ...

as Harriet Doyle – Max and Colin's mother

Sequel

A sequel, '' Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend?'', was released on DVD on September 2, 2014. Madison Pettis reprised her role as Tara, with new additions

Bella Thorne Annabella Avery Thorne (born October 8, 1997) is an American actress, singer, and writer. She first received recognition for her roles as Margaux Darling in the series '' Dirty Sexy Money'' (2007–2008) and as Ruthy Spivey in the drama series ...

Calum Worthy Calum Worthy (born January 28, 1991) is a Canadian actor, writer, and producer, and co-founder of AI education company 2wai. As an actor he is known for his roles as Dez Wade on the Disney Channel series ''Austin & Ally'', Alex Trimboli in the N ...

Ryan Ochoa Ryan Ochoa (born May 17, 1996) is an American actor. He is known for playing the role of Lanny on the Disney XD (United States), Disney XD series ''Pair of Kings'', and for his recurring role of Chuck Chambers on the Nickelodeon (TV channel), Ni ...

Eric Allan Kramer Eric Allan Kramer (born March 26, 1962) is an American actor. He is known to television audiences for his roles as Scott Miller on AMC's '' Lodge 49'', Dave Rogers on ''The Hughleys'', and Bob Duncan on the Disney Channel sitcom '' Good Luck Cha ...

and

Roshon Fegan Roshon Bernard Fegan (born October 6, 1991), known mononymously as Roshon (stylized as ROSHON, formerly stylized as RO SHON), is an American actor, rapper, and dancer. He is best known for his role as Ty Blue on the Disney Channel original ser ...

signed onto the film. Charlie Hewson replaced Brian Stepanek as the character of Phears. Filming for the sequel was completed on April 17, 2014.

References

External links

Official movie site
* * * {{Rich Correll 2008 fantasy films 2008 comedy horror films 2000s fantasy comedy films 2000s ghost films 2008 films American comedy horror films American children's films 2000s English-language films American films about Halloween Films shot in Scotland Films about orphans Films based on children's books Films about children American ghost films Films based on works by R. L. Stine Universal Pictures direct-to-video films Films with screenplays by Pat Proft 2000s American films Films directed by Rich Correll English-language comedy horror films English-language fantasy comedy films

Plot

Cast

Sequel

See also

References

External links