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

horror comedy Comedy horror, also known as horror comedy, is a literary, television, and film genre that combines elements of comedy and horror fiction. Comedy horror has been described as able to be categorized under three types: "black comedy, parody and sp ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

film directed by

Rich Correll Richard Thomas Correll (born May 14, 1948) is an American television actor, director, producer and writer. Life and career Born in Los Angeles County, California, Correll is the son of Charles Correll, who starred as Andy Brown on the radio ...

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

R. L. Stine Robert Lawrence Stine (; born October 8, 1943), sometimes known as Jovial Bob Stine and Eric Affabee, is an American novelist, short story writer, television producer, screenwriter, and executive editor. Stine has been referred to as the "St ...

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 targeted 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 on October 31, 2008.

Plot

Max Doyle ( Sterling Beaumon) 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 and television director. He has appeared on numerous television shows as well as films. He is known for Coop in the animated show ''Megas XLR'' and Jerry Russo in ''Wizards of W ...

) and draws ridicule from his older brother, Colin (

Adam Hicks Adam Paul Nielson Hicks (born November 28, 1992) is an American actor, rapper, singer, and songwriter. 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'' ...

). 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. He is known for his role as Arwin Hawkhauser on the Disney Channel Original Series ''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'' and Brian on ''Brian O'Brian''. He was also a Sector Seve ...

) and his cadre of ghosts. 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. 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 best known for his role as Will in the Disney film '' Cloud 9'' (2014). His first starring role was Billy Forrester in ''How to Eat Fried Worms'' (2006), and as Char ...

) 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 Bro ...

), 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. Lohan is the younger sister of actress and singer Lindsay Lohan. Early life Lohan was born in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, ...

), 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 Halloween, 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

* Sterling Beaumon 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 takes a dislike to Max. *

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

as Traci Walker – A popular girl *

as Colin Doyle – Max's older brother *

as John Doyle – Max and Colin's father *

Kim Rhodes Kimberly 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 ...

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, known for his roles as Dez on the Disney Channel series ''Austin & Ally'', Alex Trimboli in the Netflix series '' American Vandal'', Nicholas Godejohn in the Hulu ser ...

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 series ''Pair of Kings'', and for his recurring role of Chuck Chambers on the Nickelodeon series '' iCarly''. Early life Ryan Ocho ...

Eric Allan Kramer Eric Allan Kramer (born March 26, 1962) is an American actor and fight choreographer. Kramer has appeared in numerous feature films and television programs including ''True Romance'' and '' Robin Hood: Men in Tights'' and is also known for his ...

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
* * * * {{R. L. Stine 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

Plot

Cast

Sequel

See also

References

External links