In the endearing 2024 fantasy romance film Girl Haunts Boy, a vivacious and adventure-seeking spirit named Bea has been trapped in her home for over a century, with the 1920s teen forming an unlikely relationship with the resident’s newest occupant, Cole, a troubled and grieving young man whom she falls head-over-heels in love with. After decades of being confined to the same walls and space, Bea begins to find hope that she will one day break free of her constraints, after falling victim to a neverending curse from an ancient ring.
Together, the star-crossed lovers help one another find a new meaning to life (or the afterlife, in Bea’s case), as they attempt to find a way to free Bea from her curse while being able to prevent their meaningful relationship from ending. Girl Haunts Boy is based on the upcoming Cesar Vitale young adult novel of the same name and was released on the streaming juggernaut Netflix on October 10, 2024, arriving on the platform just in time for Halloween.
Release Date October 10, 2024
Director Emily Ting
Cast Michael Cimino , Peyton List , Phoebe Holden , Andrea Navedo
A Paranormal Love Story for YA Fans
Based on Cesar Vitale’s upcoming novel of the same name, Netflix’s latest original hit Girls Haunts Boy brilliantly blends supernatural elements with the romance genre, telling the intriguing story of a 17-year-old ghost named Bea (Peyton List) who has been trapped for decades within the confinements of her former home, forced to haunt the premises since the 1920s because of the curse of an ancient ring. When the troubled and grieving teenager Cole (Michael Cimino) moves into the spooky place with his mother, he is stunned to realize he just so happens to be sharing his bedroom with a restless, adventure-seeking spirit.
Naturally, sparks begin to fly between the two lonely adolescents and Bea and Cole find themselves falling quick and fast for one another, with the star-crossed lovers’ romance defying the odds of both the human and spiritual world. When Cole discovers a way to break the curse and finally free Bea of her century-long imprisonment, the love-struck teen is forced to decide if he can let his beloved new girlfriend go and help her move on into the afterlife after years of being trapped, finding himself plagued by an unfathomable emotional dilemma.
Girl Haunts Boy thoughtfully explores heavy subjects like death, grief, and loss, as Beau helps Cole climb out of the depths of his own personal darkness after devastatingly losing his father, just like he gives the spunky heroine both love and hope, two things she has not been able to experience in her neverending isolation. The supernatural romantic drama features the lovestruck duo as they overcome their respective pain and sadness and seek comfort in the company of one another, tugging on the heartstrings of audiences everywhere.
Related 15 Young Adult Book Adaptations That Should Have Been Better
Young Adult book adaptations have had their fair share of successes and failures, but these 15 films in particular should have been better.
Who Is the Creative Crew Behind Girl Haunts Boy?
Filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer Emily Ting helmed the tender and engrossing fantasy and is no stranger to the YA world, as she had previously directed Netflix’s 2022 teen rom-com Tall Girl 2 in addition to the critically acclaimed coming-of-age drama Go Back to China, which she also wrote and largely based on her own upbringing and complicated relationship with her father. Cobra Kai star Peyton List winningly portrays the vivacious and fun-loving Bea, with the actress having also had prominent roles in movies such as The Inheritance, Valley Girl, and Hubie Halloween.
Related 10 Best Spooky Season Movies to Watch While You Decorate for Halloween
Watching horror movies leading up to Halloween is a tradition for many, but for decorating the house, something less frightening and more fun is best.
List is joined on-screen by Michael Cimino, who has also had success on both the big and small screen and headlined the celebrated drama series Love, Victor as the titular character, in addition to appearing in the spine-tingling horror film Annabelle Comes Home and Netflix comedy Senior Year. While most Hollywood adaptations are based on a book that has already been released, Girl Haunts Boy decided to do something a little bit different, as the endearing movie became available to stream on October 10, 2024, while the tie-in novel is set to be released on October 29 and will more deeply explore the relationship and lives of Bea and Cole.
Easy-Viewing For Spooky Season Lovers
Girl Haunts Boy is the perfect choice for viewers who want to get into the spooky spirit without having to go the blood and gore route of slashers and hair-raising horror flicks, and audiences will likely swoon right along with Bea and Cole as their epic love story unfolds on the screen. A refreshing mix of romance and the paranormal, the wholesome tale features impressive performances by its young and talented cast and is an easy watch, and fans will enjoy witnessing the unlikely lovers connect despite belonging in two vastly different eras (and spiritual planes).
The new release will likely become another ratings knockout for the streaming giant and is something that can easily be watched along with more laid-back Halloween hits such as Zombieland, We Have a Ghost, Van Helsing, and the Alfred Hitchcock masterpiecePsycho, all of which are available on Netflix and will help audiences embrace the spooktacular holiday without forcing them to sleep with the light on. Girl Haunts Boy will certainly appeal to young viewers who want a heaping dose of romance with their thrills and chills, with the big screen adaptation arriving just in time for Halloween.
Stream Girl Haunts Boy on Netflix.
You can view the original article HERE.
