DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. That's the Spirit remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school musical numbers and don't mind a movie that barely has a plot, you'll probably enjoy That's the Spirit. It’s a total mess, but a fun one. If you need a tight story or jump scares, skip it. You will absolutely hate this if you are a stickler for logic.
The whole thing feels like a fever dream you had in a dusty antique store. Two night watchmen are just trying to do their jobs, but the pawn shop is haunted by a bunch of performers who clearly didn't get the memo that they were supposed to be scary.
Instead of chains rattling, you get actual songs. So many songs. It’s less The Little Shoes and more of a stage revue filmed by accident in a haunted set. Mantan Moreland is doing his thing, and honestly, the man could make a cardboard box look interesting.
The set is crowded. It feels like every instrument and weird knick-knack they had in the studio was crammed into one room. Sometimes the camera just lingers on a tuba for three seconds too long. It’s distracting but weirdly charming.
There’s a moment where the music gets surprisingly loud, and you can see the watchmen looking confused. I don't think they were acting. I think they were just as baffled as I was.
It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Two Little Imps, where things happen because they have to, not because they make sense. It’s not trying to be a deep dive into the afterlife. It’s just trying to fill the room with rhythm.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a movie. But watching these performers just go for it in a room full of junk? That’s real cinema in my book. Sometimes you don't need a plot. You just need a good beat and a ghost who knows how to hold a note. 🎷👻