Overthinking Ghostbusters

by Adam Bertocci

Shout "Who ya gonna call?" in a crowded room and everybody knows the answer.

It's been almost thirty years since Ghostbusters hit theaters, yet the spirit lives on. But what makes this movie such an enduring classic? Is it the memorable characters, the endlessly quotable dialogue, the eye-catching effects? Or is there something more in the mix?

I decided to try and answer that question.

I decided to create a critical companion to one of the best-loved blockbusters of all time.

A serious work that extols, explores and excessively overanalyzes my favorite film since childhood—one that illustrates not only how Ghostbusters works, but how great movies work.

But I didn't stop there. I wanted to dig into the messages the movie conveys. What does Ghostbusters say about cinema, romance, religion, the '80s, America? How did 1984's breakout hit reflect the fears and concerns of that crucial election year, and define its iconic decade? And how did the film impact the Millennial generation, who grew up adoring it and who've now come into their own as an economic and political force?

And, most importantly, what about the Twinkie?

Well, we'll find out together. One step at a time…