Sometimes you stumble on a movie that just gets you.
While Extra Ordinary might prove too esoteric for mainstream audiences, it has cult success written all over it. I defy even the evilest and most vile worshippers among us to watch this hilarious tale of a wayward ghost hunter, an inept warlock, and a man plagued by his dead wife’s nagging to keep a straight face through the whole movie. Seriously, I dare you. If this is what the future of “Irish horror comedy” looks like, I’ll take all you can give me.
Directors Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman have gleefully built Extra Ordinary on a strong foundation of cult and horror films that have come before it. From the ground up, their film is a loving ode to an often overlooked and dismissed genre, with a specific nod to Satanic Panic-styled occult movies of the ‘70s and ‘80s. As a fan of the weirder side of cinema, Extra Ordinary not only checks a lot of boxes for me but also produces some of the most heartfelt and earned belly laughs of the year so far.
Building on the indie success of such off-kilter gems like Bubba Ho-Tep (2002), Shaun of the Dead (2004), and What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Extra Ordinary takes things a step further by mixing in the social awkwardness of TV’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office to create a truly unique experience. It wears these and other more obvious horror influences proudly on its sleeve with direct nods to such films as The Exorcist and Ghostbusters, but it’s the characters that drive the story home.
Led by brilliant Irish comedic actors Maeve Higgins and Barry Ward, Extra Ordinary tells the story of Rose (Higgins), a driving instructor trying to put her past as a paranormal investigator behind her. We learn through her – and her late father’s ‘80s Time Life-influenced VHS series “The Talents” – that ghosts are everywhere, but usually manifest as very mundane occurrences such as a waving tree branch or possessed potholes. When she reluctantly agrees to help a widower named Martin (Ward) with his daughter (who’s been put under a spell by an evil psychedelic folk-signing one-hit-wonder played by Will Forte, and yes you read all of that correctly) she finds herself back in the ghost business, against her better judgment.
The premise alone is too deliciously odd not to love, but when you factor in charm and heart, Extra Ordinary becomes nearly irresistible. Higgins nails Rose’s quirky mixture of embarrassing gaffes and reserved confidence while Forte overacts in the best ways a man with a comb-over and a mustache possibly can. In addition, Ward proves wonderful throughout but really turns it after becoming a vessel for multiple lost spirits. Watch how quickly his face and voice completely change every time Bonnie’s cigarette pops into his mouth (that will make sense eventually, trust me). It makes me laugh just thinking about it.
Extra Ordinary is a scant 94 minutes, but it’s packed to the gills with jokes, gags, and references. The final act leans a bit too heavily on the absurd, betraying some of its expertly timed and paced comedic elements up to that point, but these are easily forgivable offenses considering the ride. Unique and loving films like Extra Ordinary are a welcomed change of pace, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for the directors and the genre.
James is a writer, skateboarder, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.