Mob Ghost is a horror-comedy short from director-screenwriter, Jimmy Caputo. George (Paul Noonan), a recently divorced man, is watching TV late at night when a pot on the stove inexplicably begins to boil. This is an unusual supernatural occurrence, and he receives help from an amateur paranormal investigator from Craigslist, Pete (Jeff Blanchette). Pete tells him his apartment is haunted by a mob boss, Paulie “The Butcher” (Nick Albanese), who famously hid there with his mistress. The mob boss’s life got cut short when someone broke into the apartment and killed him.
Paulie has to be defeated through a special spell before midnight; in a moment of cowardice, Pete reveals that he’s never taken down a ghost before. The situation worsens as the mob boss belittles the duo with his sarcastic East Coast humor.
“…the apartment is haunted by a mob boss named Paulie ‘The Butcher’ …”
Jimmy Caputo’s short film is fantastic! His direction and screenplay stand out because he allows his characters to be wacky. This goofy energy plays into the film’s performances, as Paul Noonan and Jeff Blanchette make a great duo with their distinct personalities. Despite his limited screen time, Nick Albanese steals the film and perfectly captures Italian-American characteristics. Anthony Silva’s cinematography is inventive, timing his lighting for specific comedic beats.
Mob Ghost stands out from other horror-comedy with its simple humor. While most horror-comedies aim for genre specific satire or hot button issues, it makes Caputo’s film feel like a vacation. This is a film for those who love the original Ghostbusters films and Young Frankenstein. I hope Jimmy Caputo creates more comedy shorts because he has a great understanding of imperfections in human nature. Just sit back and have a laugh with this horror gem!
"…feels like a vacation"
