7 Reasons Ghostbusters: Afterlife Won't Revive The Franchise

7. Location, Location, Location

Few scenes in cinematic history are quite as iconic as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man stomping through the streets of New York. And though less iconic, the visual of the Statue of Liberty plodding through those same streets in Ghostbusters 2 was another breathtaking moment. Both scenes highlight what is an integral part of the original two movies: New York.

In many ways, the New York spirit is the backbone of the original. The capitalist and opportunistic venture of the Ghostbusters, the grouchy mean major, the defiance of New Yorkers in the face of a supernatural apocalypse, and the cynical edge to much of the humour throughout.

It’s quite surprising then that the movie which hopes to reignite the franchise and conjure up nostalgia would relocate to the rather generic sounding Summerville. Furthermore, Summerville is portrayed as just another anywhere-America town, lacking the iconic sights and architecture that packed the original so full of character.

It’s difficult to imagine any set piece having quite the same impact on a farm than it would in the likes of Manhattan, in which the bizarre juxtaposition of having ghosts roam a heavily populated, recognisable city was part of what made Ghostbusters so unique. After all, how frequently in cinema do we already see scenes of ghosts in creepy derelict buildings in the middle of nowhere?​