10 Exact Moments Movies Stopped Trying
8. Abby Is Possessed By A Ghost - Ghostbusters (2016)
The 2016 all-female reboot of Ghostbusters didn't get off to a good start when before it even came out, it drew criticism from fans nostalgic to the original titles, as well as the torrid sexist abuse the film suffered simply because it consisted of female leads.
The film's cast was solid: four Saturday Night Live alumni leading the script with experiences in comedy and improv going back decades; It almost makes you wonder if the film needed a script, and instead just film the actresses riff for an hour and a half.
But alas a script was written and the cast did what they could to stand by it. One scene midway through the film shows Abby (Melissa McCarthy) possessed by a demonic spirit and begin attacking the other Ghostbusters. The scene is chock full of "possession" cliches, including head-spins, lifting characters up from the ground with one arm and speaking with a deep voice.
What's frustrating is that this scene does nothing to further the plot. Abby isn't possessed for very long, and it doesn't trip up the story or the Ghostbusters themselves in any way. It's a pointless sequence that proves the writing wasn't fishing for any original or unique ideas.