Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- eerie
- foreboding
- brooding
- halloween night
- late night horror viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a low-energy, derivative supernatural thriller with weak execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mike and Kristen investigate ghostly images, terrifying messages, and the disappearance of their son.
The crying woman’s legend connects a historical death to the family’s present-day ordeal.
The child disappears during a Halloween carnival, making festive public space the source of lasting fear.
Films like Pay the Ghost, and why
Insidious
supernatural family disappearance, haunted domestic spaces, and a child-centered curse
The Woman in Black
ghostly revenge, grieving parents, and an investigation into a buried supernatural history
The Grudge
urban paranormal mystery involving a missing child and an ominous restless spirit
Movie Details
- Director
- Uli Edel
- Release Date
- 2015-09-16
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (835)
Cast
- Nicolas Cage
- Sarah Wayne Callies
- Veronica Ferres
- Lyriq Bent
- Lauren Beatty
- Kalie Hunter
- Jack Fulton
- Stephen McHattie
- Susannah Hoffmann
- Mark Irvingsen
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Pay the Ghost about?
- A grieving father confronts a vengeful ghost and an old curse when his son vanishes during a Halloween carnival.
- What is Pay the Ghost like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Pay the Ghost as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Pay the Ghost violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Pay the Ghost as mild.
- What did critics think of Pay the Ghost?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a low-energy, derivative supernatural thriller with weak execution.
- Which films are like Pay the Ghost?
- Films with a similar feel include Insidious, The Woman in Black, and The Grudge.
- How long is Pay the Ghost?
- Pay the Ghost runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Pay the Ghost?
- In United States, Pay the Ghost streams on Philo.
