‘Casper’ Is Weirder and Darker Than You Remember

In 1995, the most famous Harvey Comics character not named Richie Rich made his live-action big-screen debut, though the Casper we see throughout his self-titled movie is brought to life mostly through the best CGI money could buy 30 years ago. With Steven Spielberg producing, a post-Addams Family Christina Ricci starring, an excessive amount of cameos, and a plot that addresses death in ways both tragic and silly, Casper crafts a tone that would be unique to any supernatural fantasy. But it’s especially oddball in a movie ostensibly aimed at children. The directorial debut of Brad Silberling, Casper first hit theaters May 26, 1995, and it was a smash hit, ending up the eighth-highest grossing film of the year (sandwiched between Seven and Waterworld). The biggest kids’ movie of 1995 was Toy Story, which does dig into some existential themes, but doesn’t face the void quite as boldly as Casper does. It begins with a death, as the greedy Carrigan Crittenden (Cathy Moriarty) and her sl ... Read full article.