Best friends since childhood, five military veterans reunite to support their troubled host. But when his invitation for cocktails turns into an impromptu séance, they must face the ghosts of their past. A film by Ted Geoghegan, starring Larry Fessenden, Anne Ramsay, Ron E. Rains, Jeremy Holm, Ezra Buzzington, Kristina Klebe, and Lucy Carapetyan.

Commander Clive “Hock” Hockstatter (Larry Fessenden) invites his lifelong military friends to a cocktail party at his Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York residence on 27 December 1945, following the end of World War II in September of that year.

Former investigator Marla Sheridan (Anne Ramsay) arrives with her husband Bob (Ron E. Rains), a Pentagon clerk whom the other men in the group belittle.

Two more guests join them: Archibald “Archie” Stanton (Jeremy Holm), a war hero recently accused of a terrible war crime by the press, and Paul DiFranco (Ezra Buzzington), a military commander who still proudly wears his uniform.

Haunted by the suicide of his wife, Susan (Lucy Carapetyan), six weeks ago, Hock Hockstatter blames himself for her death. He had laughed when she told him their German neighbor was a Nazi spy, and now he drowns in regret. Having lost faith in religion, he turns to metaphysics, hoping a séance will reveal why Susan took her own life. He convinces his friends to help him in this desperate attempt to find answers.

A séance is an attempt to communicate with spirits, it is a meeting of people who are gathered to receive messages from ghosts or to listen to a spirit medium discourse with or relay messages from spirits.

Hock’s friends are initially skeptical, but their skepticism quickly fades as the closet door bangs, Susan’s locket levitates and shakes, the candles ignite, and Susan’s ectoplasmic arm materializes, accompanied by her voice. They realize that the séance has been a success. Hock releases his friends’ hands and reaches for Susan’s, oblivious to the most crucial rule of séances: never break the circle until the ritual is complete, lest the gateway to another dimension remain open.

Hock is stunned and overwhelmed by the realization that life after death is real, and that he may see his wife again in the afterlife. He makes Paul promise to take care of something he needs him to do for him and Susan, without revealing what it is. Then, Hock pulls a gun from under the table and shoots himself in the mouth in front of everyone. Suddenly, the closet door breaks open, revealing a bound and gagged female stranger. Everyone realizes she is the one who banged on the closet door earlier.

It’s revealed that the woman is Hildegard Baumann (Kristina Klebe), German neighbor that Hock drugged and put her in the closet. Everyone in the room demands to leave and calls the police. Paul, however, refuses to let a Nazi spy escape, believing that she is what Hock wants him to take care of, even though everyone tells him that the war is over and what he’s doing is wrong.

Ted Geoghegan’s supernatural thriller film excels in world-building during the first half, employing the unique post-World War II setting to great effect. The ectoplasmic arm does look somewhat fake, reminiscent of 1980s special effects. Is this intentional?

Larry Fessenden’s performance is mesmerizing. His depiction of a dead man speaking is both nerve-wracking and chilling, especially in his final moments.

However, the middle section of the film feels repetitive, unnecessarily extending the runtime. The ending is also somewhat underwhelming, and there are several strange and illogical choices made by the characters. Overall, the film raises an interesting question: should we believe the words of men more than the words of ghosts?

BROOKLYN 45 premiered at South by Southwest on 12 March 2023. It was released on Shudder streaming service on 9 June.