Family-friendly films are hard to find at film festivals, but Haunted (Hantée) delivers just that: a charmingly funny, surprisingly deep fantasy comedy wrapped in a ghost story. It’s a refreshing offering that entertains while providing something meaningful for all ages.

Directed by Rafaël Ouellet, this Quebecois drama follows Mathilde (Jade Brind’Amour), a teenager who moves to rural Quebec with her Millennial parents, Judith (Evelyne Brochu) and Louis (François Létourneau). The family dreams of opening a bed and breakfast in their new home, a Victorian-style manor that would politely be called a “fixer-upper” but, in practice, is more of a money pit.

Centred on Mathilde’s POV and her story, Haunted is best described as a YA film. It’s clearly aimed at young adults, but audiences of all ages can enjoy it. Upon moving in, the teen discovers the house is haunted by Isabeau (Virginie Fortin), a 19th-century ghost who prides herself on staying up to date by observing people and learning modern lingo. Here, she speaks and acts like a 21st-century woman. It’s a humorous and disarming tactic that makes Haunted feel unique and sets the tone for the remainder of the film.

But a ghost is no match for a sullen teenager. Borrowing from Beetlejuice, Isabeau’s scare tactics aren’t particularly successful, and the two quickly form a bond. The ghost seems to fill a void in Mathilde’s life, as viewers learn there’s a mysterious impetus for the family’s move hanging over their heads. Isabeau, meanwhile, is caught in a world that is neither here nor there as she struggles to remember anything about her past life. Together, Mathilde and Isabeau embark on an adventure that brings them closer together and helps them discover who they truly are (cue all the YA feels).

Beautifully shot, the film is set in fall and features gorgeous views of the Quebec landscape. It’s hard not to smile during scenes of helmet-wearing teens out for a bike ride against a backdrop of autumn leaves. The house itself doesn’t feel as oppressive or dark as one might expect from a film about a haunted house. The only truly terrifying thing about the house is the hidden costs of renovations and repairs Louis and Judith need to make to turn it into their dream home. Instead, by not focusing on the house itself, the spotlight lingers on two women who, despite living in very different time periods, grapple with the same issues.

The film weaves the complexities of guilt and what it means to be branded a “criminal” throughout. Both Isabeau and Mathilde are judged by a society that doesn’t have the full story. Women’s voices are trampled by gossip and rumours; now, in the present day, those conversations happen on social media rather than on the front pages of newspapers. Haunted explores what happens when something is repeated so often that it starts to feel like the truth.

Much of the film works in this, including its central performances. Fortin and Brind’Amour make for an engaging pair, with an easy chemistry that gives their unlikely friendship both humour and emotional weight. In supporting roles, Brochu and Létourneau are equally strong as Mathilde’s parents, bringing a natural warmth and believability to the family dynamic. Together, the cast helps ground the film’s more fantastical elements in recognizable family relationships and emotions.

Haunted proves that a film can be entertaining and accessible to younger audiences without shying away from more complicated issues, while still making for an enjoyable watch for older viewers. It’s a ghost story that’s ultimately about discovering there’s more to someone than meets the eye.

Haunted screened at the 2026 Windsor International Film Festival.