The film opens Friday in select theaters, as well as digitally and on demand.
Using a cameraman hired through Craigslist, two best buds — virginal Sergio (Carlos Santos) and horn-dog chucklehead Brad (J.R. Villarreal, Akeelah and the Bee) — attempt to capture footage of the ghost they believe haunts the home they share. The specter, glimpsed as an Asian female, first appears at a raucous party they throw. Enlisting the aid of a pretty — but pretty crazy — girl (Fernanda Romero, Drag Me to Hell) who was at said shindig, the loosely formed Ghost Team One learns the house once served as one of ill repute.
Translation: prostitution. The guys are dealing with demon whores.
Directed by first-timers Ben Peyser and Scott Rutherford, who also are two of the four credited writers, Ghost Team One generates a fair amount of laughs on a consistent basis. While a few lines stand out as future contenders for overquoting by fraternities nationwide, most of the humor emerges from the timing and chemistry between the characters, particularly with Sergio and Brad's other roomie, Chuck (Groundlings member Tony Cavalero), whose struggle with sobriety butts heads with the spooky goings-on.
The finale has potential to offend (even more so than the over-reliance on dick jokes), just as Ghost Team One has potential to become a sleeper hit — if not this year, then in the years to come. —Rod Lott
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