‘A Useful Ghost’ Review – A Sentimental, Absurd Take On Grief [Cannes 2025]

The Cannes Film Festival is often littered with under-the-radar gems. It’s a place where unique ideas can be showcased on one of the biggest stages the film industry has to offer. Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s feature directorial debut, A Useful Ghost, is a perfect example of these overshadowed films. The film follows Nat (Davika Hoorne), the recently deceased wife of March (Wisarut Himmarat), as her ghost possesses a vacuum cleaner to keep him safe from the dust epidemic that took her own life.

Yes, you read that right. Nat’s ghost possesses a vacuum cleaner. This is only the premise of Boonbuchachoke’s zany film, but the approach is more sincere than it may sound. The first half of the film shows Nat comforting March and acts more as a family drama than anything else. March’s family despised Nat when she was among the living, and hates her even more now as she embodies the vacuum cleaner. Their love is so strong that it supersedes the classic “till death do us part” vow made in weddings. 

Before we meet Nat and her vacuum cleaner, the film establishes the existence of ghosts through various appliances being possessed by dead workers at March’s mother Suman’s (Apasiri Nitibhon) factory. The deadpan reactions from most of the factory workers show that this isn’t necessarily a novel encounter in this world. These ghosts exist all around us, and their schemes are more disruptive than frightening. 

Boonbunchachoke’s ability to balance the absurdism of his premise with sincerity is unbelievable. I came into this film expecting a more thought-out version of Rubber (2010) but was left with much, much more. Don’t get me wrong, there is a heightened Rubber-esque quality once the film shifts from its family drama towards the end, but there are compelling emotional beats that help it soar above other similar films. 

At various points in the film, we see through March’s eyes and Nat’s vacuum cleaner transforms back into her body, and these are the most poignant moments. Hoorne’s performance is incredibly moving, wanting only to be with March and protect him from the dust ailments that killed her. Her portrayal of love towards March and hurt when others try to keep them apart is crushingly raw and is the emotional core of the film. 

I will admit, the sincerity of the film’s first half works better than the absurdism found in the second, but they still work together in an odd kind of way. It’s a testament to the team’s control over the material that it never completely falls apart. The premise is unique enough to carry the film through its less cohesive moments. 

A Useful Ghost explores some important themes, particularly looking into grief and how those who leave us are still with us somehow. Of course, the script takes it to extremes, but these themes still resonate. For March, the only thing that can make him well is anything that reminds him of Nat. He barely had time to grieve her before she reappeared in cleaning appliance form. Holding on for too long removes his ability to process his pain and move past this, only prolonging the healing process. In turn, Nat can’t let her soul rest until she sees that March is safe from the dust and any other ghosts that may wish him harm. Their love for each other is admirable, but it is keeping them from moving on from the pain they feel.

It’s also nice to think about our loved ones staying with us somehow when they’ve passed on. This is a bit more interference than I would want from someone in the spirit realm, but Nat is certainly looking out for March better than any of his living relatives do. 

Overall, A Useful Ghost succeeds in its goals of approaching grief in a goofy yet sentimental way. Boonbunchachoke is certainly an up-and-coming director to watch out for in the coming years, and it will be fun to see him create an even tighter narrative.

A Useful Ghost held its World Premiere in the Critics’ Week section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Director: Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke

Screenwriter: Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke

Rated: NR

Runtime: 130m