Ghost Chase (1987)

Synopsis
A seldom-seen freshman effort from Roland Emmerich, co-writer and director of mega-budget '90s blockbusters Stargate, Independence Day and Godzilla, this lightweight comedy reveals a vague glimmer of the director's flair for fantasy filmmaking. The story involves a group of young would-be filmmakers in Los Angeles, one of whom inherits an antique clock possessed of the benevolent spirit of his late grandfather's butler. The ghost eventually takes the form of a cute alien creature from the set of a future film project who helps the kids solve a mystery involving their grandfather's hidden fortune -- which sparks the attention of a greedy film producer. Reasonably entertaining for young audiences, this project is something of a follow-up to the director's earlier Poltergeist-inspired film Making Contact. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide