Kat Harvey and her relationship with her father are integral to Casper, but it’s not immediately clear what happened to Kat’s mother in the movie. Based on the original Casper The Friendly Ghost comics, the 1995 movie starring Christina Ricci sees Kat and her father, Dr. James Harvey, who move to Whipstaff Manor to search for ghosts. At Whipstaff, Kat and James befriend Casper and his three goofy uncles. This brings much-needed companionship to all involved parties, especially the Harveys, who deeply feel the absence of Kat’s mother, Amelia.
Despite not appearing in 1995’s Casper until the very end, Amelia Harvey plays a huge role in the movie. While Amelia is so important to the Harveys throughout Casper, it might not be immediately clear what actually happened to Kat’s mother prior to the movie. That being said, Casper’s explanation for what happened to Kat’s mother in the film is a testament to how special of a person she is, even if she does not physically appear with her family.
Kat’s Mom Died Before The Events Of Casper
Sadly, it’s revealed in a news story about James’ afterlife therapy services at the beginning of 1995’s Casper that Kat’s mom died prior to the events of the movie. While the circumstances of Amelia’s death aren’t revealed in the film, it is mentioned that her passing was “sudden [and] unexpected,” so her absence is majorly felt by Kat and James, who are still grieving her loss. The fact that Amelia Harvey passed away prior to 1995’s Casper is a major plot point since James has been pursuing afterlife therapy so he can attempt to contact Amelia once more. Though Amelia is physically gone, she still plays a large role in Casper.
Why Amelia Harvey Became An Angel In Casper, Not A Ghost
At the end of Casper, Bill Pullman’s James Harvey finally gets to make contact with his deceased wife, but unlike other spirits that appear in Casper, she’s not a ghost but an angel. It’s a bit confusing as to why Amelia is the only person to be featured as an angel rather than a ghost in Casper, but the movie does provide an in-universe explanation for this phenomenon. James states that ghosts are spirits with unfinished business, which applies to Casper given his tragic backstory. However, according to Amelia, she was so loved when she was alive that she has no unfinished business, which is why she isn’t a ghost.
Ultimately, the reasons that Amelia isn’t a ghost in Casper are also the reasons that she is an angel. Angels are often depicted as watching over or guarding the living, which is a role that could be interpreted as maternal qualities. Amelia even mentions to James that she is watching over him and Kat, making her a quintessential angel figure for the living Harveys. Since Amelia is an angel in 1995’s Casper, she might not have been physically seen throughout most of the movie, but she was always with her family in spirit.
