...he should've either killed Carl and Willie, or gone to a police station and written down what was happening.
shareInternet: where everyone gets to rewrite ALL movies and scenes.
I prefer the version they filmed, where I don't have to rewrite all the flaws. Works fine.
He didn't want to kill anyone. That's why he showed remorse at both deaths.
shareWell better than risking Molly and Oda Mae's lives.
shareIf he killed either one of them outside of self defense, I think that the shadow demon things would have dragged his ass down below.
shareWell he'd be defending Molly and Oda Mae.
shareIf he killed either one of them outside of self defense, I think that the shadow demon things would have dragged his ass down below.
His crude ability to move objects didn't seem complex enough to use a pen & write paragraphs or, say, utilize a sword well enough to execute someone. He wouldn't be able to use a gun either since he would have to both (1) hold the weapon and (2) pull the trigger, which was too complex of an action for the ghosts (in the movie). I suppose if he got creative he could manipulate objects to coerce an individual in front of a vehicle or train but, even then, there were limitations since the human being in question could just flee the area, etc. While the ghosts stuck on this plane had some amount of power, if they developed it, they weren't omnipotent and were hindered by certain limitations.
Plus add to this what sslssg says above.
There are things he did, like turning the stove off, that seem harder than writing and killing.
shareTurning a nob for a second or two seemed to be about as complex as they could do. Moving the penny the way Sam did was a relatively primitive action, albeit impressive to someone on the physical plane.
shareWell you may be right. But there are still ways he could kill them, or convince the police.
He could move objects at the police station, to prove that ghosts exist, then Oda Mae could tell them what he was saying. They may be a little skeptical, considering her record, but they'd still take it seriously.
Or he could beat Carl and Willie to death. He was able to punch Carl.
When the ghost from the train car taught Sam how to focus and move objects it seemed like it took quite a bit of effort, as observed in Sam's gradual growth in that ability. Could he or any ghost keep up that kind of concentration & effort long enough to beat someone to death? Evidently not since they were just able to scare & razzle people in the movie, not kill 'em, although I suppose they could if it was the right person under the right conditions, like a fragile old man or lady.
Also, the movie seems to be saying that people who physically die weren't supposed to be stuck on this plane in the afterlife, which explains why the ghost in the train car was rather mad and getting worse. The longer Sam stayed on this plane the more he risked ending up like him. Putting 2 + 2 together, ghosts posed little threat to people in the natural world other than scaring them now and then. Sam was only a threat because he still had his wits about him, but for how long (if he didn't pass on to Heaven or whatever)?
As far as the police station goes, (1) police are naturally skeptical by the nature of their work and (2) as you pointed out, they knew Oda Mae was a con and so wouldn't give her the time of day. In a big city like that they'd be too busy to waste time on her outlandish claims and a supposed ghost (from their point of view). They'd just laugh her off.