By Melissa Antoinette Garza
There was a time when people were less skeptical of the world around them. They were less cynical and believed more readily what they were told. Maybe, it was before 9/11 or prior to the 24-hour news networks creating topics to talk about and providing more speculation than facts. Years before the weapons of mass destruction were never found and before politicians and news anchors were viewed as showmen rather than journalists, the general public had an almost admirable naiveté about them. I’m sure some view it as pathetic in this day and age, but there is something genuinely remarkable about the ability to take someone at face value.
Most know of the famous reading of H.G. Wells War of the Worlds by the legendary Orson Wells over the radio which scared the listeners into thinking aliens were invading. Most in our Mother Land know of another spectacular event that petrified viewers so much that the reshowing of the dramatization was banned. Thankfully, that didn’t extend to DVD production.The program in question appeared on Halloween night in 1992.
Though it occurred during standard BBC viewing the dramatization utilized anchors and journalists familiar with the public and was shown in a documentary style which confused audiences. It followed a single mom and two young daughters who claimed to be encountering a ghost the family named “Pipes” because the noises seemed to manifest from the piping within the house. At first, the film is slow building. People are calling in and talking about their own ghost experiences while a team is inside the haunted house waiting in anticipation.
Slowly, things begin to occur that are unexplained. At one point, it appears that the entire haunting was a hoax, but a paranormal psychologist isn’t as sure as there are certain events that remain unexplained. Soon, callers are insisting they saw a ghostly figure standing in the girls’ room during one sequence when they were lying in bed. Things begin to go completely haywire when it becomes clear that the news program acted as a nationwide séance which was bringing back a demonic force hellbent on destruction. The conclusion is amazing and the entire production was done brilliantly.
I’m often told that I view found-footage films too harshly. Though, there are definitely some that I enjoy, I certainly am not on the bandwagon of Paranormal Activity fans. Too frequently filmmakers use the mockumentary method in effort to make the storytelling easier and the lack of conclusion and answers, explained by using the pretext of realism.There are times, and this is a perfect example, of when these dramatizations get it right. It was scary, had a definitive conclusion and answered the questions that were posed throughout the film in a manner that not only added to the suspense but created an intriguing and intense story. Overall, I highly suggest seeking this out and watching it. The acting is superb and the production horrifiying.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10
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