The Unbinding

This is quite blatantly a scripted, fiction film, that is- for some reason- listed here as a "documentary".

It's not.

And is quite clear about that fact.

That being said...the reasons for this become obvious when you learn who the filmmakers behind the project are: the husband and wife team of Greg and Dana Newkirk.

A couple who run a museum and podcast dedicated to haunted objects, and stories about haunted objects.

So...this is effectively just an elaborate marketing pitch, and call for you to send them your claimed to be haunted items for free...so they can put it in their museum, and make bank off it.

Now...I do believe in haunted objects...I have a painting called "Evil Man", which has a demonic entity attached to it.

So...I am by no means a skeptic.

However...the story presented here- about an effigy found in the Catskills mountain, with nails driven into the eyes, that is said to be haunted a "Crone" type entity- is quite absurd.

And backed by no evidence whatsoever...other than unfounded, unreliable, unreplicatable "ghost hunting" techniques that can easily be dismissed.

As previously noted...when all is said and done, it's actually quite clear that the whole thing is scripted.

They not only allude to this fact...but even poke fun at it.

So, as a documentary...it has zero value.

Though, as a mockumentary...you might argue it's cleverly done.

That is...if you ignore that it's mainly a feature length commercial for themselves, and their museum.

Acting as a desperate plea for you to send them your thought to be haunted objects.

So it doesn't deserve anything more than a 2.5 out of 10.

Which is being generous.

If it weren't for the fact that it is a blatant attempt to draw susceptible wanna believes to their other content, if it wasn't for the fact that the production value and continuity is so poor, if it wasn't for the fact that the script is so weak, it could have been a good plot for a comedy.

Unfortunately it fails on every level, I did laugh out loud at a couple of the absurd moments in the film but I probably wasn't meant to.

What on earth were you thinking? You should not be making films, you should not be writing scripts and you certainly shouldn't be acting in them.

I have experienced many paranormal events and seen many inexplicable things during my life. This film makes a complete mockery of a rather more serious subject and may actually push people away from wanting to find out the truth.

Dong do it again, it is just a cynical exercise.

"Open up your mind and let everything come through." 13th Floor Elevators

Ok. Maybe not a documentary in the true sense.

But I think these folks, and many others, believe in the paranormal, spirits and spirituality. I mean, what is religion anyway?

I thought the filming was done fairly well. No shaking of the camera. If it had been a Blair Witch attempt, I would not have spent 5 minutes on it.

I also felt the cast did a good job of explaining what they were doing without hyperbolic emotions.

Obviously, not everyone will like or care about this story, but, it's interesting for sure.

Give it a try.

By no stretch of the imagination is this a documentary, not journalism, not contemporaneously filmed, no suggestion that it is fact, no evidence to demonstrate or support the idea that it is fact.

It reminds me of the mockumentary style of the drowned man by Markiplier or some other similar efforts.

If it weren't for the fact that it is a blatant attempt to draw susceptible wanna believes to their other content, if it wasn't for the fact that the production value and continuity is so poor, if it wasn't for the fact that the script is so weak, it could have been a good plot for a comedy.

Unfortunately it fails on every level, I did laugh out loud at a couple of the absurd moments in the film but I probably wasn't meant to.

What on earth were you thinking? You should not be making films, you should not be writing scripts and you certainly shouldn't be acting in them.

I have experienced many paranormal events and seen many inexplicable things during my life. This film makes a complete mockery of a rather more serious subject and may actually push people away from wanting to find out the truth.

Dong do it again, it is just a cynical exercise.

This is not a horror film, nor can it be categorized as part of the typical paranormal reality tv genre, rather it is an investigation into a series of mysterious (and creepy) events surrounding a strange figurine, and the search for answers.

The Newkirks' approach to this investigation is a deep dive into folklore, mythology, religion and witchcraft, combined with their insatiable curiosity, respect, and humor. The atmospheric cinematography, soundtrack, and audio mix draw the viewer into the Newkirk's world.

Their investigation spans several years, and the film relies on recreations from time to time to illustrate the teams' personal experiences, but the look and feel - moody, dark and eerie - is consistent throughout.

Watching this film leaves the viewer with a desire for more opportunities to travel into the Newkirks' world in search of answers - or at least insight - into the unexplainable.