Ghostwatch

I was also one of the fortunate immature teens who saw Ghostwatch sitting alone on the sofa watching in 1992. Computer games awaited but better than average Saturday night quiz shows light entertainment cajoled me to stay rooted to the spot. I was looking forward to Hammer's/Terrence Fisher's Curse of the Werewolf that followed this 'Ghostwatch' program I was about to witness. This documentary/drama/horror/supernatural closed the curtains for the evening but I didn't turn off the light that night. I think it has something to do with the story development. It is revealed that this should be taken seriously and cleverly absorbs and you willingly go along. When the scares eventually occur you are totally disorientated and afraid. Images in Ghostwatch stay in your mind for hours afterward, the haunting Pipe's (true evil) revelation is typical Nigel Kneal, combined with the destruction of the family unit is absolutely terrifying. I got the DVD after all those years and now I'm convinced that the scare has something to do with periodic emotions. Those who saw it at a vulnerable age and wanted to be socialising more successfully than their older brothers or had dreams of being on where the best Halloween party of 1992 was being held got scared. Those socialites who were at those parties and heard the hype and saw Ghostwatch subsequently were less impressed. Why? Because they missed out on something that will never happen again. I say this because, depending on my emotional balance, sometimes I laugh hard at all the ham acting/sketchy dialogue and Parkenson, but sometimes when Pipes speaks, suddenly materialises and disappears I still find the experience unnerving. Only five films have made me feel like this: Demons (age 8), Ghostwatch (age 11), The Exorcist (age 13), Blair Witch Project (age 19) and Ringu (age 22).

I recently watched "WNUF Halloween Special", a horror film that is obviously inspired by this film, because it is VERY similar, except for a few little details here and there. I must say that Ghostwatch does it much better. I only wish I could have been sitting in front of a TV in 1993 watching this and not knowing it was fake. It seems like it would have been very convincing back then.

Ghostwatch is a film that is made in what is similar to the "found footage" style of films. It is essentially made to look like a TV special where they investigate a haunted house, and things get very crazy. It's full of many creepy and subtle spooky scenes, and it really creates that scary vibe that a lot of films are missing. What is most unique about this film is its idea of television and how it is incorporated into the haunting. It adds another layer of creepy, and perhaps even is saying something about television and how it is incorporated into peoples everyday lives and can even be a big part of them.

In the end, I would say this is a must see for horror fans. It's spooky and should be seen alone for the fact that it has a place in history as a TV movie that seemed so real that it tricked thousands of people into believing it's content.

An excellent piece of television, very well written and structured. The format follows a supposed live TV paranormal investigation into an ordinary house somewhere in England which has been experiencing some apparently terrifying goings on. All I can say is that the script for this is brilliant in getting in all the tiny little details which make it look like a real and sometimes less than perfect production. Several people in the film who are not actors all do a superb job. The way in which the scares are done in this and the actual story that unfolds are all very skilfully done. This remains for me one the smartest and most brilliant pieces of TV drama/horror that's been done.

I was 12 when Ghostwatch was shown on Holloween on BBC1! I remember sitting on the sofa with my Brother and Mam, my Dad went out before the show had began. We were pulled into the story and got scared to death by Pipes and the story of the Early family, this was years before Most Haunted hit the screens! You could spot Pipes, you could hear the stories and watch as the team falls apart! I totally believed Sarah Greene was taken by Pipes and that Parky was taken over by Pipes too, GREAT TV! Little did we know that it was due to be banned and never shown again, until the ban ran out and it was released on DVD/Video, which I had for Xmas 3 years ago! Even now I cant watch it alone or with the lights off.....the power of being 12 back then and Pipes coming to get me still shakes me up! For me Ghostwatch is pure great British TV! Sure it might be dated and some people might call it boring...but to this 26 years old...sleepiness nights happen after I watch this show 14 years later!

Back in 1992, the BBC decided to make a TV movie for Halloween. However, instead of having it look like a movie, "Ghostwatch" was presented like it was a live TV show. And, despite the beginning of the show betraying it's a movie, many believed it was all real and some viewers were genuinely freaked out by the film.

Michael Parkenson, a TV presenter and journalist, heads the show...playing himself. Along with him are a group of TV hosts and paranormal investigators who are investigating a seemingly haunted house. At first, the film is pretty mundane but over the course of the movie, spirits begin to manifest themselves and cause all sorts of scary stuff.

The best thing about the movie is that they made it look like a TV show...and if you come into it a bit late, I could see someone believing what they see. Overall, a very clever idea and a seriously freaky film towards the end. Well worth seeing.