Ghostville (2012) User Reviews

Fascinating Documentary!

[rogermp7 · 9/10 · 29 October 2012]

Ghostville is Dan T. Hall's seventh reality-based paranormal documentary, and arguably his best. Although the subject matter of the Central State and Fox Hollow Farms documentaries might be a little more compelling, there are aspects of this film that I feel lifts this above those films. The writing team of Hall and Marcia Ellett continues to work well, but this time around Ken Scott gives new life to their words. Scott is incredibly well suited to the task of narrating a paranormal documentary. Hall's film making style continues to grow and evolve as well. Present are Hall's familiar driving scenes transporting the viewer along the roads to "Ghostville," though appreciably shorter it would seem, and absent are the many jump cuts in past films that some have taken issue with. The first act follows Jason Wilkerson and his investigative team from Living Dead Paranormal along with intuitive Cassidy Rae Owens on a journey into the dark history of the Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri. The history of the the psychiatric techniques, devices, and notorious patients is quite fascinating, and I found the investigation, EVPs and other evidence to be very intriguing as well. In the second act Hall takes a unique approach to covering a haunted location. Two teams of investigators, Spirit Paranormal and Scientific Minds Paranormal, take turns investigating the Owen County Home in Spencer, Indiana, as Marilene Isaacs, who is featured in Hall's six previous paranormal documentaries, ties the events of the two investigations together. Isaacs' insights are uncannily accurate as usual, and Spirit Paranormal provided valuable pieces of evidence. The team from Scientific Minds provided a unique perspective on the micro-climate of the location using a technique that utilizes fog and custom-built LASERs. The effect is compelling, thought provoking, and absolutely stunning visually, and I have not seen such devices used in any other paranormal documentary or television program.