Ghostwatch

This show doesn't deserve anything more than two stars and since I got tricked into wasting my 1 hour and 39 mins I'm going to be extra petty and rate this a one star. How could the audience feel terrified of this amateurish horror investigation with shoddy scenarios and fake TV enthusiasm of the people involved. What strikes me in particular is the amount of golden reviews on this site for ghostwatch. It's as if like life is extremely farcical sometimes and this is one of those times. I have been more spooked from just still pictures than the entirety of this show. I guess in the end this is a minority opinion so let it be and let people enjoy what they want to.

Just watched this again for the first time on DVD (It's available on Virgin On Demand) with my wife, who missed it first time around. Granted, when you know (now) that it was all a fake, then some of the power of the film is diminished, but it still managed to creep me out quite a bit. The first time I watched it I was fifteen and had missed the initial credits, and was well suckered in. Not quite daft enough to believe it was real, but there was still a pure sense of dread as cheesy TV presenters like Mike Smith and Sarah Greene seemingly got involved in a live Halloween broadcast that got out of hand. I did sit there thinking 'is this real or not?' - can't imagine what I would have though had I been younger, though. Tons of subtleties abound, as the tension builds and things move from the cheery British documentary to full-blown paranormal chaos. I won't go into the details here because it's worth watching fresh. My wife didn't think it was that scary (although she enjoyed it) but she said that was down to knowing it was a hoax. Still a classic though. A definite must-watch for any horror fan.

source: Ghostwatch

Moviecut—Ghostwatch

Thanks to a glowing review from Bad Movie Report.com and the fine folks at Cinefile Video in Los Angeles, I was able to get my hands on a PAL DVD of this classic and it was worth it. I'm a genre aficionado so I've already seen "Blair Witch" (incredibly overrated) and "Cannibal Holocaust" (also incredibly overrated) so I'm pretty much immune to the Hype Machine, whether it be from Mainstream Establishment or Indie Film Webnerds. Also, I didn't grow up in the UK with the myth and legend that sprouted like kudzu from bootleg videos or traumatic childhood memories. I went into "Ghostwatch" with no real expectations and I can honestly say it delivers. It's easily the best horror movie I've seen in years. The film starts harmlessly enough and its actually kinda dull for the first 20m, but then the weirdness kicks in and it just escalates into a genuinely chilling finale. Now the movie was damn creepy to begin with but it becomes creepier on reflection with the subliminal appearances of the ghost and when you go back and freeze frame certain segments to see "Pipes" staring out at you, it makes you break out in goosebumps. It's similar to the urban myth of there being a ghost in "Three Men & A Baby"; that happened when I was in High School, and when I saw the shotgun and the kid...brrrrr! "Ghostwatch" is just like that. Highly Recommended!

Before Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project and even the criminally underrated The Last Broadcast was Ghostwatch. While it didn't really define found footage like the aforementioned movies did (technically, 1980's Cannibal Holocaust was the first to do it), it was one of the first films to have the characters film a majority of their scenes. Ghostwatch is a mockumentary about four respected presenters and their camera crew who attempt to discover the truth behind the most haunted house in the UK, which first aired in 1992. Ghostwatch is complete with testimonials, calls to the set from viewers, and live footage shot by the camera crew, making the viewer feel like they're watching a legitimate documentary. This does start out rather slowly, making the most of the documentary-style filmmaking, but after that gimmick starts to wear off, the film switches to more of a horror film. The last half of the plot takes twists and turns that you'll never predict while still scaring you senseless. If you're a fan of mockumentaries or ghost movies in general, you don't want to pass up Ghostwatch.

Finally got hold of the DVD today, and I am pleased to say that the shivers were still sent up and down my spine, as they first did more than 10 years ago. After seeing it (in the daytime!), I jumped at every single noise in the building where I live, and found myself shaking. The programme seems to be so much stronger than the sum of its (not inconsiderable) parts, and is so subtly written and directed that any dated aspects (chunky technology, and Parky looking less wrinkly than he does these days) or weak performances (the elder daughter is much less convincing than the younger daughter) pale in comparison with an immensely rich, disturbing, powerful piece of television. An event. As the commentary suggests, there is so much about families, the supernatural and the public's relationship with TV - even if the producer uses the word "genre" too much - but nothing will prepare you for the visceral scares that will leave your heart pounding. Was that Pipes, there? No. Yes? And the subtleties visible on this DVD! When Sarah Greene investigates the damp patch in the living room, the clock beind her has already stopped at the same time - 9pm - as the cameraman's watch had. And take a GOOD look at the spectators standing behind Craig Charles as he leaves the playground... For anyone who wants to experience just what television can do to your nerves... Just buy this programme!

This ghost story is an hour and a half long snooze-fest. It is ill conceived , poorly written and directed. It is not interesting and certainly not scary. I can't imagine why it garners such high ratings.

I am an American who never heard of this before. I found out about it via a Horror Facebook group. I tried in vain to locate it, and finally Shudder has it. Holy crap! This scared the hell out of me! I have seen this several times and every time, it scares me. I've ordered the dvd hoping that it is, as the seller claims, region free, if not, I'll be selling it on Ebay. The BBC really should release it on bluray for everyone. They'd make a fortune!

A TV show investigates a haunted house. Live! On air! With household names! Unfair to judge this by the achievements of reality/found-footage productions since 1992, but the dialogue and acting are clearly weak, and the tone is confused between irony and sincerity. In the end there's a spooky sense of mystery as the live feed is cut off, but it's completely ruined by the hokey manifestation of the spook inside the studio. The story tellers failing to commit to their story. My preference would be for irony, and a satire of smug TV presenters. As it is - no scares, no laughs, and a feeling it was tossed together by people who didn't care.