Haunted Highway is a good, fun show to watch. It can be a little too "Blair Witch" in regards to the unstable camera shots. So be careful if you get motion sickness easily. There little to no "spooky music" piped in post production. Of course, there's editing to make the show more interesting, but it's not as bad as some of the other out there. And the fact that there's no gang of camera operators running around with them is a plus not seen on many reality paranormal shows. Jack is a well known person, but I also like that they typically have another group (Jael & Devin from Destination Truth and Fact or Faked - both SYFY shows) that do their own investigation. Also, it's good to see other legends and, to a lesser extent see and learn of other parts of the country and other cultures. I gave it a 7/10 simply because there's room for improvement. But still a good show to watch.
10 Reviews
Manufactured and Ridiculous
helenaparthenos6 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I watched the Darkman of Standing Rock episode and have no desire to see any more episodes of this show. Everything is so fake and ridiculously cliché.
Most ghost shows manufacture situations and drama, but this show so obviously fakes things that it isn't even fun to watch. This is like a really boring version of the Blair Witch Project (and that is saying something).
Evidence that they presented for the existence of their so called haunts could easily be explained by non paranormal events. One event, and I will be vague so as not to give spoilers, was obviously purposefully caused by the camera person.
Don't get me wrong, I actually believe in the paranormal and enjoy paranormal shows (even if they are all filled with bad science and some manufactured drama)... but this show was so bad, I almost stopped believing at all.
Most ghost shows manufacture situations and drama, but this show so obviously fakes things that it isn't even fun to watch. This is like a really boring version of the Blair Witch Project (and that is saying something).
Evidence that they presented for the existence of their so called haunts could easily be explained by non paranormal events. One event, and I will be vague so as not to give spoilers, was obviously purposefully caused by the camera person.
Don't get me wrong, I actually believe in the paranormal and enjoy paranormal shows (even if they are all filled with bad science and some manufactured drama)... but this show was so bad, I almost stopped believing at all.
Different formula, and it works better.
yellowdevel7 August 2012
Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, Destination Truth, and Haunted Highway. One of these shows is different, one of these shows doesn't have a camera crew. That show would be Haunted Highway.
The fact that the Haunted Highway team doesn't have a production crew following them around on their hunts makes for a more dramatic show, with a better foot in reality than other paranormal reality shows. That doesn't necessarily mean that the shows aren't good, it's just that Haunted Highway grasps attention better than, say, Destination Truth, a show which keeps me wondering what parts are fabricated for the cameras, and what's unscripted. I've been a HUGE fan of Destination Truth since the beginning, but the atmosphere is utterly non-existent in contrast to Haunted Highway. The smaller 2-person teams, the choice of cryptids, all make the show that much better.
Jack Osbourne is a wise man. He knows his ghosts, and he knows his cryptids. He will be on the hunt, looking for evidence, but he won't try to fool you. He has the ability to say that not every investigation comes up clean, not every place is haunted, and not every cryptid is more than legend. That being said, sorry about the sclerosis, Jack! :(
Jael and Devin have experience from being on Fact or Faked, and Jael has also previously been on Destination Truth. She's as professional as you can get in the monster-hunter world.
If you haven't seen Haunted Highway, I suggest you give it a shot. It's not for everybody, but for the believers out there..
The fact that the Haunted Highway team doesn't have a production crew following them around on their hunts makes for a more dramatic show, with a better foot in reality than other paranormal reality shows. That doesn't necessarily mean that the shows aren't good, it's just that Haunted Highway grasps attention better than, say, Destination Truth, a show which keeps me wondering what parts are fabricated for the cameras, and what's unscripted. I've been a HUGE fan of Destination Truth since the beginning, but the atmosphere is utterly non-existent in contrast to Haunted Highway. The smaller 2-person teams, the choice of cryptids, all make the show that much better.
Jack Osbourne is a wise man. He knows his ghosts, and he knows his cryptids. He will be on the hunt, looking for evidence, but he won't try to fool you. He has the ability to say that not every investigation comes up clean, not every place is haunted, and not every cryptid is more than legend. That being said, sorry about the sclerosis, Jack! :(
Jael and Devin have experience from being on Fact or Faked, and Jael has also previously been on Destination Truth. She's as professional as you can get in the monster-hunter world.
If you haven't seen Haunted Highway, I suggest you give it a shot. It's not for everybody, but for the believers out there..
More like 'Novices get dumped in the woods with cameras'
margohulseillu6 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I am quite obsessed with the paranormal and found myself running out of ghost shows to watch, so I decided to give this show a try. I have seen every episode out of the two short seasons and have found myself displeased with many things about it.
First off, these people are relatively pampered and live cushy lives. Even though Jael has roughed it in Destination Truth is some very inhospitable environments, it seems that none of these people have ever taken the time to familiarize themselves with the sights and sounds of nature. I highly doubt they would ever willingly put themselves out in the wilderness for any other reason than their show. I could be wrong, but when they were unable to tell the difference between an elk print and something that is canine, it screamed 'We're total novices'.
I feel like if you're trying to legitimately (and I use this term loosely, as this is reality TV we're talking about) investigate into something like the Shunka Warakin or the Ozark Howler, you should at least familiarize yourself with animal tracking before just blindly assuming every print is mysterious and/or a print from what you're looking for. In fact this can be said about a lot of their investigations, a lot of the noises they're hearing are the sounds of the surrounding fauna. For example in the Louisiana Swamp Woman episode, they were freaking out over 'screams' they were hearing; Those were owls and possibly even frogs.
Another thing that I've noticed is that they'll capture something really compelling on camera and in the end during their 'evidence review' (another thing I'm referring to loosely here) , literally never mention it or ever bring any attention to it ever again. For example in the last episode of season 2 during the investigation into the Black Angel, Devin catches not once, but twice some floating orb thing that disappears into the trees. At the end of the investigation they only talk about the heat signature on the angel (possibly caused by the sun, because, you know metal can retain heat and the sun hadn't set too long before) and some weak 'EVP' that they caught. However, when I say this as an artist myself, its questionable if the things they don't talk about in the end were not faked in the first place, some of these things they show you look pretty manufactured.
Overall they aren't reinventing the wheel here when it comes to 'no camera crew' style investigation. Ghost Adventures has been doing that since 2008, and though its not spectacular, you can tell that they also edit it themselves as well by their aesthetic choices.
It is sad to see this show go however just for the sheer fact that it is pretty funny to watch rich people scare themselves silly in the middle of nowhere and call it 'investigating'.
First off, these people are relatively pampered and live cushy lives. Even though Jael has roughed it in Destination Truth is some very inhospitable environments, it seems that none of these people have ever taken the time to familiarize themselves with the sights and sounds of nature. I highly doubt they would ever willingly put themselves out in the wilderness for any other reason than their show. I could be wrong, but when they were unable to tell the difference between an elk print and something that is canine, it screamed 'We're total novices'.
I feel like if you're trying to legitimately (and I use this term loosely, as this is reality TV we're talking about) investigate into something like the Shunka Warakin or the Ozark Howler, you should at least familiarize yourself with animal tracking before just blindly assuming every print is mysterious and/or a print from what you're looking for. In fact this can be said about a lot of their investigations, a lot of the noises they're hearing are the sounds of the surrounding fauna. For example in the Louisiana Swamp Woman episode, they were freaking out over 'screams' they were hearing; Those were owls and possibly even frogs.
Another thing that I've noticed is that they'll capture something really compelling on camera and in the end during their 'evidence review' (another thing I'm referring to loosely here) , literally never mention it or ever bring any attention to it ever again. For example in the last episode of season 2 during the investigation into the Black Angel, Devin catches not once, but twice some floating orb thing that disappears into the trees. At the end of the investigation they only talk about the heat signature on the angel (possibly caused by the sun, because, you know metal can retain heat and the sun hadn't set too long before) and some weak 'EVP' that they caught. However, when I say this as an artist myself, its questionable if the things they don't talk about in the end were not faked in the first place, some of these things they show you look pretty manufactured.
Overall they aren't reinventing the wheel here when it comes to 'no camera crew' style investigation. Ghost Adventures has been doing that since 2008, and though its not spectacular, you can tell that they also edit it themselves as well by their aesthetic choices.
It is sad to see this show go however just for the sheer fact that it is pretty funny to watch rich people scare themselves silly in the middle of nowhere and call it 'investigating'.
surprisingly well done
dan-sabbatical14 July 2012
Nice show. Love the overall style. Somehow jack and crew managed to make an original looking and styled paranormal investigation show. Plus, I would tune in weekly to watch jael depardo read the phone book.
I have to admit I wasn't expecting much. I mean, how can here be another one of these damn shows?? I'm glad to report this show comes off nothing like the others of its ilk. Very little forced humor, very few (maybe none?) Distracting post- production sound effects, which I appreciate greatly after every episode of ghost hunters now opens with a failed evp it seems.
Definitely recommended add to your ghost hunters/ destination truth /fact or faked line up.
I have to admit I wasn't expecting much. I mean, how can here be another one of these damn shows?? I'm glad to report this show comes off nothing like the others of its ilk. Very little forced humor, very few (maybe none?) Distracting post- production sound effects, which I appreciate greatly after every episode of ghost hunters now opens with a failed evp it seems.
Definitely recommended add to your ghost hunters/ destination truth /fact or faked line up.
Swamp woman, pioneer cemetery
simplymefire1 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
In the scene where the rocking chair starts rocking, you can see the string that is pulling it. This show is completely hysterical in the fact that the actors are so dramatic. It is not surprising that this show is being canceled. With all the technology today and all the experts in special effects I'm sure there are plenty of ways to make a rocking chair move without strings or ropes being attached. And, Oh My Goodness, a ball falling off a log, what a scary thing to happen. I almost fell out of bed laughing. I have watched many of these so called paranormal shows and Haunted Highway is probably the worst yet. Instead of being scared of ghosts I am now scared of the people that are trying to prove that they actually exist.
Killer Niche Show Way Under-Appreciated by Most IMDb Respondents so Far
Cieldumort16 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
It seems that early voting came in fast and furious for Haunted Highway from viewers who were either not really that into this genre and/or from those who have been conditioned to watching paranormal hunting shows that have been commercially and professionally filmed, edited & produced.
Unfortunately for viewers who matched up with the above, many probably never watched another episode beyond the first before entering their rating, and then summarily probably just never watching the show again. Given that as of this review the bulk of the ratings came in right after the first episode, with only a trickle coming in later, this is probably this case.
As has been mentioned by others who have actually taken the time to write up a review, Haunted Highway is *extremely raw* - this is not the usual kind of reality television shown on SyFy. The genuinely heart-pounding action that takes place in the world of Haunted Highway does so without the added benefit of much dramatic pre-planning, professional film crews, and such.
Jael De Pardo and Devin Marble bring their energetic professionalism over to Haunted Highway from the well known Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files. These two have amazing chemistry, and pull no punches during their investigations together.
Jack Osbourne brings a refreshingly candid skepticism not really seen on paranormal TV shows since Jason Hawes' early Ghost Hunter days. Not known for her interest in the paranormal, Osbourne's very sharp investigations partner, Dana Workman, brings a sort of surrealism to each case they explore together.
One final thing. I won't say which exact case, as I do not want to cause any sort of spoiler, but there was one in particular that was just... astounding. I put it right up there with the 2006 "St Augustine Lighthouse" Ghost Hunters Season 2 Episode 219 in terms of quality. Maybe even BESTING it!
If Haunted Highway comes back for a second season our household will definitely be watching.
Unfortunately for viewers who matched up with the above, many probably never watched another episode beyond the first before entering their rating, and then summarily probably just never watching the show again. Given that as of this review the bulk of the ratings came in right after the first episode, with only a trickle coming in later, this is probably this case.
As has been mentioned by others who have actually taken the time to write up a review, Haunted Highway is *extremely raw* - this is not the usual kind of reality television shown on SyFy. The genuinely heart-pounding action that takes place in the world of Haunted Highway does so without the added benefit of much dramatic pre-planning, professional film crews, and such.
Jael De Pardo and Devin Marble bring their energetic professionalism over to Haunted Highway from the well known Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files. These two have amazing chemistry, and pull no punches during their investigations together.
Jack Osbourne brings a refreshingly candid skepticism not really seen on paranormal TV shows since Jason Hawes' early Ghost Hunter days. Not known for her interest in the paranormal, Osbourne's very sharp investigations partner, Dana Workman, brings a sort of surrealism to each case they explore together.
One final thing. I won't say which exact case, as I do not want to cause any sort of spoiler, but there was one in particular that was just... astounding. I put it right up there with the 2006 "St Augustine Lighthouse" Ghost Hunters Season 2 Episode 219 in terms of quality. Maybe even BESTING it!
If Haunted Highway comes back for a second season our household will definitely be watching.
Too bad the monsters are so camera shy
Seth_Rogue_One26 June 2015
Just gonna start by saying that even though the series is called HAUNTED HIGHWAY most episodes is not about hauntings but of various monsters and creeps and folklores
I throughly enjoyed the first 2 episodes, it was a breath of fresh air and Jack Osbourne is always likable
BUT by episode 3 it gets painfully obvious that they are faking stuff and setting things up to happen by natural causes; such as putting a ball on the edge of a box 2 feet up in the air and it getting moved claiming it was a ghost that did it when it's clearly windy outside (even though the host tries to re-assure you that it's wind-still) and stuff of that nature
They also seemingly ALWAYS get some sort of activity from seemingly the monsters they are hunting, which is peculiar in itself as none of these monsters have been caught on film you'd imagine if they are always out and about causing ruckus
But of course, as we all know monsters are rather camera shy, so very often something (seemingly the monster) will knock down the camera (from behind of course to avoid being filmed)
Maybe they are just magnets for the supernatural though? While GHOST ADVENTURES can go a a full hour and not get a single EVP response these guys basically just hit record and get a response instantly
And when they walk into a new town the first person they just happen to run into is a eyewitness to the monster they are looking for and very often they are credible people in town sometimes a police officer and one time a mayor
There are 2 teams of paranormal investigators on this show and they usually have one monster each they go after; JACK OSBOURNE and DANA WORKMAN is one and usually provides the most entertainment, the other team consist of DEVIN MARBLE and JAEL DE PARDO.
Now JAEL DE PARDO is seemingly the most experienced monster hunter appearing in similar shows like DESTINATIION TRUTH and FACT OR FICTION but nothing she says comes out as believable, maybe she just got tired of playing the same character for so long on other shows, who knows, either way she is a terrible actress and yes it's rather obvious to anyone that she is indeed acting
One thing that they do that is rather original is that instead of boasting everything as proof of the paranormal they often use reversed psychology on their viewers, downplaying some of "the best evidence" that they capture saying that could be a technical issue with the camera or whatever so that the viewer will sit and think that 'no way is that a technical issue, that's the monster!'.
But they do it too often to fool anyone, that's like the reversed cry wolf theory.
And if they were gonna fake it and make it so obvious, why not go all out and have a tall guy run around in a Bigfoot costume and give the hosts a proper spook; maybe have it kidnap one of them or something.
Or they could have you know, actually properly investigated the monsters, I wouldn't have mind if they didn't find anything in any of the episodes (which they wouldn't have most likely) at least then they wouldn't have tried to con their viewers.
There is however some entertainment value in the show, and like I said I enjoyed the first 2 eps thoroughly so I give it a 4.
I throughly enjoyed the first 2 episodes, it was a breath of fresh air and Jack Osbourne is always likable
BUT by episode 3 it gets painfully obvious that they are faking stuff and setting things up to happen by natural causes; such as putting a ball on the edge of a box 2 feet up in the air and it getting moved claiming it was a ghost that did it when it's clearly windy outside (even though the host tries to re-assure you that it's wind-still) and stuff of that nature
They also seemingly ALWAYS get some sort of activity from seemingly the monsters they are hunting, which is peculiar in itself as none of these monsters have been caught on film you'd imagine if they are always out and about causing ruckus
But of course, as we all know monsters are rather camera shy, so very often something (seemingly the monster) will knock down the camera (from behind of course to avoid being filmed)
Maybe they are just magnets for the supernatural though? While GHOST ADVENTURES can go a a full hour and not get a single EVP response these guys basically just hit record and get a response instantly
And when they walk into a new town the first person they just happen to run into is a eyewitness to the monster they are looking for and very often they are credible people in town sometimes a police officer and one time a mayor
There are 2 teams of paranormal investigators on this show and they usually have one monster each they go after; JACK OSBOURNE and DANA WORKMAN is one and usually provides the most entertainment, the other team consist of DEVIN MARBLE and JAEL DE PARDO.
Now JAEL DE PARDO is seemingly the most experienced monster hunter appearing in similar shows like DESTINATIION TRUTH and FACT OR FICTION but nothing she says comes out as believable, maybe she just got tired of playing the same character for so long on other shows, who knows, either way she is a terrible actress and yes it's rather obvious to anyone that she is indeed acting
One thing that they do that is rather original is that instead of boasting everything as proof of the paranormal they often use reversed psychology on their viewers, downplaying some of "the best evidence" that they capture saying that could be a technical issue with the camera or whatever so that the viewer will sit and think that 'no way is that a technical issue, that's the monster!'.
But they do it too often to fool anyone, that's like the reversed cry wolf theory.
And if they were gonna fake it and make it so obvious, why not go all out and have a tall guy run around in a Bigfoot costume and give the hosts a proper spook; maybe have it kidnap one of them or something.
Or they could have you know, actually properly investigated the monsters, I wouldn't have mind if they didn't find anything in any of the episodes (which they wouldn't have most likely) at least then they wouldn't have tried to con their viewers.
There is however some entertainment value in the show, and like I said I enjoyed the first 2 eps thoroughly so I give it a 4.
Taking the activity out of paranormal.
smbgti29 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
So here is the deal, roaming reporters/Investigators pair up and check out stories of strange sighting and alleged paranormal activity on highways and remote roads around the US. To kick of the action the reporters gather some back ground info on the activity's to be investigated .They Conduct Interviews and hear eye witness reports from quirky looking locals about the spooky goings on.
So the scene is set and its time for the reporters to move into the field and see for themselves what is really happening. Picking up the action in episode four there have been reports of dog like creatures named by locals as hell hounds. The always attractive Dana Workman is set up as the guinea pig with a lump of tasty meat in the dark of night awaiting some doggy action. Jack Osbourne, the most prominent of the reporters uses a thermal imaging camera to catch any possible events. And right on cue, would you believe it a dog like creature runs within close vicinity of the Dana and the spooky image is captured on camera. It surely must be a killer dog hound right? More likely a coyote you my thing, and with good reason as this is verified later in the episode as the most likely explanation much to jack's disappointment. So the spookyness continues and we move on to a cave near the sighting. At the entrance of the cave Jack balances a lantern on a rock while making a point of commutating on doing so. How strange! Perhaps this may come into play later in the episode! They move further into the cave and to kill there's and the viewer's boredom, they play with some gadgets. Suddenly they hear a scratching noise and the lantern falls of the rock. Holy cow! Run for your lives we are all gonna be eaten by the ghost of scooby doo! Well no, actually the excitement is over for the night and they head home unscathed with no wounds to lick. Perhaps rubbing essence of scooby snack on Dana Workman's petrified naked body would of enticed the dogs from hell and entertained us a little more. To offset the boredom, the reports predictably over dramatise proceeding. With the help of some clever editing and a back pack full of gadgets Jack and his sidekicks hope to hold the attention of the viewer . To their credit they do it well, but with so little to work with in the form of real action, coupled with a distinct tendency to take itself seriously, the show holds little substance and soon becomes painfully predictable and pointless . So if you want to be scared out of your skin, head to the nearest forest wearing little more than a scream mask , eat some wild spindly mushrooms and chant 'ace of diamonds, queen of spades while tilting your head but don't bother watching haunted highways .
So the scene is set and its time for the reporters to move into the field and see for themselves what is really happening. Picking up the action in episode four there have been reports of dog like creatures named by locals as hell hounds. The always attractive Dana Workman is set up as the guinea pig with a lump of tasty meat in the dark of night awaiting some doggy action. Jack Osbourne, the most prominent of the reporters uses a thermal imaging camera to catch any possible events. And right on cue, would you believe it a dog like creature runs within close vicinity of the Dana and the spooky image is captured on camera. It surely must be a killer dog hound right? More likely a coyote you my thing, and with good reason as this is verified later in the episode as the most likely explanation much to jack's disappointment. So the spookyness continues and we move on to a cave near the sighting. At the entrance of the cave Jack balances a lantern on a rock while making a point of commutating on doing so. How strange! Perhaps this may come into play later in the episode! They move further into the cave and to kill there's and the viewer's boredom, they play with some gadgets. Suddenly they hear a scratching noise and the lantern falls of the rock. Holy cow! Run for your lives we are all gonna be eaten by the ghost of scooby doo! Well no, actually the excitement is over for the night and they head home unscathed with no wounds to lick. Perhaps rubbing essence of scooby snack on Dana Workman's petrified naked body would of enticed the dogs from hell and entertained us a little more. To offset the boredom, the reports predictably over dramatise proceeding. With the help of some clever editing and a back pack full of gadgets Jack and his sidekicks hope to hold the attention of the viewer . To their credit they do it well, but with so little to work with in the form of real action, coupled with a distinct tendency to take itself seriously, the show holds little substance and soon becomes painfully predictable and pointless . So if you want to be scared out of your skin, head to the nearest forest wearing little more than a scream mask , eat some wild spindly mushrooms and chant 'ace of diamonds, queen of spades while tilting your head but don't bother watching haunted highways .
Like the show. Fun! Much more of Dana please........
losinglouie4 August 2012
I caught a glimpse of a trailer, and liked the concept. When I saw Dana I was hooked. She is gorgeous, and should be featured much more. Please don't take her off. I like that the show focuses on a mix of monsters, ghosts and legends; not just pure ghost stories. I also like that there is an element of danger in that there is no large production company at their side. The equipment they use is cool and I find no problem with the hand held shots, although the running scenes can be a bit silly. I keep thinking look our for that tree. Do they really go out into the wild with nothing but a buck knife? Seems hard to believe when they have encountered Bobcats and such. In any event, its a fun show, and the kids like to try to decide if any of the encounters are real or not. The people they interview are a hoot. But,really, Dana is the reason I watch. More of her and less of the goofy girl who is always saying the stupid stuff to would be ghosts like "do we anger you?". Sorry about the M.S.; tough break man.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
