Ghost Stalkers. Don't let the title dissuade you, as there's a lot to like here.
Right off the bat, production values are solid. The mood is somber and low key, a refreshing change of pace from the "in your face" approach that some paranormal investigation shows take. Also nice was the lack of jump scare cliffhanger nonsense leading into commercial breaks. The process feels matter of fact, academic even. I even like the font choice that they use. The aesthetic is more akin to a classic horror film than a reality show, and it works to this show's favor. The "solo investigator camera" isolation factor is also a fantastic approach, and frankly I'm surprised no one else had thought of it before. Which leads me to the hosts.
Disclaimer: I've known John Tenney since the mid 1990's and he's always impressed me with his infectious need to know the unknowable and understand the unknown as well as his critical thinking skills. I suspect he's always been like that. And while he definitely has a playful, mischievous side to his personality, both in his approach to life and the study of the paranormal, at the end of the day this is something that he takes very seriously. He and I have had many long and spirited discussions regarding the nature of things beyond our capacity to reason, and it's impossible not to respect his wealth of knowledge on all things paranormal as well as his open minded approach to the attempted understanding of various phenomena. I was relieved to see this side of John's personality on display for the show. We don't know what the true nature of hauntings are, or what ghosts and demons really are, and John does an excellent job at avoiding the usual routine of labeling these unexplained forces with trite and perhaps even incorrect categorical markers. His "detective noir" investigative technique is unique and true to his personality, underscored here by his manner of dress. Truly awesome.
Chad on the other hand, while not exactly the weak link, is a bit more suspect in his approach to investigating. I can appreciate his determination to meet his fears head on in order to gain understanding of the unknown, and while his "nervous Nellie" disposition has come under fire, it's actually preferable to the aggro intimidation approach that other ghost show investigators take. It must also be said that Chad is a professional actor, which undermines many of his reactions to what he's experiencing. How can we be certain that it's all legit when he's trained himself to play make believe for a paycheck? In all honesty, we may never know.
Can't comment too much on the tech that David Rountree brings to the location, though I'd think that if a legitimate wormhole/vortex detector (used in the pilot episode) had actually been constructed, it would be put to regular use in various applications, not just the study of haunted houses. His laser grid for Episode Two on the other hand was far more low-tech and yielded some very interesting evidence... more on that in a moment.
Locations. This is where I had the most issues, specifically in the Whispers Estate episode. Take for example the attic where the "vortex" is suspected to extend. In the same corner, there's a small table with a candle holder and a skull. Whether it was set up by the producers of the show or it's an actual fixture of the estate, it's reeks of trying too hard and/or kicking the hornet's nest. The same can be said of some of the decorative choices such as paint color, black drapes, creepy dolls etc. It's a psychological setup that immediately creates the necessary mindset that something is very "wrong" here and dark forces are sure to manifest, because look how creepy this place is. If the owner of the estate would make the effort to make the place at least look normal and the experiences persisted, then we'd really have something interesting. Last thing: Gwen's story of being "pulled through the vortex". No follow up questions about what she saw and experienced? That's a grand claim, and to leave it unresolved is a capital offense for a show of this nature.
The Springfield Hospital episode however was different. Apparently John and Chad were given first run of the place, and while there was plenty of disrepair within the buildings (sometimes at dangerous levels) there was also a refreshing absence of graffiti and "set dressing" that we see in other supposedly haunted locations that are open to the public. The heartbreaking history of the facility and its many buildings provided an emotional backdrop for the investigation, illustrated by the audio evidence captured on multiple cameras. But it's Rountree's laser grid that yields the most compelling evidence of the investigation, suspect though it may seem. We definitely see "something" that breaks the field for a fleeting moment, and if there truly wasn't anyone else in the building, then they indeed captured something remarkable. Due to John's personal veracity, I'm inclined to believe that the footage is legit, but you'll have to see for yourself and decide. It should also be noted that Chad's hysterics reach record highs in this episode, but they serve more as a tension breaker and are relatively harmless. A very strong second episode for a show that already demonstrates strong promise.
All told, Ghost Stalkers gets far more right than it gets wrong, and should be awarded major points for its inspired methodology and refusal to be another cookie cutter paranormal program. Definitely worth a look.
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