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Live British Ghost Hunting Show ‘Ghostwatch’ Caused Mass Hysteria in ‘92: And Now You Can Watch It

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Warning: the following article contains spoilers about the film Ghostwatch. Read no further if you don’t want to know about major plot details. You can watch on Shudder then come back. 

The year was 1992, the month October; Halloween night actually, and United States horror fans were watching Candyman at the theater while Britain sat in front of their television sets to witness one of the most terrifying live broadcasts in BBC history.

The show was called Ghostwatch, and if you wanted to compare it to anything from today, I would say it looks like a cross between Ghost Adventures and 60 minutes, only much scarier.

The program was a live broadcast from the most haunted house in England located in Northolt, and featured a remote reporter, camera crew and other hosts as they interviewed the family who lived in the house and tried to capture all the alleged paranormal activity terrorizing the single mother and her two young daughters.

Imagine Zak Bagans, his vans and crew in a quiet  U.K. neighborhood.

Meanwhile back in the studio, host Michael Parkinson and parapsychologist Dr. Lin Pascoe talk about what they were seeing while another reporter mans the telephone lines answering any questions viewers may have about the house, the people in it or whatever was being captured as it happens.

It turns out this broadcast would capture the most compelling poltergeist evidence in history, proving that supernatural forces and possessions do exist.

Based on those images and the actions of the crew, people from all over the country panicked, called BBC in mass hysteria, jamming the network’s phone lines in utter fear.

Only Ghostwatch was all a hoax. Sort of. Accidentally.

Ghostwatch was a mockumentary, it wasn’t filmed live even though it appeared to be. The segments between studio host and the haunted house crew were filmed separately, the studio performers reacting to taped footage not a live feed. The whole thing was then edited seamlessly.

People who tuned in late to Ghostwatch missed the Screen One intro; a popular anthology drama series that ran each week back then, vewers fell for what they were seeing on “live” TV, hook, line and sinker. The BBC never ran a disclaimer after the program saying it was all fake. That’s some Orson Wells stuff.

Besides being so convincing as a live broadcast, Ghostwatch also happens to be one of the most terrifying films under the “found footage” moniker of today. The Blair Witch Project wouldn’t trick U.S. audiences the same way for another seven years.

What made Ghostwatch so scary was the actual ghost “Pipes,” a name the children give to him because of the noises he makes.

As cameramen in the house pan back and forth, glimpses of the ghost can be seen subliminally.

If you blink you will miss them, but if you see him it can be quite a shock. Do yourself a favor don’t rewind anything until the movie is over: it’s fun too see how many times you can spot Pipes on the first go.

It has become legendary to try and figure out how many times Pipes appears, the most popular guess is 13.

He is an androgynous ghost, the spirit of a man possessed by a woman who used to drown children on the property years ago. He’s bald and wears a dress just to give you clue on what to look out for.

You may find similarities between Ghostwatch and The Conjuring 2, that’s because the story was based on the notorious Enfield ghost, the same one depicted in that sequel.

The movie ends with a special effects twist that seems ridiculous on the surface, but think about it a little bit and the whole thing will chill you to the bone.

Ghostwatch was so effective in its perceived legitimacy it caused viewers some physiological problems too.

Deaths were reported after its broadcast, some so convinced that the show proved the existence of the afterlife that they took their own lives in order to be with loved ones. One couple even went to court claiming their son had been “hypnotised and obsessed” during the broadcast before taking his own life.

The Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) agreed with the grieving family saying the BBC should have taken extra steps to notify viewers what they were watching wasn’t real and that it was excessively distressing and graphic.

Kids were allegedly affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, namely those between the ages of 10 and 14. But the British Medical Journal dismissed those claims as “brief anxiety” after the children quickly recovered.

The Ghostwatch phenomenon generated a real documentary, a retrospective of the film and its affects called Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains. 

The movie hasn’t been readily available since its first broadcast in 1992, but if you have the streaming service Shudder, you can watch it there.

Creating a movie that terrorized an entire country is not an easy task, so I suggest you view it for yourself to understand exactly how it did. It’s creepy, has a huge rewindability factor and an ending so epic you may have wondered why it’s eluded you for so long.

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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