Alone in a Haunted House

Rating:
Summary: INTELLIGENT INSIGHT ON PROFESSIONAL GHOST HUNTING
Review: As a longtime ghost hunter, this documentary is the most realistic depiction I've seen of an actual ghost investigation. The host presents the material in an honest, straightforward way, and allows the viewer to see what does, or does not, happen. It's by far the best video I've seen on how to conduct a ghost investigation using a wide range of different tools. This documentary is not intended to be some cheezy scare fest, or a thrill ride. It's mainly an instructional guide for serious people who want to understand how to properly research a haunted house. The host not only explains how equipment works (like EMF meters, night vision scopes, etc.) but also theories about what a ghost might actually be. If you want to be scared, don't buy this documentary, but if you want some serious, mature, intelligent insight on professional ghost hunting, this is a perfect addition to your library. The location is wonderful and the documentary is never boring, especially considering it was a 100 percent one-man project. Warren has a lot of experience and it shows.

Rating:
Summary: 25 minute documentary in which NOTHING happens!!!!!!!
Review: Do not, I repeat do not buy this DVD. I have loved documentaries about hauntings and ghosts since I was a kid and have seen them all. Usually even the bad ones are somewhat enjoyable - 'cause even if the "genuine" ghost phenomena part of the show isn't quite cutting it, they'll at least go the opposite route into the totally over the top, phony, Halloween-decoration / horror movie effects, where you know that, even though it's obviously a joke, at least the producers are showing you SOMETHING!
But ALONE IN A HAUNTED HOUSE is the first one I've seen where absolutely NOTHING happens! There's no coverage of anything that could possibly be accepted as evidence of a real haunting. There isn't even any entertainingly cheesy phony stuff.
Host JOSH cocks his eyebrows, nods his head, and speaks with self-important, "Mr. Hollywood" theatrics. He spends the first half of the "film" (I hate to call it that - at 25 minutes it's not even the length of a Bullwinkle cartoon) showing us his "scientific equipment" which consists of a silly hand-held radar dish, stereo headphones, a noisy battery tester, magnets, window fans, and strobe lights to explain how a ghost can be detected. A walking tour of the admittedly cool-looking haunted house is underscored by a pre-recorded soundtrack of hip-hop beats and "evil" whispering. Josh stresses to us that this house and the surrounding grounds are infamous, not just for being haunted but for a history of terrible events that happened there - OK, no problem - explaining the history of haunted places always goes a long way toward adding some creepiness - BUT HE NEVER TELLS US what the terrible events were!!!!!
Next Josh plays an audio recording which he says reveals sounds of unknown origin - but it's just static, with an occasional, microphone "bonk" thrown in. He tells us that the white dots flitting past the camera on the "night vision" footage are ghostly manifestations in the room. How dumb does he think the audience is? They are obviously moths or gnats zipping about. Josh makes a big deal of "ghostly orbs" on various still photographs. They are nothing but pin-prick-sized white spots on low-grade film. And then it ends. Credits roll. That's it. I've basically just described the entire show to you point by point.
I got a good laugh out of watching this vacuous, empty, noneventful DVD only because my friend was the one who bought it, only to discover that he had been cheated, not me. So I was able to laugh at its ineptitude without feeling the bitter sting of "Oh my God I got robbed!" which my friend was obviously suffering. That said, I have to ask: What's host Josh's angle? Did he intend this as a satire? An extremely dry-humored parody? Or just a good old fashioned scam? Either way, I beg you not to make the same mistake my friend did. If you buy this DVD you will feel like the joke is on YOU!

Rating:
Summary: Rip Off in a Haunted House
Review: I'll admit it. I bought this dvd over the internet based on its title and the premise, so in some aspects you can say it was my own fault. I like trashy movies and reality shows about haunted houses. But THIS! ALONE IN A HAUNTED HOUSE is a rip-off from start to finish. Notice the technical details. What's missing? NO RUNNING TIME is LISTED. Why? Because this "documentary" is only about 25 MINUTES LONG! I thought something was amiss when "paranormal investigator" Joshua P. Warren, who speaks with a delivery from the William Shatner/Adam West/Raymond Burr school of acting, says about 10 minutes into the show that it's 1:00am! So you sit back, expecting the next 80 minutes to be slam-bang, only 15 minutes later, it ends! No slam, no bang!

The pompous Mr. Warren shows up at a haunted mansion in North Carolina to spend the night alone and record whatever supernatural data he can. He shows no signs of anxiety whatsoever, even though he says he's somewhat nervous. He shows us the gadgets he intends to use to record on videotape, digital photography and audio any ghosts that may be inhabiting the house. And what does he get? Glowing dots called "orbs" and clanking, bumping sounds on audio. That's it. Is the house, in fact, haunted? Maybe, he declares at the end.

"Ghost Hunters" on Sci-Fi Channel is creepier, more involving and generally displays more exciting paranormal activity in any one of its hour-long episodes than ALONE IN A HAUNTED HOUSE does, and is a much better bargain when you see ALONE's $20+ price tag.

Treat ALONE like a vengeful ghost...and BEWARE!