“Switch off your televisions… turn off your TV sets… stop watching this! TURN IT OFF! Please…?”
Jack Delroy-Late Night with the Devil
Earlier this year, people were raving about Late Night with the Devil, which I enjoyed as well. When I looked into the creators, I found one of them referenced Ghostwatch, a film I’d never heard of. After reading its premise, I knew I had to add it to my Halloweenfest list.
Ghostwatch was the brainchild of Lesley Manning and Stephen Volk. The BBC1 aired it as a “live event” on Halloween night in 1992. As the broadcast unfolds, the crew, including well-known TV personalities like Michael Parkinson and Sarah Greene, interact with the family and witness increasingly disturbing occurrences. Initially skeptical, the presenters begin to realize that something genuinely supernatural is taking place, and the situation spirals out of control. Strange phenomena occur at the house and studio, suggesting the ghost’s malevolent power is far greater than anticipated.
The fact that BBC1 aired Ghostwatch as though it were a real event elevates it significantly. Michael Parkinson and Sarah Greene aren’t really ‘acting’—they’re just doing their everyday jobs, which makes everything feel so authentic. The callers and testimonials add to the realism, making this a truly unique viewing experience. Knowing this is a mockumentary gives the film a different lens than when it was initially broadcast, but it is enthralling.
The haunting in Ghostwatch mirrors the famous Enfield poltergeist case, the same story that inspired The Conjuring 2. If you’re familiar with that film or the real-life case, you’ll have a good sense of what happens in the house scenes. What sets Ghostwatch apart, though, are the eerie events in the BBC studio, which take the story in unexpected directions. Parkinson is interviewing an Elaine Warren-type researcher, Dr. Lin Pascoe, played by Gillian Bevan. The more his skepticism grows, the more strange things start happening in the studio.
While the concept of Ghostwatch—presenting a fictional haunting as a live broadcast—is the real star, Parkinson and Greene do excellent work grounding the film in reality. The family and supporting characters also deliver solid performances, contributing to the unsettling atmosphere. While the haunting in the house is spooky, it’s a little predictable. Despite that predictability, Ghostwatch is a brilliant and captivating Halloween watch. Its influence on later films is clear, and for good reason—this is a fun, original, and thrilling experience that still holds up today.
Rating: 8/10
