Ghostumentary

Four people who think they're funny and entertaining to watch conclude that so many people have claimed to have experienced something paranormal, but no one has ever captured any visual material that hasn't been debunked.

And that premise is what caught my interest, since I'm always interested in how people take a simple situation and elevate it to something paranormal.

The "documentary" is 1 hour and 40 minutes long. Even though I had a strong dislike for the crew in this and the "experiments" they were doing, I stuck around. But when 1 hour and 20 minutes in they were interviewing an extremely sensitive-to-ghosts person who didn't even register the presence of a ghost when everyone (including the extremely sensitive-to-ghosts person) later claim they all clearly heard footsteps just outside the room, I just skipped to bits at the end for a few short clips to see what the "filmmakers" had concluded.

So there's supposedly a ghost just a few meters away from them, but the extremely sensitive-to-ghosts guy doesn't sense a thing until he's told by others that there was something there.

Even shorter: in a "documentary" that's asking the question if ghosts are real or not, they only interview amateur paranormal investigators and mediums, and a "professional" parapsychologist.

They do not interview any actual scientist who can easily dismiss every evidence so far on the existence of ghosts.

That's like making a documentary about whether the existence of the mythical cake-pooping unicorn is real or not, by interviewing the people who claim to have seen it, and the professor with a degree in the mythical cake-pooping unicorn who will tell you most sightings are lies but the thing really does live somewhere.

Have you maybe seen the definitive filmed proof of ghosts that this documentary provides in the end?

No?

That's because there isn't any.

Is that the conclusion these "filmmakers" draw?

No. There were 3 that were believers to begin with, and they still believe. And there's that 1 guy who was a non-believer. But now, thanks to his own documentary that did not document any ghost, he too has become a tiny bit of a believer in ghosts.

And all four of them are, now more than ever, definitely convinced that they are super quirky.

Do not see this film.

It does not confirm the existence of ghosts.

It does not professionally deal with debunking.

It only does what every other crappy "reality" TV show on ghosts does.

Full disclosure. I'm a skeptic. But one of my guilty pleasures comes in watching the plethora of patently ridiculous (and obviously faked) night vision "documentaries" of over excited eejits stumbling around in the dark, obsessing about motes of dust as "orbs" and projecting pareidolia onto static-garbling "ghost boxes". It's entertainment, not true paranormal investigation, if such a thing exists. But I get a kick out of snuggling onto the couch and snarfing up popcorn whilst chuckling smugly to myself all the same.

That said, finding compelling viewing of something that isn't just a cookie-cutter version of these programmes is tough nowadays, as there's more than a fair share of utter garbage out there. This, I very nearly skipped over this little gem in the mistaken assumption that it would be just much of the same, or worse, a self-satisfied cursory romp thumbing its nose at the paranormal.

It's not. It's much, much more than that. It's a delightful journey of discovery, in the company of warm, genuine and fun people, whose infectious enthusiasm and refreshing self-deprecation render the viewer charmed and engaged throughout. There're no gratuitous jump-scares. There're no endless rewinds of barely comprehensible nanosecond long "words" from the spirit world

Yes, there's a good degree of tongue-in-cheekery. But what you get to see is how four different people each make a personal journey of discovery, some perhaps more significant than others. And it's all done with honesty. However, quite specifically because it's not sensationalised, the footsteps and whisper sequence in San Leandro station is all the more compelling, because of the genuine nature of the participants reactions. It renders them as very relatable and genuine, and us as viewers with a definite frisson of ghost-hunting delight.

I remain a skeptic. But I heartily recommend this immensely likeable documentary to both believer and skeptic alike. Enjoy!

Going into this it was suggested after watching "Alienators" which if you enjoy raunchy "Mockumtery" comedies (it's a hard R rating) you would enjoy maybe.

So I wasn't sure if this was going to be based on truth, or one of those spoof ones. IT IS factual, it's based in reality, it's not a parody.

I at first (first 15 minutes or so) was a bit lost as to exactly what they're doing and what the goal here is...but once you get settled in, and you find out it's a group just going to haunted locations and seeing what they can (or can't) find...it becomes very entertaining. I loved Bill, the little hands he brings along are really hilarious! And they actually break down many myths behind things, such as "orbs", "spirit boxes" etc etc. and you won't find anything amazing that will make you believe or not believe...but I WILL say funny enough, this show gave us way more to chew on, ghost/spirit wise than almost ANY of those ghost hunting shows you watch. In many ways this is an "anti-ghosting hunting show" show. They talk about how the many ghost hunting shows out there are just trash, and pretty much all fakes.

One thing that kinda threw me is there are TWO DIFFERENT girls Witt short hair, the one you see wearing the white tank top in interviews is NOT the same one you see doing the investigations, and that kind of blew my mind because I didn't even realize until it was about over!!

Overall, it's not bad! If you are like me, and you lean towards "ghosts aren't real"...but you like me, want to see what happens when normal people like you and I go to these places and try to encounter spirits just to see? Then you'll enjoy this!!

I loved when they went to places with big time ghost believers, and just debunked the heck out of everything they were hearing and feeling etc. I kind of wish the entire show was just THAT! Them just following major believers, and debunking it along the way!

I was also pleasantly surprised that it really gets better as it goes on, most shows tend to wind down and putter out. This gets better, until it nears its climax ice they head to the final location, and the USS Hornet.

Give it a go, if you're interested in ghosts! You'll enjoy MORE if you lean towards not believing for sure!

I just watch this flim and I loved it... very well done... Good job making this flim. GREAT editing. Not a scary ghost documentary but very interesting

Ghostumentary is an enjoyable and light look at ghost hunting and our individual quests as humans to try and understand the truth of supernatural phenomena. While there are a few creepy question mark moments, this is not a "get your spook on" and open your brain's fear center -kind-of-show. But that doesn't mean ghost hunting enthusiasts won't enjoy it. What I love about Ghostumentary is that it makes no assumptions. Are there ghosts? How much of ghost hunting is real or faked or the result desperation for finding results? These are all answered with a light hearted "I don't know, but isn't it fun trying to find out." No one takes themselves too seriously, presses a point, or pontificates. While I wouldn't quite describe the filmmakers as "everymen", their doofy fooling around gives an air of credibility, that they really are just trying to be normal people with their own differing beliefs exploring this realm.

I love the world of ghost hunting shows, and this was no different. It was nice for a change to have people not automatically assume every spirit box utterance is a ghost and every bad mood is possession, while at the same time acknowledging the experiences they really couldn't explain.

I don't know why the IMDb score is so low for Ghostumentary, except to say that some people prefer to understand movies in clear cut boxes and you can't pigeonhole Ghostumentary. It's a bit of believer and a bit of skeptic. Part hunt, part examination of the hunters. A fun dip in the shallow side of a deep cultural pool. I'd enjoy a sequel if they felt inspired to put one out.