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[TV Review] The “Paranormal Lockdown” Season 2 Premiere is Genuinely Thrilling!

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Ghost hunting shows can be a real mixed bag. One on hand, if you actually believe in the paranormal, it can be fascinating to watch these researchers attempt to communicate with the dead and help ordinary people out of strange situations. On the other hand, less open-minded viewers will laugh at the so-called investigators as they overreact to equipment malfunctions and spooky noises. Regardless of where you stand, there’s fun to be had with these programs, and Paranormal Lockdown is the latest in this long line of supernatural-oriented reality shows, and its second season is about to premiere.

Starring Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman, Paranormal Lockdown follows the adventures of these veteran investigators as they spend 72 hours locked inside supposedly haunted locations. Utilizing a series of high-tech gadgets and obscure investigative techniques, the pair attempt to identify the source of these hauntings, and sometimes even eliminate them entirely. The focus of the second season premiere is the infamous Monroe House, located in Hartford City, Indiana, where a series of mysterious deaths and fires over the past century have left the current owner of the property in an unfortunate situation.

The show follows a familiar investigative formula, featuring input from witnesses, mediums and the occasional innocent bystander to try and piece together a cohesive narrative regarding the history of the Monroe House. The episode initially felt quite tame, with many of these supposedly paranormal events feeling contrived and implausible. However, once a friendly medium shows up to help Groff and Weidman get to the bottom of the situation, things get especially chilling. This, coupled with some eerie audio recordings, gives the episode a much-needed boost, as the investigators start to believe that some otherworldly entity is trying to hide something within the house.

Suffice to say that I was entirely invested in the mystery of the house at this point, though the hair-raising last third of the premiere is what really sets it apart from the usual onslaught of ghost hunting media. As the investigation leads Nick and Katrina underground, deep within the bowels of the house, we’re presented with evidence of a frighteningly real tragedy that may be behind all these sinister occurrences. I won’t spoil the fun here, but the ending to this episode is the closest thing to a James Wan-directed horror movie that you’re likely to see in real life.

As is usually the case in the real world, Paranormal Lockdown doesn’t offer any conclusive solutions or even a history to the Monroe House haunting, but that doesn’t make the show any less entertaining. There are some genuine scares to be had here, regardless of whether or not you believe in the paranormal, and Nick and Katrina are charismatic enough to make the audience root for them. While some of the creepy situations depicted in the show at times seem exaggerated, it’s still definitely worth a watch, especially if the following episodes keep up the thrills of the premiere.

The second season of Paranormal Lockdown premieres Friday, December 16 at 9/8c on TLC!

Born Brazilian, raised Canadian, Luiz is a writer and Film student that spends most of his time watching movies and subsequently complaining about them.

Books

‘In Search of Darkness’ Book Review: A Must-Have for ’80s Horror Fans

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In 2019, the documentary of 80s horror In Search of Darkness became an instant hit with horror fans. Now, a beautiful coffee table style companion book is available and is a must-own for all fans of one of horror’s greatest eras. The book is a walk down the horror aisle of the best mom and pop video store in the heyday of VHS, featuring full color photos, poster art, insightful essays and more. More than just a nostalgic throwback, In Search of Darkness is the kind of book I wish I’d had back in my years as a burgeoning horror fan but is also satisfying for the film fanatic I have become in the years since.

The format is beautifully and simply laid out, with at least a dozen (usually more) movies from each year of the decade presented in order of release accompanied by informative and insightful essays by the authors Heather Wixson and Patrick Bromley. Both authors have been mainstays of film journalism, specializing in horror, for many years. Wixson began her career in 2007 with Dread Central and has spent the past ten years as the Managing Editor of Daily Dead, from which she recently retired to focus on books and other projects. She has devoted the past several years to interviewing and writing books about the Make-up and Special Effects wizards that have brought so much to film over the years, specifically the horror genre.

Bromley is a film journalist and critic whose work can be found all over the place including right here on Bloody Disgusting. He recently provided the commentary for the Vinegar Syndrome release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and is known as something of a Tobe Hooper expert. He is also the founder and editor of F this Movie!, an eclectic film website, and host of its accompanying podcast. So, to be clear, the authors know their stuff.

Wixson and Bromley divide writing duties roughly in half and though each has a distinctive voice, their writing styles dovetail beautifully into a cohesive whole. Each author plays to their strengths. Being familiar with both their work I didn’t even have to look at the bylines to know that Heather covered Christine and Terror in the Aisles and Patrick took on The Funhouse and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers. Wixson’s passion for make-up effects is clear and comes through in many of her contributions. In general, Wixson takes on the “big” titles, the movies that defined the decade the most, and Bromley covers what the more cynical among us might call schlock, but he would likely call pure cinematic bliss. There are exceptions and surprises, of course, as there should be (Patrick covers The Shining for example). Each essay dives into the history behind the film, the major players involved, the reception, and legacy with often surprising aspects drawn from interviews with the filmmakers from various sources and insights from the authors.

For all their in-depth explorations of each film, in general the authors keep their critics’ hats safely stowed, keeping in mind that every entry on the book has its fans. In fact, they may well have sold me on finally hitting play on some of the schlockier offerings of the decade like Evilspeak, Nightbeast, and Blood Diner. Hell, I may even give The Beast Within a spin for shits and giggles. The point is that this book is a celebration through and through. The authors are honest about the critical receptions of the films, which were often unkind, and sometimes let their own opinions shine through, but recognize how beloved even the schlockiest films can become given time and availability. And that is an ongoing theme of In Search of Darkness. What may have been dismissed in its day often becomes revered as the years pass. Variations on the phrase “the years have been kind to…” referring to various maligned projects like The Thing, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, The Blob and many, many others, can be found throughout the book for good reason.

Each chapter of the book also includes a rundown of the top horror movies at the box office for the year as well as the top movies of all genres for context. The final page for each year highlights some of the major news and pop culture events including the top songs, albums, and television shows. There is a large central section that pays tribute to the talent involved with the greatest horror films of the 80s including directors, actors, effects artists, and more. This section includes brief biographies of John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Stephen King, Tom Savini, Barbara Crampton, Robert Englund, and many others presented in a dynamic and engaging fashion.

One of the beauties of the book is that it covers so much ground. Sure, you’ll find Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, and the Halloween sequels in it, but you’ll also find deeper cuts like The Changeling, The Being, and Tetsuo: The Iron Man. I was happy to find the same love given to Frank Henenlotter and Larry Cohen as to George A. Romero and David Cronenberg. In other words, In Search of Darkness is extraordinarily eclectic, highlighting the diversity that truly defined what is often viewed as a homogenous decade. The authors make the case that the 80s was horror’s greatest decade, and with what they lay out throughout this book, it’s tough to argue against that. I even came across a film or two I hadn’t even heard of before, which has become increasingly rare as the years go by.

At just shy of $85, the cover price may give some horror hounds pause, but believe me, it’s worth every penny. This is a beautiful volume that every fan of 80s horror will want on their shelf or prominently displayed on their coffee table. Filled with favorite titles, hundreds of full color photos, insightful and informative writing, this is simply a must own.

You can order your copy now.

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