GHOSTWATCH (1992) dir. Lesley Manning; starring Michael Parkinson, Sarah Greene, Gillian Bevan
So that caused a panic?
Yeah. Okay. I can see that.
Excellent, slow burn movie. On Halloween an intrepid TV crew (Greene as reporter) descend on a house supposedly haunted, reporting back to their studio (Parkinson as presenter) what happens. Nothing much happens at first. There's much talk with Dr. Pascoe (Bevan), a parapsychologist who has studied this particular haunting, and with the family of three, a mother and two daughters, who live there, terrified of the bumpings and mewlings and more physical manifestations, and tired of all those who don't believe them. Gradually, the history of the place coalesces for the viewer and it's creepier for not being shown, just hinted at and pieced together. And what if the phenomena begin to spread?
Yes, really well done. The script by Stephen Volk is excellent. The actors are excellent. The production values for a BBC presentation also excellent. I've read a novella by Volk and now I want to read more by him.
I think it has to be seen in context for several reasons.
Back then, there was a regular weekly tv show called 'Crimewatch' which was a serious programme featuring details and footage of real crimes, which asked viewers to phone in to help solve. This made 'Ghostwatch' feel more authentic. Also the actors used where not known for drama programmes, so it would be very unusual to see them in such roles.
Because this was originally shown back when most didn't have live recording equipment, a lot of people would have tuned in part way through the show, and be less aware of the fact that it wasn't a proper paranormal investugation. And apaer from pucking up a copy of 'Radio Times', there wouldn't have been any background information about what we were watching.
Think of people tuning their wireless into Orson Welles' 'War of the Worlds' broadcast part way through, and you get an accurate depiction of the background to the show.
Right up until the last 5 minutes, I remember watching and having no clue that it wasn't anything other than a genuine paramormal investigation. At the time it was scary more because it was 'real', than because of anything that happened on screen.
Along with Threads (which was simply off the scale in comparison), this was one of the most memorable pieces of tv. And it's notable that neither of these programmes gets repeat viewings, despite their popularity/notoriety.
Does Ghostwatch stand up to modern scrutiny? Dificult to say for anyone viewing it today, knowing what they know. Again, it's like asking if Welles' 'WOTW' broadcast still stands up. But from a personal perspective yes it does, because it recalls the memories of the first time I watched it.