Ghostwatch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ghostwatch | |
|---|---|
 The BFI DVD release cover |
|
| Genre | Horror / Drama / Mockumentary |
| Creator(s) | Stephen Volk |
| Starring | Michael Parkinson Sarah Greene Mike Smith Craig Charles |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Richard Broke Ruth Baumgarten (Producer) |
| Running time | 90 mins |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One |
| Original run | October 31, 1992 – |
| Links | |
| Official website | |
Ghostwatch was a controversial British horror-mockumentary television programme which was produced by the BBC and aired on BBC One on October 31 (Halloween), 1992. It was written by Stephen Volk and produced by Ruth Baumgarten. It was also shown by the Canadian digital channel Scream on Halloween 2004 and several subsequent occasions.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The 90-minute film was a horror story shot in a documentary style and appeared as part of BBC Drama's Screen One series. While it is often referred to, perhaps unfairly, as a hoax, it is perhaps more accurate to call it a drama, blurring the lines between fiction and reality, telling the story of a family coping with supernatural activity in their own home. It involved BBC reporters performing a live, on-air investigation of a house in Northolt, Greater London at which poltergeist activity was taking place. Through revealing footage and interviews with neighbours and the family living there, they discovered the existence of a malevolent ghost named "Pipes", from his habit of knocking on the house's plumbing. As the programme went on, the manifestations of "Pipes" became more bold and terrifying, until, at the end, the frightened reporters realised that the programme itself was acting as a sort of "national séance" through which "Pipes" was gaining horrific power. Finally, the spirit escaped, and haunted the BBC studios themselves, possessing the reporters present as a prelude to its unleashing on the world.
In truth, the story, though based on the tale of the Enfield Poltergeist, was filmed weeks before and was complete fiction. However, the presentation contained realistic elements which suggested to a casual viewer that it was an actual documentary. A phone number was shown on the screen so that viewers could "call in" and discuss ghostly phenomena. The number was the standard BBC call-in number at the time, and callers who got through were connected first to a message telling them that the show was fictional, before being given the chance to share their own ghost stories. The set and filming methods, including shaky hand-held video cameras, lent to a documentary feel. Most convincing of all was the use of actual BBC personalities playing themselves. Sarah Greene and Craig Charles were the reporters on the scene at the house, while Mike Smith and Michael Parkinson linked from the studio.
[edit] Science of Ghostwatch
[edit] Ghostly phenomena
The programme makers used many examples of phenomena related to real life paranormal research, in order to maintain a realistic edge to the show.
[edit] Apparitions
On several occasions the presenters examine video footage of a bedroom scene in which a shadowy figure can be seen at the foot of a child's bed. Three versions of the apparition are shown intermittently to confuse the viewer - one with the figure, one where it is slightly faded out, and one where it isn't seen at all.
The ghost, which is described later in the programme as a disfigured man in some kind of black robe, also turns up at various points during the course of the "live" show. He makes seven fleeting, almost subliminal appearances in the following places.
- Behind Dr Pascoe as the "possessed voice" tape is played in the studio. This appearance is more easily visible if you watch your TV in a darkened room.
- During the outdoor segment in which Craig interviews various local people. As Craig approaches Arthur Lacey, the ghost can be seen standing among the crowd of onlookers, totally unnoticed by any of them.
- Reflected in the glass of the kitchen door, moments after Sarah discovers the children's drawings on the floor and is startled by the cat outside. Look carefully, and you can see the ghost standing behind the film crew.
- In front of the curtains in the girls' bedroom as everybody tries to exit the house. The ghost is briefly visible as the cameraman turns to leave and whips the camera around, but is gone again when he turns back in alarm.
- Standing inside the cupboard under the stairs, half a second before the mirror leaps off the wall and knocks the sound man unconscious.
- In a burst of static as the last camera in the house cuts out, just as Sarah is pulled into the cupboard. This appearance only lasts for three frames, but gives you a close-up look at the ghost's mauled face.
- On a gantry in the TV studio as the lights begin to explode. This appearance comes immediately after the aforementioned burst of static.
[edit] Spiritual possession
During the course of the programme there are many references to characters being allegedly possessed by a ghost who, whilst doing so, manically recites nursery rhymes. This happens in a tape recording of the eldest daughter Suzanne, later in a 'live' section to the same character and eventually Michael Parkinson himself is seen to be possessed.
[edit] Rapid temperature changes
The show references temperature changes being linked to ghosts and claims to be monitoring the temperature in each room of the house to check for this. Also mutilated household objects are shown which were allegedly analysed by the army as being subjected to rapid temperature change.
[edit] Poltergeist activity
In both alleged recordings and live segments of the show we see objects moving of their own accord which, it is claimed, is a result of poltergeist activity. Also a perfectly round patch of water appears on the living room carpet and animal scratch marks also appear on one characters face. Banging noises are intermittently heard during the climax of the show. At one point the producers play on this by exposing one of the daughters as causing the banging noises herself, creating a hoax within a hoax. However this later occurs when both girls are accounted for.
[edit] Disembodied voices
Although the ghost of the story is only heard to speak through the voices of others we hear the disembodied sounds of cats whenever phenomena is taking place.
[edit] Ghost technology
Many methods familiar to modern ghost shows such as Most Haunted are demonstrated in the show, some of which were either genuine state-of-the-art technology at the time or simulated to give the idea they were real. The house was allegedly equipped with motion detectors, temperature sensors and covert cameras. The temperature sensors were referred to as being able to check for dramatic changes in temperature - a recognised unexplained phenomena linked to real life ghost sightings. One major feature of the show was a genuine thermographic camera, which, although it didn't pick up any ghosts, came in very handy when all the lights failed at the end of the show.
[edit] Controversy
The film caused an immediate — though minor — panic in Britain, similar to that created by the airing of Orson Welles's version of The War of the Worlds, as many assumed the events to be true. This was all in spite of the fact that Screen One was a drama slot, the programme aired with a "Written by..." credit at the start, and a cast list was published in the BBC's Radio Times listings magazine. The BBC was besieged with phone calls from irate and frightened viewers, and British tabloids and other newspapers criticised the BBC the next day for the disturbing nature of some scenes, such as Greene's final scene where she is locked in a cellar with the howling ghost, and Parkinson's eerie possession scene. Two children were reportedly diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, supposedly due to the nature of the programme, and one tabloid insinuated that it had caused a teenager to commit suicide.
The film's producers answered the controversy by pointing out that it did air during a drama slot, that it was recognisable as fiction to a vast majority, and that running disclaimers or other announcements during the programme would have ruined its effectiveness. Nonetheless, the reaction to the programme led the BBC to place a ban on the programme being repeated for a short time after its initial broadcast and, although this has now been lifted, it remains unlikely that it will ever be shown again on British television.
In November 2002, the British Film Institute released Ghostwatch on Region 2 DVD.
[edit] Doctor Who
In the Doctor Who episode "Army of Ghosts" (2006), "ghosts" were regularly appearing all over the planet, and a Ghostwatch programme was presented by Alistair Appleton. The BBC also created a tie-in website for the show.
[edit] External links
- Ghostwatch at BBC Cult TV, including clips
- Ghostwatch at the Internet Movie Database
- Interview with Steven Volk, writer of Ghostwatch
- Ghostwatch overview at Action TV Magazine website
- Fortean Times article detailing the history of the show
- British Film Institute Screen Online overview of Ghostwatch featuring video and audio clips
- Ghostwatch tie-in website for the Doctor Who episode, "Army of Ghosts"
