Tag: Paranormal

The History Behind the Hunt for Ghosts: A Timeless Journey Through Belief (Part One)

A look at how humanity’s fascination with ghosts evolved from ancient myths to Victorian spiritualism. The hunt for ghosts isn’t for everyone, and we consider the contributions of people prior to Crookes and Price laid the groundwork for modern investigative techniques.

The Hunt for GhostsAs Halloween approaches, many folks enjoy a ghostly outing—whether for thrills or to glimpse evidence of something beyond. To go on the hunt for ghosts is a pastime few practice year-round, but when the season is right, more people go chasing after a belief. The old idea October 31 is when the veil is thinnest has roots in Neopagan lore, particularly Samhain, the Celtic festival marking the boundary between the living and the dead. Similar ideas echo in Mexico’s Día de los Muertos, celebrated soon after All Saints’ Day.

Whatever the tradition, humanity’s fascination with the afterlife is ancient. Even in Greek literature, ghosts appear not just as spectres but as participants in moral and mythic storytelling. In The Odyssey (Book 11), Odysseus travels to the underworld and summons shades of the dead to question them—a literal “ghost quest.” Centuries later, during the Victorian era—the golden age of spiritualism—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle developed his own fascination with the supernatural, even though his most famous character never took on such a case.

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Borley Rectory The Awakening – A Terrifying Legend Reimagined

Borley Rectory: The Awakening reimagines England’s most haunted house with gothic flair, terrifying twists, and a chilling tale of spirits and family secrets.

Borley Rectory The AwakeningAvailable now on Digital in the USA and on Digital & DVD in the UK

Although the film Borley Rectory The Awakening changes a few of the events leading up to the first spectral sightings, this film is wonderfully gothic. It’s like a Hammer Film—with all its rich colour design and lavish costumes—mixed into a cocktail of delights that Charles Dickens might have penned in The Pickwick Papers. That’s a drink I’d serve up and sip till dawn! Here, this tale explores what may have occurred when the Bull family first took up residency.

Before that, I must inform readers that I know a fair bit about the true-life account. Reverend Harry Bull asked to build this residence. Prior to its construction, there was only Borley Church; no monastery or convent existed before the clergy house. Only local folklore existed, and that included carriaged deiven by headless drivers. As for what happened at the rectory, I suspect some of the spirits from the much older church followed Harry home! In the film, this old man (Julian Glover) leaves the property to his son Henry (Corneille Dion Williams), who is following in his father’s footsteps.

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Alternative Paranormal TV Shows to Explore This Halloween and Beyond in 2025

Explore fresh and spine-tingling alternative paranormal TV shows for Halloween 2025. From folklore to real-life hauntings, ditch the jump scares.

Poltergeist TV series classic horror Alternative Paranormal TV ShowsHalloween is almost here, and this year the TV networks are finally changing things up with alternative paranormal TV shows 2025. Gone are the endless ghost-hunting clones. This season focuses on storytelling, folklore, and atmospheric suspense. From the chilling origins of Pennywise in IT: Welcome to Derry to real-life supernatural encounters in My Haunted Hometown, these shows promise fresh twists and spine-tingling thrills for viewers who crave more than just jump scares. And I feel it’s about bloody time!

This year is different. The new paranormal shows making their debut aren’t chasing cheap scares—they’re leaning into storytelling, folklore, and actual atmosphere. Instead of ghost hunters yelling at the dark, we’re getting richer narratives, cultural explorations, and fresh twists on the supernatural. The output isn’t as prolific, and I’m thankful for that.

While there’s one new show expected to air on Travel Channel, My Haunted Hometown sounds promising. It’s a documentary series that takes viewers on a journey to small towns across North America to explore real-life paranormal encounters. The show’s unique approach is to have the residents themselves serve as the tour guides, sharing their vivid and often terrifying first-hand accounts of the supernatural activity. These families or folks refuse to leave. Although this series uses dramatic recreations to bring these experiences to life, just whether these incidents are too crazy to be true remains to be seen.

Ghost Hunters of the Grand River

Ghost Hunters of the Grand River paranormal investigationAPTN (Oct 22, 2025)

Unlike typical ghost-hunting reality shows, Ghost Hunters of the Grand River combines spiritual and cultural perspectives with paranormal investigation. Following Six Nations legends, it offers a respectful, story-driven approach to hauntings and unexplained phenomena.

IT: Welcome to Derry

IT Welcome to Derry TV series Pennywise prequelHBO Max (Oct 26, 2025)

This chilling prequel to Stephen King‘s iconic story explores the origins of Pennywise and the dark history of the town. Fans can expect suspense, rich lore, and character-driven horror rather than the standard reality-TV jump scares.

Lazarus

Lazarus Amazon Prime supernatural thrillerAmazon Prime Video (Oct 22, 2025)

Bill Nighy and Sam Claflin star in Lazarus, a psychological thriller about a man confronting the sudden return of his presumed-dead wife. Expect eerie twists and a tense, atmospheric story that plays with perception and mystery.

Mobius

Mobius Netflix supernatural sci-fi thrillerNetflix (Oct 18, 2025)

Mobius takes a bold step by blending science fiction with paranormal horror. The story revolves around a research team experimenting with dimensional travel who accidentally unleash something terrifying from the other side. It promises a mix of cosmic dread, psychological suspense, and paranormal twists.

Revival

Revival Syfy supernatural dramaSyfy (Oct 14, 2025)

Revival explores strange events and unexplained phenomena with a focus on narrative tension rather than staged scares. This series blends supernatural elements with dramatic storytelling, appealing to viewers who prefer suspense and character depth.

Talamasca: The Secret Order

Talamasca The Secret Order supernatural mystery seriesAMC (Oct 26, 2025)

Set in Anne Rice‘s Immortal Universe, Talamasca: The Secret Order follows a secret society that monitors supernatural entities. Delving into occult conspiracies and hidden lore, it’s perfect for viewers who enjoy rich world-building and supernatural intrigue.

PART TWO: Alternative Paranormal TV Shows Leaning on Realism

While few shows currently match the originality of classics like The Paranormal Zone or Sightings, there are modern series that echo its thoughtful, culturally aware approach:

Historically Haunted (2025)

Historically Haunted docuseries hosted by Amy Bruni Led by Amy Bruni, this upcoming docuseries explores haunted histories across various locations. It will blend historical context with paranormal investigation and consider what is said to be lingering around still. Broadcast date is TBA, and when it’s led by this talent, some people will be glad she’s never left the scene.

Haunted Discoveries (2023–present)

Haunted Discoveries (2023–present)Haunted Discoveries is a North American paranormal documentary series that premiered on October 6, 2023 and follows a team of investigators, including Ghost Hunters alumni Brandon Alvis and Mustafa Gatollari, as they explore haunted locations across Kentucky and Illinois. Some States are far more richer for their haunted past, and although Louisana is not included, that’s okay!

The team employs scientific methods to document paranormal activity, aiming to uncover both the supernatural and historical significance of each site. This series can be found on T&E (Canada) and Tubi (USA, New Zealand).

OUT THERE: Crimes of the Paranormal (2024)

OUT THERE- Crimes of the Paranormal (2024)This HULU series explores eight true crime cases that involve shocking encounters with the paranormal world. Through eyewitness accounts, expert interviews, and all-new investigations, the series delves into cases where the line between crime and the supernatural blurs. It streams on Hulu.

Final Thoughts

With these alternative paranormal shows, 2025 offers something fresh for Halloween enthusiasts—whether you prefer suspenseful storytelling, rich folklore, or psychological thrills. There’s no need to follow Zak Bagans. Jason Hawes’ attempt to go solo with Ghost Nation folded in 2021, when the parent show Ghost Hunters moved networks. Also, with Grant Wilson coming back briefly, it’s good to see the old crew back together again, even though not all of them are always 100% committed. Change is overdue, and thankfully, we’re starting to see it.

My Bigfoot Life and the Owlman Problem

My Bigfoot Life aims to explore one man’s entry into the Bigfoot hunting community, but it falters in execution. While Daniel Lee Barnett’s passion is undeniable, staged moments and questionable “evidence” weaken the documentary’s credibility. The result works better as a personal story of determination than as serious cryptid research.

My Bigfoot Life documentary movie posterNow Playing in Select UK Cinemas
Spoiler Alert

Although My Bigfoot Life is framed as a story about joining a larger community of cryptid hunters, I couldn’t help but feel something was missing. Somerset, UK, is steeped in supernatural folklore, and the film barely nods to it. Glastonbury Tor—long linked to King Arthur’s burial—and the Beast of Exmoor are famous fixtures of local legend. Including them would have rooted Barnett’s journey in a much richer cultural backdrop. Instead, the focus shifts away from a giant cat to the “world’s number one ape” (sorry, Kong).

I can’t fault directors Daniel Lee Barnett and Monika Gergelova for wanting to make their mark. This seems to be Barnett’s first feature-length project, and while the effort is obvious, the execution falters. Although his father is far more emotional about supporting his son’s endeavours, it’s best to take some moments in this documentary with a grain of salt. I recommend checking out his better-produced podcast, Mythical Legends.

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The Conjuring Last Rites is Hardly a Finale. It’s More Like The Passing of the Torch.

All The Conjuring Last Rites does is to lean heavily on callbacks to earlier films. While Judy Warren’s expanded role adds some novelty, the result feels more like a greatest-hits package than a true conclusion.

The Conjuring Last Rites PosterThe Conjuring Last Rites may mark the end of the franchise on the big screen, but HBO Max’s TV series to continue the story will keep the Warrens alive. Just this week, the streamer announced Nancy Won as showrunner, with Peter Cameron and Cameron Squires joining the writer’s room. While Ed and Lorraine Warren claimed to have investigated countless cases, only the most sensational ones ever made it to theatres—often as overblown, fictionalized spectacles. What’s missing are the controversies surrounding the couple’s methods and credibility, which can take the franchise to a level other films never explore.

At the heart of this latest film lies a familiar question: who—or what—is the evil that continues to pursue the Warrens? Earlier entries teased a hidden hand behind Annabelle and The Nun, but ultimately the lore hinges on one figure: Valak.

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Ghost Month 2025: Chinese Horror Picks & New Teasers

Although no films were made specifically for Ghost Month 2025, there’s plenty of support from releases earlier this year and following!

Ghost Month 2025The second half of August is shaping up to be very spooky and Fringey. Ghost Month 2025 starts on Aug. 23 and runs until Sept. 21. As for Hungry Ghost Festival, that will be on Sept 6!

Although there’s no mandate about releasing films during this time–that’s reserved for Chinese New Year–some fans of horror always like to look at what’s on the cinematic slate to be reminded about what the Hungry Ghost Festival will entail. Some years have seen releases made specifically for this celebration as it’s a time not to be afraid of, but honour!

But for those who want to know what’s happening this year, we got a guide!

Fresh Releases, Teasers & Trailers
Plus Where to Watch

  • The Dark Mysteries (China, 2025) — A new horror/sci-fi teaser has dropped, hinting at eerie supernatural disturbances and a mystery to unravel. A late-summer digital or theatrical drop feels likely—stay tuned!
  • Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio:
    Curious Tales of a Temple (China, July 2025) —     Just when this film will manifest in other countries is still in question, but for those fans of Chinese Ghost Story, and Pu Songling’s classic collection “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio,” this animated take will please! Technically, Ghost Month 2025 can’t be complete with this film. There are six stories, and our coverage can be found by searching our archives with this link.
  • Ghost Killer — Available on Digital via WELL GO USA — Geared toward Asian horror fans, this trailer teases a ghostly revenge story packed with atmosphere and tension.

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