I find "Ghostly Encounters" to be very smart television entertainment. The show's producers use an empty, paint-peeling loft space (well lit natural light permitted by by large floor to ceiling windows typical of most loft space) as a setting for the host's narratives and probably also where the sit-down interviews with Ontarians who have had ghostly encounters takes place. The setting is cost-effective for production, and it works for the content. Very smart. In addition to production cost savvy, the program sells itself to viewers by emphasizing content over special effects or other "boogy boogy" factors that make other programs of the same genre unbearably boring. The program's producers seem to be able to locate credible Ontarians who are willing to go on air and tell the story of their experiences in a credible, rational manner. The producers seem to be very effective in screening out "experiencers" who may have psychological problems. I've only seen one story teller(experiencer) on "Ghostly Encounters" who I thought might have a psychological issue. What's interesting about these experiences, in general, is that rational people have them. And, in this instance, the events are occurring fairly close to home. I actually happen to meet someone in a bank queue who was personally familiar with the haunting prolems people had reported in Vaughn near the Indian burial grounds. That "in Ontario" factor makes the show particularly interesting. "Ghostly Encounters" reports the experiences (whatever make actually be causing them) in an unembellished narative format that is smart in that it counts on the content being unique enough to hold a viewer's interest. It usually is. The host's narrator (Laurecne Chau) puts a very sober and intelligent face on the program. Is it my imagination, or does Laurence Chau's demeanor seem a lot like that of Rod Serling? It's a shame the program doesn't seem to be attracting enough production money to have done more than 2 season's worth of shows. It's refreshing and relaxing entertainment.
Review of Ghostly Encounters
