Full disclosure. I'm a skeptic. But one of my guilty pleasures comes in watching the plethora of patently ridiculous (and obviously faked) night vision "documentaries" of over excited eejits stumbling around in the dark, obsessing about motes of dust as "orbs" and projecting pareidolia onto static-garbling "ghost boxes". It's entertainment, not true paranormal investigation, if such a thing exists. But I get a kick out of snuggling onto the couch and snarfing up popcorn whilst chuckling smugly to myself all the same.
That said, finding compelling viewing of something that isn't just a cookie-cutter version of these programmes is tough nowadays, as there's more than a fair share of utter garbage out there. This, I very nearly skipped over this little gem in the mistaken assumption that it would be just much of the same, or worse, a self-satisfied cursory romp thumbing its nose at the paranormal.
It's not. It's much, much more than that. It's a delightful journey of discovery, in the company of warm, genuine and fun people, whose infectious enthusiasm and refreshing self-deprecation render the viewer charmed and engaged throughout. There're no gratuitous jump-scares. There're no endless rewinds of barely comprehensible nanosecond long "words" from the spirit world
Yes, there's a good degree of tongue-in-cheekery. But what you get to see is how four different people each make a personal journey of discovery, some perhaps more significant than others. And it's all done with honesty. However, quite specifically because it's not sensationalised, the footsteps and whisper sequence in San Leandro station is all the more compelling, because of the genuine nature of the participants reactions. It renders them as very relatable and genuine, and us as viewers with a definite frisson of ghost-hunting delight.
I remain a skeptic. But I heartily recommend this immensely likeable documentary to both believer and skeptic alike. Enjoy!