------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall Rating : 7.5/10
Directed By : Zac Adams
Charlie Chase (Crook and Chase (TV) )
Supplied By : Skydive Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Oct. 20, 2006
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| PLOT Souhern Haunts is a tv show dedicated to the legends of the south.This is not a ghost hunting show, but rather a historical show with a supernatural twist. We strive for interesting, compelling stories that not only have ghosts, but are also historical. Whether it's at a civil war battlefield, an old mansion, or plantation, each segment contains an actual story. Our goal is to educate our viewers with these stories and give them a choice to whether they believe the legends or not. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| THE REVIEW From Director Zac Adams, comes SOUTHERN HAUNTS a Television series that travels to various southern landmarks in the south to investigate various hauntings that have occurred. The series which was produced for broadcasting on the PBS networks, is very unique in that each story showcased on the 30 minute episodes each share an historical background. Unlike most "ghost" shows the stories shown aren't based on speculation but rather on documented facts on these known cases. The DVD sent in to me by Adams contains two episodes. In the first episode we travel to various locations in Tennessee. The first stop is in Franklin, we come to a Civil War landmark called the Carnton Mansion. The Carnton Mansion was a 2 story mansion that was once used as a make-shift hospital for the wounded and dying soldiers participating in the war. The wounded occupied both floors of the mansion, many soldiers passed on there - thus the house was deemed "the most haunted house in Tennessee". Some say the spirits of the soldiers can be heard still wandering the site. The second story focuses on a young woman named Peggy Eaton a promiscuous young woman whom had an affair with a senator and caused a big sex scandal and shook up the President's cabinet. People say that since she lived a life of sin, she has not been allowed to rest in peace and to this day her spirit roams the Earth. The fist episode closes with the story of the Thomas House in Red Boiling Springs. The Thomas House is a Bed and Breakfast, originally owned by the Cloyd Family was once a hotel. While owned by the Cloyd's their young 5 year old daughter had become ill and later died of a stomach ailment. To this day the residents as well as the new owners claim that they still see the little girl from time to time, and people have actually interacted with her - the episode comes to a close with ghost hunters visiting the site, during their visit they capture a recording that distinctly sounds like a little girl's voice.... The second episode heads to Franklin Kentucky, to The Octagon House. The Octagon House was built by the Caldwell family to house and aid soldiers, which is where also some passed on. Also another accident occurred when the Caldwells daughter, Elizabeth died in a tragic fire. Many of the house's visitors claim that they see the little girl opening doors as well as moving various objects - the house is furthermore haunted by the soldiers who died in the house.... they go on to display some EVP recordings of the voices that have been recorded, which are undeniable. The second story takes us to the Falcon Manor one of the most historic mansions in the south. The Manor was once owned by one of the richest men in the region that owned a jean company - and the reason for he and his wife moving there was so that he could be closer to his mill. Today many believe that the place is haunted by the owner Clay Faulkner and his mother-in-law, they have admitted to see and and hearing noises generated by the spirits of the two. Next we continue by learning of the battle of Shiloh a battle that killed _____ people, some say the battle field is haunted and a near pond known as the "bloody pond" because many soldiers shed their blood into it's waters is often supposedly seen changing to a blood red hue..... other hauntings include "the Lady in White" which is a spirit of a young woman whom cared for and consoled the soldiers during the war. This episode closes as does the DVD with a trip to Adams Tennessee the legend that was documented in the film AN AMERICAN HAUNTING, still exists today. John Bell an his family's fan was viciously haunted by a spirit known as "The Bell Witch" It explains that the death of John Bell is the only death in history to have been caused by a spirit. SOUTHERN HAUNTS is both entertaining as well as insightful, as I did learn a few things from these 2 30 minute in length episodes. The production is what you'd expect from a TV show, nothing more nothing less. In the first episode I did notice the boom mic in some shots, on the second episode it was presented in widescreen thus fixing the mentioned problem - other than that I was impressed by the show's overall presentation. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| MUSICAL
SCORE 5.5/10 The soundtrack presents some very eerie tones that fit the pace of the episodes very well. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM As mentioned SOUTHERN HAUNTS could be used as a valuable learning tool as it teaches of historic events. Charlie Chase's narration is simple and straight forward - making the program move at a rather smooth pace. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| STILLS | ||||
|
