The Scariest Places on Earth

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Ghost-hunting expeditions are genuinely spooky.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this series features frequent scenes of implied paranormal activity, including shadowy human shapes, moving inanimate objects, and recordings of disembodied voices muttering things like "so much pain." There's lots of screaming, crying, and other signs of obvious emotional distress as novice investigators (a.k.a. normal people with insatiable curiosity) spend nights at reportedly haunted locations to look for evidence of ghosts. Many talk about feeling spirits try to choke or pull at them, and all are convincing in their fear. Violent acts like murder, suicide, and torture are described in detail. Clearly this series isn't for young kids (or sensitive older ones).

  • The witnesses seem sincere in their belief in what they see and hear, but the show gives no rebuttal time to experts who might have alternative explanations for the supposed paranormal activity.
  • The series includes a "viewer discretion" warning because of its frightening nature. Little violence is shown, but witnesses describe terrifying physical encounters with ghosts, including feelings of being choked, suffocated, and pushed down. Others give graphic details of the reasons for the spirits' pain, including suicide, violent death ("they slit their throat from ear to ear"), torture (inserting ice picks into mental patients' brains for experimental medical treatments, for example), and execution. Witnesses are shown screaming in fear at the supposed sight of paranormal activity (objects moving, blurry presences, etc.).
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

THE SCARIEST PLACES ON EARTH is a reality TV-style investigation series that places willing participants in reportedly haunted locations and documents their impressions of paranormal activity. The series -- hosted by Linda Blair (The Exorcist) and narrated by Zelda Rubinstein (Poltergeist) -- visits famously spooky locations like Manresa Castle in Washington and Moundsville Penitentiary in West Virginia. In each segment, a team of novice investigators moves in for a night to test the paranormal claims. Armed with video cameras, flashlights, and, in some cases, high-tech equipment like thermal cameras and highly sensitive voice recorders, the subjects set out for a night of ghost hunting.


Is it any good?

 

The visitors are usually greeted almost immediately (thanks to editing, no doubt) by an inexplicable sense that they're not alone; as they proceed on their tours, many see strange happenings like inanimate objects moving, glass breaking, and blurry shapes passing by. Some claim to hear voices, and those with recorders capture and replay phrases like "so much pain" and "out, out, out." Others describe physical encounters with spirits, whom they say pull on them, choke them, and pass through their own bodies.

Not surprising, there's plenty of screaming, crying, and obvious emotional distress on the investigators' part -- the frightening content is guaranteed to upset sensitive viewers even at the teen level. Many viewers probably won't be surprised to hear that skeptics question the series' credibility (which may be why it doesn't offer any time to anyone who could offer alternative explanations for the supposed paranormal activity). In the end, viewers must decide for themselves whether they believe the investigators' claims. But regardless of credibility, the show is tense and frightening. This is definitely a know-your-child situation, so be sure to take a close look at disturbing content like descriptions of death and violence and supposed ghostly encounters to assess whether your young viewers are ready for it.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about ghosts. Do you believe in them? Why or why not? Do you believe the investigators' claims? How come? How plausible is their evidence? Is it possible to believe what you see on TV in this high-tech age? How easily could evidence be fabricated? Why do you think this show doesn't include expert accounts from skeptics? Does the fact that it only presents one side change your opinion of its credibility? Why or why not?


This review was written by Emily Ashby

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This review was written by Emily Ashby
TV rating:TV-PG
Network:ABC Family
Cast:Linda Blair
Genre:Reality TV

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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