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A Haunting

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Anthony Call, Where to watch: Discovery Channel, DVD)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Spooky real-life tales might genuinely frighten.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–15

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Some people's stories involve family details like arguments between parents, alcoholism, depression, etc.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    The type of violence depends on the episode, but one included a ghost strangling a woman, glass shooting out of a cabinet and injuring a woman's face (with blood), and household objects flying around a room breaking on walls and people.
  • Sex:

    Adults shown sleeping in bed together, teen couples hug briefly. Nothing sexual.
  • Language:

    Occasional "hell" or "damn."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Depends on the episode, but one featured an alcoholic father who drank from a bottle of hard liquor and, in one scene, appeared drunk.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About A Haunting

Parents need to know that this sometimes-scary docudrama series tells real people's stories about experiences with the paranormal. Episodes include dramatic re-enactments of ghostly appearances, children being frightened in bed, angry arguments between parents, and occasional injuries as a result of contact with spirits. Stories also sometimes include potentially upsetting family details -- like a father becoming a heavy drinker or a mother becoming seriously ill. Some episodes contain religious elements, such as a priest performing an exorcism and asking Jesus Christ to cleanse a house.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the supernatural. Do you believe in haunted houses, spirits, or paranormal events? What about the possibility of contacting the dead? Has anyone in your family had a brush with the paranormal? Is the idea of a spirit world scary or comforting? What do you know about other cultures' beliefs about the paranormal or spirit worlds? Why are we drawn to ghost stories and other tales of the supernatural? What's their appeal?

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Our Members Say

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  •  I think this show is

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See all 10 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    DEPENDS

    JUST DEMEND ON THE EPISODE THATS ALL YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT OTHOR THENN THAT GOOD SHOW

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Delaware
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    love it!

    Me and my mom watch it all the time! :)

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    fun 2 wach

    this show is fun if u want a bit of terror or a late nite sub thriller 2 wach with ur frnds

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    I was terrified, but I couldn't look away . . .

    I love love love this show! It's really scary, but that's it's appeal, along with the fact that these people really did experience these things. Younger kids definitely would not like it, but older kids and adults will love it. The first time I saw it, they were having a marathon. I watched a little and now I'm hooked. My mom and I watch every day.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    So cool...

    This show is so cool, I watch it every day. The first time I watched it, this show freaked the heck out of me, but now, I laugh at it. It's a show of believeing or not, but even if you don't believe in the paranormal, you can still get a kick out it! :-)

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