The Othersiders

What’s the Story?

In THE OTHERSIDERS, five young friends team up to investigate reports of paranormal activity. The teens -- who range in age from 13 to 16 -- select sites based on credible reports of ghostly encounters and, after some background research, head out for midnight investigations of their own. Using high-tech equipment like infrared cameras and voice enhancement software, the team gathers data onsite before returning to their lab to analyze it and determine the likelihood of an actual haunting.

Is It Any Good?

Don't be misled into thinking this show is for kids of all ages because of the youthfulness of its cast or the fact that it airs on Cartoon Network. Flashes of glowing figures and creepy recordings of disembodied voices are no less chilling for being witnessed by older tweens and teens rather than adults. The show's content is intense, and the teens are visibly frightened by what they experience. In other words, The Othersiders isn't a show for young kids, and sensitive viewers of any age might get the creeps, too.

What's more, the show's premise is a bit disturbing, as it suggests that thee five teens -- one of whom is only 13 -- are heading off unaccompanied on these late-night ghost hunts in abandoned buildings, junkyards, and the like. And, disturbing as that idea is, the alternative -- that the show misrepresents the teens' autonomy during the investigations -- sends just as many negative messages to young viewers about the reality of shows like this one. While the team's investigations are intriguing and their conclusions will certainly make you wonder about the spiritual world, this show is best reserved for teens and adults who can handle its content.