Common Sense Media Review
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Spooky real-life tales might genuinely frighten.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say that while the show can be enjoyable and engaging for many, it is not appropriate for younger children due to its frightening themes and depictions of paranormal events, which can instill fear or anxiety. Parents are cautioned to consider their child's sensitivity to scary content before allowing them to watch.
- not suitable for young kids
- enjoyable for some
- frightening themes
- parental guidance advised
- mixed opinions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Docudrama series A HAUNTING tells the stories of people affected by paranormal experiences, using dramatic re-enactments and interviews, spooky music, flashes of scary images, and somber narration. For example, one episode documented the childhood experiences of Billy Bean, whose happy family slowly crumbled after they moved to a house filled with strange noises, eerie sensations, and occasional apparitions. As Billy describes it during the show, his father developed a drinking problem, his teenage sister left home, and his mother developed serious health issues as a consequence. The episode features interviews with many of the people involved in the story, including the priest who performed a blessing on the house.
Is It Any Good?
These first-hand accounts -- along with the accompanying dramatizations -- build a scary tale that will frighten many children and even give some teens the creeps. While the re-enactments are poorly acted, the repetition of certain frightening scenes (along with the other dramatic elements) creates a real sense of foreboding. Creepy music and skittish camera work provide most of each tale's "documentation," but scenes occasionally include real violence. In one episode, for example, a woman wakes to find a ghost with a bloody facial scar strangling her, and in another scene, a family finds themselves under siege in their own home, with books flying off the shelf and furniture slamming against the walls, sometimes hitting and injuring people. In other words, if you don't like scary stories, this one's probably not for you (or your kids!).
Talk to Your Kids 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?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 28, 2005
- Cast : Anthony Call
- Network : Discovery Channel
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Faith ( Christianity ) , Family Stories , Fantasy ( Ghosts , Magic , Monsters ) , Holidays ( Halloween ) , History
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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