Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Reality ghost hunts are creepy, salty, but entertaining.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
The reality series DEEP SOUTH PARANORMAL features a team of Southern ghost hunters who travel throughout the Southeastern region of the United States exploring allegedly haunted locations. The tight-knit group includes tactics chief Jonathon Hodges, tech expert Kevin Betzer, fearless brother and sister team Randy and Kali Hardy, jokester Benny Reed, and Keith Ramsey, who plays his guitar and sings out the spirits. Rounding out the group is Hart \"Godfather\" Fortenbery, an old-timer who uses his traditional voodoo gris-gris stick to protect him when he summons ghosts from their hiding places. From abandoned sawmills and plantation houses, to old hotels, and fields where Civil War battles were fought, the DSP team travels throughout the Deep South to discover what's really out there.
Is It Any Good?
DSP features all the expected trappings of paranormal reality entertainment, like lots of dark shadows, weird noises, EVP (electronic voice phenomena) readings, patterns on thermal imaging cameras, and electromagnetic field meters (EFM) -- all pointing to the idea that ghosts are roaming the sites the team is exploring. But what adds to the interest are the additional techniques used by this Bayou-based team, which combines paranormal science and customs that reflect their Southern heritage in order to speak to the spirit world.
There are enough eerie moments to give viewers some fun jitters, but it's also amusing to watch these folks showcase their colorful personalities when they interact with each other and the things from the beyond. Meanwhile, some folks will find the stories and folklore shared by local historians and residents that tie these alleged hauntings to the region's rich history interesting. You may or may not believe it all, but it certainly scares up some fun entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way myths, folklore, and cultural traditions are used to reinforce the idea that the spirit world exists. How do you think these stories and traditions came about? Besides the potential existence of the paranormal, what else do ghost stories tell us about the history and the culture of the people who are telling them?
What are the characteristics and cultural traditions that define the Deep South? How does film and TV portray this area of the country and its residents? What are some of the stereotypes that are often used to characterize the people who live there? Do you think this show challenges or reinforces these stereotypes?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 10, 2013
- Cast : Hart Fortenbery , Keith Ramsey , Kevin Betzer
- Network : Syfy
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Fantasy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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