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Ghost Adventures
Common Sense says
- Travel Channel
- Reality TV
- 2008
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this reality series -- which follows a team of paranormal investigators as they visit allegedly haunted sites -- could be quite scary for younger viewers. The team's overnights in these locations are pretty creepy, as are their discussions of the murders, torture, and other gory events that took place there. Expect some bleeped swearing, usually when team members are reacting to something unexpected.
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Your child's teacher recommends, "Just Say NO!"
Ghost Adventures
Best supernatural show out there!
What's the story?
In GHOST ADVENTURES, Zak Bagans and his team of supernatural investigators travel around the country to find real-life haunted houses -- and hopefully capture evidence of the spirit world on film. During their investigations, the team is locked inside each location overnight, with their cameras, digital tape recorders, and other high-tech specter-sensing gear ... and possibly a few actual phantoms.
Is it any good?
The team attempts to bring some scientific rigor to their investigations as they try to document the presence of the supernatural. There's also some history -- the investigators discuss the grisly incidents that may have created restless sprits -- and a good bit of ghoulishness, thanks to amped-up spooky music and frequent quick cuts to creepy (and usually unrelated) images.
The result is kind of muddled. The team does sometimes seem to have encounters with the unexplained, but they don’t do much with their evidence; they replay it a few times, say “wow!” and then move on. At times, locked in a haunted house in the dead of night, Zak and his colleagues seem truly unnerved -- even frightened. But watching them get scared isn’t very scary for viewers. This series isn’t nearly as thorough as the Ghost Hunters franchise, which pioneered this genre, nor does it offer the chills that people might want from seeing a haunted house.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the supernatural. Do you believe in ghosts? Do you think the team manages to capture real footage of spirits? How does this show compare to fictional movies and TV shows about haunted houses?
What do you think the show's main goal is? Is it to entertain or to scare viewers? Or both? Does it succeed?
Do you think this kind of show is as entertaining as series about things that are familiar to everyone -- like cooking or fashion?
TV details
- Premiere date: October 17, 2008
- Cast: Aaron Goodwin, Nick Groff, Zak Bagans
- Network: Travel Channel
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Available on: DVD
For kids who love creepy stories
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.