Parents' Guide to

The Lowe Files

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Lots of family bonding on this ghost hunting road trip.

TV A&E Reality TV 2017
The Lowe Files Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 3 parent reviews

GrizzyLyn H.
GrizzyLyn H. Adult
September 27, 2017
age 8+

Pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy this show!!

This show is for everyone. Children as young as 8 can appreciate any subject the Lowe's are investigating (Bigfoot, aliens, etc.), while adults are bound to remember Rob Lowe from his previous work. Nothing contained in this show has been so scary as to give a child nightmares. Personally, both my husband and myself look forward to this show each week. Their investigations (so far) have not produced any concrete proof, but you find yourself rooting for this family. Their enthusiasm is contagious. They want to believe, they want to be scared... and it rubs off on you. The Lowe's love and respect one another and are not afraid to show it. They do not hide the fact that they truly enjoy spending time as a group while on the road. If there is something to be learned from this show (besides the VERY interesting facts that they share about their subject each week) it is that family is worth spending time with. The Lowe's treasure the people they meet on their travels. Even at their most skeptical, they treat people with dignity and respect. Rob, as well as his sons, are "all in" when it comes to experiencing first-hand American's mysteries and myths (i.e., staring at goats... I have not laughed so hard in a long time). I am hoping this series will somehow be extended. I do not want it to end!!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Sid N.
Sid N. Adult
September 7, 2017
age 14+

waste of (air)time

dumb, useless money spending, not entertaining, not informative, 2 many commercials, watch 20 minutes of intro's, babbeling in the car and commercials and see 10 minutes of actual site. Seen 3 episodes, hoping it would get better, NOT. Like said, waste of money and (air)time. Cool if he wants spending time with his sons but we didn't need a show about it. To each his own.
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE LOWE FILES is a reality series starring actor Rob Lowe and his adult sons as they investigate paranormal activities around the country. Lowe, along with sons Matthew and John Owen, travel to mysterious and allegedly haunted locations to follow up on the ghost stories and other legends that surround them. As they go from abandoned reformatories to areas known for alien abductions, they spend time at each place looking for evidence of strange creatures and spirits from the beyond with the help of shamans, science, and technological devices. It's a little creepy, but they see it as quality time with family.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (3 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This mildly entertaining reality series offers some fun moments as the Lowes bond during their spooky sleuthing adventures. While the trio shares a fair sense of skepticism about the stories they hear, they're more than willing to see if they can't be convinced that what they are discovering is real.

There are times that The Lowe Files feels like a parody of more serious TV programs that investigate these issues. As a result, it's hard to take these guys seriously. But the positive relationship between them creates some great moments and gives viewers a reason to watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the existence of ghosts, strange beasts, and aliens. Where do the legends about these things come from? Are there some truths to the stories on The Lowe Files? Or are they products of people's imaginations?

  • Is The Lowe Files meant to be taken seriously? Or is it produced simply to be entertaining? Do you think people watching the show will feel differently about paranormal activity and other strange things after watching it?

TV Details

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