Ghost Hunters International makes audiences aware that “ghost molestation” is a real problem.
Ghost Hunters International’s entertainment value comes from its incidental humor rather than its intrigue. Most paranormal reality shows come off fake and sanitized, such as Haunted Collector. However, I will vote to watch Haunted Collector over Ghost Hunters International because of the visible sincerity of John Zaffis’ team in comparison to the comical Ghost Hunters International teams.
This episode follows the Scooby gang, er, paranormal investigators to the great lands of Ireland where they investigate the Roe Valley Hospital and Spike Island. Both sites are historically known to house paranormal actions, so are we going to see the Ghost Hunters pee their pants? They do, but only through signs of ghostly affection. Let me walk you through this.
The first part of the episode has the team exploring the hospital. Much of the actual phenomenon is underwhelming: two of the team members experience a figure running right beside them while another duo investigate an old nursery. Not much really happens, and the lack of quick editing fails to produce any feeling of anxiety or fear. Our act break occurs after one of the guys in the nursery experiences an icy caress on his back. Sadly, this fear of ghost lovin’ is the scariest thing that happens in the episode. Yes, the crew experiences more fear at the possibility of a ghost popping a feel than any legitimate activity.
A very similar thing happens in the next segment when they investigate Spike Island. One of the team members experiences something cold trying to hold their hand. Unlike the first investigation, the team concludes that Spike Valley is haunted. The episode spends a fair amount of time focusing on the voices the crew recorded at Spike Valley and how said voices prove to the client that the area is haunted. Again, the only thing close to exciting is one member fearing molestation from an icy apparition that no one can see. I understand that in the world of the paranormal these feelings are real for believers, but without any debunking, or other phenomenon, the scenes just appear laughable.
Unlike Haunted Collector, Ghost Hunters International does not invest time in debunking paranormal sightings. Instead they invest a lot of time in green tinted night vision. The lack of debunking makes Ghost Hunters International more silly and less credible. It comes off like a bunch of college drop outs enjoying a season long Ghostbusters convention and it shouldn’t be this way. Though John Zaffis’ Haunted Collector is limited by its concept, the show at least comes off as well meaning. Ghost Hunters International could learn from its baby brother’s emphasis on logic. “Touched by the Dead” does nothing to excite or intrigue audiences. It should only be watched if you are a huge Ghost Hunters fan.
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.