- Actors: Michael Parkinson (II), Sarah Greene, Mike Smith (XIX), Craig Charles, Gillian Bevan
- Directors: Lesley Manning
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 12
- Studio: Bfi
- DVD Release Date: 25 Nov 2002
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00007JGG0
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
33,023 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
- #65 in Film & TV > Horror > Ghosts & Hauntings
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Reviews
Special Features
English
Region 2
Commentary By The Writer Director And Producer
Region 2
Commentary By The Writer Director And Producer
Review
EXTRAORDINARY - A Supernatural TV Landmark --Sfx
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Beginning in the cosy style of a BBC live broadcast for all the family, Ghostwatch purports to be a light-hearted Halloween ghost hunt but steadily becomes classic horror.
This documentary style drama lulls its audience into a false sense of security from the outset. Familiar faces in Michael Parkinson and Sarah Green (he the cynical uncle-figure, she all cups of tea with the be-spooked family)strengthen the atmosphere of cosiness, and the production itself takes seriously the viewers' disbelief about the paranormal - sceptical characters are strong in number, hoax calls are made to the studio and even the presenters have their tongues firmly in cheek.
As the story of the house cleverly and subtly unravels, the atmosphere turns increasingly disturbing and features some genuinely horrific moments. Viewers will have to be eagle-eyed to catch all the 'sightings' of the house ghost, and the intricacies of the plot and what is seen on screen reward repeat viewings.
Although the unbelievable ending is widely criticised, this surely is the re-establishment of the norm in terms of restoring the audience's cynicism after they have been taken in by the authentic horror of what has gone before.
Terrifying stuff.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is the day the beeb went too far.Having not seen it for 10 years my wife and i sat down to view a piece of television history and found ourselves shocked by just how far the bbc were prepared to take this story. It still scares and sends tingles down your spine , the script is wonderful and the use of famous faces to suck you in and lower your defences is used to great ends. Find some one who hasn't seen it or doesn't know about it and tell them you have a copy of the documentary the bbc banned. Then sit back and watch their faces. Brilliant television , worth the money
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In these post-Blair Witch Project days it is difficult to imagine the hysteria that accompanied the BBC's controversial Halloween drama Ghostwatch.
Filmed on "live" location at a house in Northolt, Michael Parkinson and "Dr Lin Pascoe" (Gillian Bevan) try and stay calm as scary events build towards the chilling conclusion.
As a wide-eyed twelve year old on that infamous night in 1992, I found it difficult to sleep as every strange noise became Pipes. It is comforting in a bizarre way that the film still packs a punch ten years on and has lost none of its power, even after you know it was only a story.
Taken as it was meant to, Ghostwatch is an excellent and well-written drama. Michael Parkinson is too believable as the presenter, Gillian Bevan tries to keep her professionalism as the psychiatrist who befriended the family and Sarah Greene looks concerned and terrified in equal measure. The DVD also throws up interesting subliminal images of Pipes that were not distinguishable on the night and there is much fun and hair-raising moments in playing the footage in slow-motion, checking whether that reflection in the patio doors really was what you thought it was!
The quality of the picture and sound is excellent, bearing in mind its age but the extras are hit and miss. If you have access to a DVD-ROM computer you have full access to Stephen Volk's original screenplay (109pp) and treatise (37pp). If you don't, you are limited to a "Shooting Ghostwatch" voice-over by Laura Manning and full-length commentary by the writer. The scripts are an excellent addition but are under-utilised for those who do not have the necessary software.
In conclusion, new viewers who did not watch the '92 screening may wonder what the subsequent fuss was all about. For those who did, it is as good and frightening as you remember it.
All together now: "Round and round the garden..."
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Blast from the past
On a technical level, this product arrived promptly and in excellent condition.
I've not watched it yet but I bought it as I always remember seeing this as a child and... Read more
I've not watched it yet but I bought it as I always remember seeing this as a child and... Read more
Published 9 days ago by Jonah
There are NO EXTRAS on this DVD
This is not a review of the DVD, this a correction to the product description. I bought this DVD and subsequently contacted Amazon and informed them the the DVD Extras listed are... Read more
Published 20 days ago by K. Berryman
Almost Spooky
This was a really original idea and cleverly put together, with well known faces presenting the show both in the studio and at the haunted location and bought the DVD out of... Read more
Published 26 days ago by Teresa Pietersen
Awesome
Originally shown on BBC1 in 1992, this is a documentary programme, in the manner of `Crime Watch', fronted by Michael Parkinson on the subject of ghosts including OB elements and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Oldends
Dvd Extras...Spirited Away??!!
Despite Amazon's misleading description, this dvd has NO extras! There is/was a release that had various extras on it but not this one. Read more
Published 1 month ago by KentishWench
Fantastic
I remember watching this when it was aired many years ago. It was just as good when watching it again now, as it was back then. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Wonderful Books
No extras on this DVD (despite them being listed in the description)
This review is specifically in reference to the 2011 re-issue of the DVD. The feature programme is fine and dandy if it's your cup of tea (I'd give it 3 1/2 stars on its own). Read more
Published 2 months ago by Cary
Excellent, but....
Very well-done, and I can see how people were taken in, thinking it a real documentary.If I'm nit-picking, the children didn't seem nearly scared enough, despite all the screaming. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mayor Hobbies
Pipes is here, Pipes is back!
Halloween 1992 and the BBC aired Ghostwatch as part of its Screen 1 Drama series. It was all told a horror mockumentary based around the Enfield Poltergeist investigation of... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Spike Owen
Classic
This is a classic of BBC publishing. Well worth a trip down memory lane and at this price its a steal.
Published 3 months ago by Blue nose
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