HAUNTED ULSTER LIVE (2023)

3 stars

Beyond Visible Films. UK and Ireland digital platforms. 14 October

One of those found footage films that actually works, because they have a genuine reason to be shooting footage, HAUNTED ULSTER LIVE inevitably draws comparisons to the famous BBC show GHOSTWATCH – but let’s a face it that was in shown in 1992… over 30 years ago!

It is Halloween night in 1998, always the best time to go ghost hunting I guess. Veteran presenter Gerry Byrne (Mark Claney) is doing a TV investigation, alongside enthusiastic Michelle Kelly (Aimee Richardson), who is normally a children’s TV presenter, for a Northern Irish TV station. They are on the site of a house, where strange ghostly things have been happening. Meanwhile, somewhat bizarrely, DJ Declan (Dan Leith) is in the loft space, which is supposedly super-haunted, presenting a live show as well!

Also along for the ride is Robert (David Fleming), who talks about ley lines, plus medium Sinead (Antoinette Morelli). Add to them the actual family who have been haunted – Sarah (Siobahn Kelly), her daughter Rose (Libby McBride) and son Stephen (Jay Lowey). Cameras are dotted round the house to try and capture any spooky happenings… it isn’t long before things start to happen.

Well directed by Dominic O’Niell, working from his own script, this can be seen as both a homage to GHOSTWATCH and a bit of a parody, with touches of comedy. Like the recent LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL, with which it shares some similarities, you don’t just see the show itself, but also the interludes when the adverts are running – the off camera comments that belie what is being broadcast. There are committed performances by the cast especially the two leads and the film uses the limitations of video style footage to it’s advantage. There is an interesting final twist which is kind of hiding in plain sight.

Steve Kirkham