Things That Go Bump

Rob & I live in Alberta, Canada. This is why we have watched and enjoy this mid-1990s documentary, hosted by the late James Doohan. It features ghosts everywhere from Heritage Park (where we got married) to the spooky old MacKay Avenue school, where many famous Canadians went back in the day, including comedian Leslie Nielsen. 

Rob had originally seen this documentary back in about 1996 or so. He decided to record it to VHS one evening, and still has it to this day.  Eventually, he digitized it (Rob is truly a technological expert) and had me edit out the commercials and we put it on YouTube, with actual permission from the producer, Jim Ripley.  

It makes us both quite happy that it's gotten over 11,000 views since being uploaded, since we like to watch it together every Halloween now. It reminds us that we live in a very haunted province with a very rich history. By the way, it also covers stories from other parts of Canada as well :) 

So without further ado, enjoy the spooky video: 

Movies About Ghosts

Hello there… today we’re discussing some ghost movies (some are very scary, some are funny and some are even romantic). The list below isn’t a comprehensive list; these are my specific favorites, and I’ll tell you why.  You’re encouraged to share your favorite ghost movies or shows in the comment section.

1.       The Shining (1980) – A small family stays alone in a Catskills-like hotel over the winter season, so the husband & father can be the caretaker. In the meantime, the hotel is severely haunted, and angry ghosts torment the family in various ways (the young boy can see all the ghosts).

Scariest scene: The elevator opening and releasing a bloodbath.

2.       Poltergeist (1982) – A nuclear family moves to the suburbs and begins to experience increasingly frightening situations in their home, resulting in the capture of their youngest daughter by a demonic spirit. They learn that the real estate company built their home right on a cemetery site (only moving the headstones).

Scariest scene: When going into a portal in the closet, a giant evil face comes out & growls.

3.       Ghostbusters (1984, 1989, 2016)

1984 – This movie is so classic, it needs no description 😊

Scariest scene: When Dana is dragged screaming into her kitchen, while demons in her chair wrapped their arms all around her. That still terrifies me!

1989 – After a hiatus, the team regains popularity when they have to deal with negatively-charged slime underneath their city of New York.

Scariest scene: When the evil man from the ancient painting is being sent back into it by the Ghostbusters, and he is so strong and his features become more demonic each frame.

2016 – The all-female remake (I quite like it and don’t understand people’s problem with it). The Ghostbusters in this case, have to deal with an evil man (Rowan) who is wanting to bring about world destruction by summoning evil spirits. Sure enough, he makes himself a ghost as well.

Scariest scene: When Rowan’s ghost ends up huge and very destructive! 

4.       Beetlejuice (1989) – A young gothic girl & her selfish family move into a home, formerly belonging to a young, childless couple who cannot ‘haunt’ the new family away. The teen girl develops a friendship with the ghost couple and an evil spirit needs to be banished.

Scariest scene: The waiting room of the afterlife, where we see gruesome zombies.

5.       Ghost (1990) – A young urban couple move into a Manhattan loft to start a new life, when sadly the man is murdered over discovering a co-worker’s secret. He can come back as a ghost and communicate with his widowed girlfriend through a psychic medium.

Scariest scene: When the evil co-worker gets killed after pursuing/trying to kill the girlfriend and the medium; his death is gruesome and he gets dragged to hell afterward.

6.       Casper (1995) – A widowed father (paranormal investigator) & pretty pre-teen daughter move into a notoriously haunted mansion, where Casper falls in love with the girl and befriends her.

Scariest scene: Though this video is more cute than scary, the evil woman does make a terrifying ghost when she gets killed by her partner to take new form.

7.       The Frighteners (1996) – After a man loses his wife during their car accident, he goes into depression but can also see ghosts. He makes a business out of paid ‘exorcisms’ by hiring corny ghosts to haunt people so they’ll call him. He ends up dealing with a really serious, evil entity.

Scariest scene: Whenever the ‘Grim Reaper’ spirit pursues someone, it’s dramatic!

8.       The Sixth Sense (1999) – A young boy struggles with fear of spirits who come to him, while he gets bullied in school and his divorced mother doesn’t know how to help. A deceased child psychologist/psychiatrist reaches out to help the boy before he can move on.

Scariest scene: I’d have to say the woman in the kitchen, who cut her wrists while yelling.

9.       The Haunting (1999) – A psychologist invites a small group of participants to a haunted building, on the guise that he’s only studying insomnia (he is actually studying fear). Sadly, this house is quite evil and hurts/kills some of the participants.

Scariest scene: When one of the male participants is attacked by a lion statue (by the fireplace) and is decapitated. His head is shown flying for some time ☹ 

10.   House on Haunted Hill (1999 remake) – An eccentric horror/thrill tycoon invites 5 participants to an eerie party in a notorious old Asylum, where if they can spend the night without a meltdown, they will win $1,000,000. As the participants turn out to be descendants of the ghosts, they are hunted and tormented by the enraged spirits.  

Scariest scene: This movie is loaded with them, but I’d say the screaming woman under water, with a close tie to the jump-scare zombie in the basement.

11.   Thir13en Ghosts (2001) – A widowed man inherits an unusual glass mansion from his [supposedly] dead uncle, who is a ghost hunter for selfish gain from their powers. The particular ghosts here are very upset and filled with vengeful rage, making them quite dangerous.

Scariest scene: The obnoxious lawyer who gets cut in half by the glass doors closing on him.

12.   1408 (2007) – A sarcastic and saddened paranormal author stays in a notoriously haunted hotel room, where evil ghosts mock his sad past of losing his daughter and marriage.

13.   Scariest scene: Being chased by a zombie/ghost in the air ducts. Many other scary scenes.

14.   Dead Silence (2007) – After a young wife is murdered by a mysterious doll, the widowed husband investigates the situation and learns of an evil female spirit (Mary Shaw) who haunts the town, avenging her own gruesome death decades ago.

Scariest scene: Any time Mary’s ghost lunges at people to bite their tongue out!

15.   Apartment 1303 (2007) – A young Japanese girl dies along with her abusive mother, and together they haunt an apartment that threatens to kill each new tenant by causing them to try to jump from the balcony. It’s a Japanese movie, so slightly harder to follow.

Scariest scene: The scene where the dead girl’s hair becomes like tentacles and ‘grabs’ at the horrified onlookers. 

16.   One Missed Call (2008) – An evil entity torments victims with eerie phone calls predicting their deaths, days before actually killing them. It turns out an angry ghost (of a disturbed girl) who died while locked up for harming her sister, is killing people off one by one.

Scariest scene: Other than the death scenes, it’s when Ellie’s furious & evil ghost appears.

17.   A Christmas Carol (2009 animation) – Ebenezer Scrooge (voiced by Jim Carrey) is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, who forewarns his death if he does not heed the advice of more ghosts to visit him.

Scariest scene: There are several, which made parents wonder if this was child-friendly. With that being said, though this is a Christmas story, it’s also fitting for Halloween.

18.   The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) – A teenage boy is terminally ill, causing him to be able to connect with the deceased, when his mother moves them to a creepy old house to be closer to his medical treatments. The spirits here are from when it was a funeral home/morgue, during the days of seances and strange ritual sacrifices.

Scariest scene: Most of this movie is quite disturbing and not for the faint of heart.

19.   Insidious franchise (2011, 2013, 2015, 2018) – Admittedly, one of my favorites on this list. A young family is tormented in their new home by evil ghosts with intent to harm, later finding that it’s the husband/father they want, after stealing the soul of their youngest son. By the third movie, a teen girl goes through similar torment in a haunted apartment, and I’ve yet to see the fourth one, but I’m sure it’s gonna scare the socks off me!

Scariest scene: In the first film, it’s the demonic male who paces back & forth outside a second story window, before suddenly appearing in the baby’s room. In the second film it’s a jump scare by an angry & abusive mother spirit. In the third one, it’s when the girl gets hit by a car.

UPDATE: Rob & I watched 'The Last Key' together, and it was very good (the strong psychic Elise gets her own backstory). As per the scariest scene, it's when she's talking with the cop at the police station, when the ghostly spirit of her niece appears behind him and screams. This startles the crap out of Elise, but the cop is unaware of what she just saw.

20.   Paranormal Activity franchise (2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) – This series is considered contemporary because it doesn’t use typical Hollywood recording methods, relying on more relatable home movie footage, cell phone camera shots and CCTV. This makes the jump-scares more terrifying as they seem like they could happen. Each movie features a couple or family dealing with demons and angry ghosts.

Scariest scene: Mostly, a lot of sudden jump-scares after a long silence.

21.   ParaNorman (2012) – A stop-motion animation about a young boy who can see and talk with ghosts (despite his family thinking he’s weird). Norman uses his talent when confronting a furious female spirit who was wrongfully killed as a child, and calms her down.

Scariest scene: This isn’t a super kid-friendly movie, and certainly toward the end, when the female ghost (thought to be a witch and killed centuries ago) is shown to be very terrifying.

So there you have it, my personal list of favorite movies about ghosts. Though it sort of saddens me that they’re often portrayed as evil and malicious in Hollywood films, there are also those that give them some lovable relatability. After all, for the most part, they used to be human before dying…

What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

Eerie Songs

With Halloween only weeks away, I'd like to share with you guys, one of my favorite things: eerie songs that make the hair stand up on your skin. The kinds of songs that capture something in your soul... deep feels.


Sally's Song from 'A Nightmare Before Christmas'

Tiptoe Through The Tulips Cover

Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush

Sippy Cup (tragic song about alcoholism) by Melanie Martinez

If you or someone you know, struggles with alcoholism, please contact http://www.aa.org/



Bang Bang by Nancy Sinatra

Black, Black Heart by David Usher

The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel

Dollhouse by Melanie Martinez

My Immortal by Evanescence

Only Time by Enya

The beautiful haunting end of the anime series, Cybersix

Stay by Shakespear's (sic) Sister

[Not-so innocent kids singing the] Poltergeist Theme

Remember, the above is a list of my personal favorites. I am not telling you what you need to feel when hearing these. Also, chances are that you have some eerie favorites that weren't listed here.

Anyway, hope you got some chills at least...

How To Investigate The Paranormal

Hi everyone. Firstly, I'd like to reiterate that we're enthusiasts and not experts. What we know about this sort of thing, was learned from watching shows about 'ghost-hunting' (I am not a fan of that term). Also, from doing more interactive ghost tours, and watching YouTube videos on the subject.


If doing this in your spare time is something that interests you, we'd like to share some advice for your safety, both physically and spiritually.

1. Don't do it alone. This is number 1 because it's very important! Whenever you're reaching out to talk with a spirit, you might be speaking with a non-human, someone with the intent to cause harm. If you are alone, then you risk serious harm to yourself, and may not be able to get out of it. We're not trying to scare you, just let common sense keep you safe. Two or more people is recommended. That also makes this more exciting!
2. Pray for guidance. This is just as important as number 1. In the same vein as protection of not being alone, make sure your own soul is not alone, while reaching out to others. Whether you identify as Christian or another religion, make sure you pray for protection and guidance during this time. Personally, when I talk with a spirit, I ensure it's of a person who feels earthbound and I want to remind them that GOD loves them and wants them back with HIM. No matter how bad a person feels about what they've done, they can be forgiven with an open mind and heart. The other reason you want to keep talking about GOD is to ensure that demons, who are frightened of GOD's Power over them, will stay away from you when they sense your faith. Remember, even though they may fascinate you, it's not safe to reach out to them. 
3. Don't use a ouija board! In the same vein as above, the reason most 'true' paranormal investigators refuse to use these, is because they have a different kind of connection. While EMF readers and Spirit Boxes use the science of electromagnetic frequency, the ouija board uses a person's soul and personal energy to create the connection. By using one of these, you're basically giving your own soul to an unknown entity, and in many cases they turn out to have evil and harmful intentions. This has actually led to several documented possessions. 
4. Do a proper opening and closing, if you want to talk with spirits. It's tempting to just turn on the Spirit Box (either an app or the real thing, from Amazon) and start spitting random questions. However, since there are a variety of entities around you at any given time (not all nice ones), it's very important that you open with a powerful prayer, to protect yourself and to guide the earthbound spirit(s) to The Light. When you ask questions, keep them respectful in nature (never mock any spirits, even if they appear to mock you). When the conversation feels done, thank them for their time and effort responding to you, and pray for them to be able to let go of fear and go into The Light. Leaving it open makes it worse for the spirit(s) and possibly for you - we actually learned this from experience when we left our Spirit Box app running on white noise for 20 minutes in a hotel room, and suddenly a male voice said "Get out!"
5. Choose questions carefully. If it's your first time talking with the deceased (especially a loved one), it can be very exciting to hear their voice! Just make sure that the questions you ask, don't offend. For instance, try not to ask how they died (unless you already know). If they appear to be rude to you, remember that they must be feeling a lot of bad things and need to vent. Rather than get into a supernatural argument, you can politely end the conversation, or ask what they're feeling and why. Stay as calm as you can. See below for more suggestions.
6. Make sure not to disturb the living. This may sound odd, but if you're in a widely public place (perhaps a hotel lobby, during busy hours, or a restaurant still open to the public) try to tone down your investigation. We all remember the movie Ghostbusters, when they got their first case in that upscale hotel (when they caught 'Slimer') and the big scene that caused... try not to do that. We've read of professional paranormal investigators being asked to leave by police.
7. Make sure to rule out the 'normal' first. Flickering lights? Check for an electrical or bulb issue. Orbs in the picture? Rule out dust, moisture, reflections, etc. Even creaky stairs can be attributed to seasonal temperature changes. Finding evidence of the paranormal is much more exciting when you've "run out of logical or scientific explanation."
8. Bring a whole variety of investigative tools. These sorts of activities are more fun when you come very prepared. Personally, I've gotten a few EVP responses that were very cool, and we wish we had the camera recording when it happened. The tools we recommend bringing are:

• An EMF (electromagnetic field reader) which detects changes in the energy around you.
• A temperature detector, which can tell you when there are cold spots. We recommend - same as with the EMF reader - to take pictures as soon as you get a cold reading. 
• A Spirit Box (or app on your phone) - this is to capture EVPs by giving spirits the radio frequencies and white noise to speak through. This energy helps them be heard.
• A camera - can be film such as 35mm, or even a Polaroid. Cellphone and digital cameras work too; just make sure the flash is off at all times.
• A video camera/recorder. This can get moving shadow people, orbs, and EVPs.
• A set of dowsing rods. You may have seen these in shows like Ghost Adventures or other similar shows. They are magnets that are held loosely in your hands, and move in response to questions, such as "Where are you standing right now?" and "If you're okay with us being here, can you please cross these over each other?"
• Other people - at least a partner, or a group of good friends.
• If it makes you feel safe, also bring something Pure and Holy with you, such as written prayers. Have Faith.

Questions to Ask:

• "My name is [your name]. What is yours?"
• "How many people are here with us right now?"
• "How old are you?"
• "Are you a man/woman/boy/girl?"
• "How do you feel about us being here?" or "Is it okay to ask you questions?"
• "How long have you been at this location?"
• "Do you identify as a spirit or ghost?" (remember not to ask about death).
• "Do people talk about you haunting this location?"
• "Are you trying to scare people?" 
• "Do you mean any harm to anyone, or do you feel misunderstood?"
• "What message would you like to share?" 
• "Who would you like to share that message with?"
• "What are you feeling right now? Why?"
• "Are you trying to get to The Light of GOD?"
• "Is someone holding you back? Is it fear?"
• "What is holding you back? Can I pray with you?"
• [and if you're brave!] "Would you like to touch me?"

Make sure to keep any questions you ask, fairly neutral and respectful.

Praying:

I saved the best for last, and it's here so hopefully you remember it the most. 

We respect that everyone has a different religion with which they identify. However, GOD loves all HIS children and wants you all safe and sound. If you decide to embark on this, here are some prayers to bring with you and recite:

2 Corinthians 5:8-9 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with The Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.”

1 John 5:18 “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One Who Is born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”

James 4:7-8 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

I do believe that generally, all people do not become ghosts - if they have had a peaceful passing. Many Christian people will say that ghosts absolutely don't exist.

However, terribly strong emotions at time of passing, could result in someone having trouble coming to terms with it, and they might need extra help to continue on. This is a major reason you should pray for the departed, so they feel peace and love with them.