Most Haunted!

Did anyone see Most Haunted the other day, (Living TV).

It was awesome. One of the best I've seen.

No Derek Acorah and all the better for it, (I'm sad to say.).

The new(ish) medium is David Wells and he is very convincing. No dramatics as such. Just good info coupled with, what I consider to be, genuine emotion.

And to cap it all, the series producer and Director, Karl Beattie, captured a large floating ethereal image on film!

Proof positive of the existance of spirits/ghosts?

Possibly.

Anyway, I was kinda going off Most Haunted because it was becoming somewhat predictable. But on the evidence of this showing, I reckon I'll stick with it for now!

Famous Ghost Hunting

Hey, has anyone caught ‘Dead Famous’ on Living TV?

I am mightily impressed with this ghost hunting show. The title virtually tells you what this show is all about.

A highly skeptical Scottish lass, Gail Porter, and American ‘sensitive’ Chris Fleming set out each week to attempt communication with the spirits of the famous folk who have passed over e.g.; John Wayne; Houdini; Lucille Ball; Charlie Chaplin; John Lennon; Buddy Holly, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean etc.

What I like about this programme is that not only are Gail & Chris a great double act, they appear to take their task very seriously.

And when someone guests on the show who they suspect is faking their psychic powers - as was the case of a guy who was seemingly possessed by the spirit of John Lennon and attempted to speak, (badly), in Lennon’s distinctive Liverpudlian voice - they are quite happy to expose them as fakes.

There are some seriously spooky moments too, but not on every show, which is as it should be. Chris is pretty impressive, (at least to me he is), with his ‘sensitive psychic’ powers and Gail, though at times scared witless, really comes across as a true sceptic, difficult to convince and offering logical and thoughtful explanations regarding ghostly occurrences.

They also use cool gadgets including a digital audio recorder to capture EVP’s (electronic voice phenomena), supposedly the voices of the dead. Also, at times, pretty impressive.

Check it out. If you’re into ‘Most Haunted’ or ghost hunting type shows, I think you’ll really enjoy the quite unusual....

Life After Life?

Is there a life after life?

When we expire and shuffle off this mortal coil do we enter an 'other world' and, like a caterpillar transmuting into a butterfly, become a different form of being?

An ethereal spirit perhaps?

Nobody knows for sure... or do they?

Some people who have experienced near death are pretty darned sure. After all, they've allegedly taken a trip to the other side... and returned to tell the tale.

Most who have been subjected to a near death experience (NDE) report floating along a tunnel heading toward a brilliant white light. Some see human shapes and hear voices. Many sense an overwhelming love, a feeling of calm and of well being.

Others may actually see and communicate with loved ones who have already passed over.

So, what is a NDE?

Some argue that it is when the human soul/Ka leaves the physical body and enters the world of spirit while others will say it is simply a form of delirium.

Probably the most vehement critics of NDE is the scientific/medical community.

Their stock theory on this subject is that, as a person reaches the point of death, the body releases endorphins which causes the brain to hallucinate hence; tunnel, light, voices, well being etc.

Now, although I personally believe that we probably do continue to exist in some form or other after death, I like to think I am very open minded and so still try to be objective and weigh up the pro's and con's, look at it from the point of view of believers and non believers.

In this instance however, (for reasons that will become clear), I have to admit that I am a tad biased where this subject is concerned and so find myself leaning more toward the explanations of the NDE folk and further away from the scientific/medical community.

So, I’m going to kinda challenge the scientific/medical theory by relating the true tale of my good friend Dan, (not his real name for obvious reasons).

I first met Dan 15 years ago when I was working as a sound engineer/script and jingle writer in a recording studio.

Dan was a client who had booked the studio to record voice-overs and FX for his latest project, a pilot for a children’s animated TV series.

The moment I met him and shook his hand, I liked him. It was one of those rare but happy ‘instant likes’ .

Constantly smiling and joking around, Dan had, (and has), a gob-smacking zest for life I had never before encountered. Nothing fazed him, nothing was too much trouble. He was always polite and he genuinely - and I do mean genuinely - liked everyone he met.

I am delighted to say that from our first encounter, we got on like a house on fire. Similar tastes in most things and the same odd sense of humour I suppose.

He had, and has, so many friends, I counted myself lucky to be one of them. And still do to this day.

He was pleased with my sound, FX and script work and eventually asked me if I would like to get more involved with scripting his project and I gladly agreed.

The time I spent working with Dan was a joy and as time passed we became close friends. His attitude toward others was amazing. Folk felt instantly at ease in his presence. He would speak to complete strangers like he'd known them all his life. Always praising, never criticising, forever thankful for whatever anyone did for him or on his behalf.

He certainly opened my eyes and, I can safely and thankfully say, changed my outlook on life and altered, for the better, the way I treat and perceive others. (That said, I still get irritated by people who are downright rude though! It’s so unnecessary).

One evening, we were having a few drinks at his home and I asked him why he was the way he was.

He looked at me oddly and for a moment I thought I may have asked a question he was uncomfortable with. But then he grinned, sipped his drink and began to tell me.

For many years, Dan was not a nice man.

He was what is known hereabouts as a ‘hard’ man. Muscular and with a quick temper, he was prone to be argumentative which sometimes led to physical brawls, with Dan invariably emerging as the victor.

A hard working man who provided well for his family, he was nonetheless completely intolerant - though never violent - to his wife and children, cocky and extremely self centred.

Dan did what Dan wanted to do when Dan wanted to do it!

And when Dan wanted to go fishing... He did!

A keen sea fisherman, Dan and three of his friends decided to take his boat out on a fishing trip one wet and windy Sunday morning.

Ignoring the rain, the increasing wind and fairly heavy sea swell, they clambered into the boat and set off.

Several miles out, they cut engines, dropped anchor, cast their lines, opened a few cans of lager and settled down to fish and have a few laughs.

After an hour or so with no luck, the wind at virtually gale force and the rain now lashing down dampening even their fun loving spirits, the four men decided that enough was enough and they would up anchor, start the engine and head for shore.

As they headed in, the weather took a sudden change for the worse and before they knew it, a fierce storm had developed causing the waves to become mountainous, tossing their boat around like a mere toy.

Now seriously afraid and essentially fighting for their lives, they radioed a mayday to the coastguard who promptly raised the alarm and ordered the launching of the lifeboat.

Soon after sending their mayday, the boat was hit side on by a giant wave, tipping the boat over and throwing the four men into the now torturous sea.

As the storm raged about them, Dan and his three friends desperately battled to stay afloat and keep together. But the sea was too strong and as exhaustion took hold, they slowly but surely drifted apart.

By the time the lifeboat located them, they had all drowned, and were floating lifelessly.

The lifeboat men quickly hauled them out and immediately began resuscitation.

Despite the valiant efforts of the truly heroic lifeboat men, Dan was the only survivor. His three friends could not be saved.

And it was this tragic near death experience that changed his life and made him into the caring, honest and loving man he is today.

Now here’s the thing.

Some months later, I asked Dan if, in his drowned state, he had, (as most NDE folk have), seen ‘a light at the end of a tunnel’, so to speak.

And he said that he had not. Nothing. Zilch. Not even the tiniest little spark.

Now, what must be remembered here is that Dan had drowned. He was not breathing, his heart had stopped and he had no pulse. In other words, he was, to all intents and purposes, dead.

So, here’s my argument.

If, as the medical/scientific fraternity believe, endorphins are released at the point of death causing hallucinations which make the NDE person believe they have visited the other side, why didn’t Dan hallucinate!

Surely, he should have done! He was certainly at, or even past, the point of death, of that there is no doubt.

After all, if endorphins are the cause of the NDE then logically every person who experiences near death must, by scientific laws, have such hallucinations!

Does it not follow therefore that as Dan and - it appears - others who have had a NDE did not actually experience anything i.e., ‘visit the other side’, then it must also follow that endorphins can’t possibly be the cause of the Near Death Experience.

That being the case, then maybe – just maybe – NDE is a reality whereby the soul/Ka, depending perhaps on the circumstances surrounding the NDE, sometimes does and then sometimes does not leave the physical body and enter the world of spirit.

One final thought. Although Dan did not experience ‘the light at the end of the tunnel’, he still believes in...

life after life!

Horror movies that frighten(ed) me!

When I was a young 'Jack the Lad' in the mid 1960's, I was an avid cinemagoer. I loved films. Couldn't get enough of 'em. In fact, on average, I would go at least twice, sometimes three times a week!

My wife, (then my girlfriend), was - thankfully - also a lover of films and so would quite happily accompany me.

Unlike others of our tender teen age, we went to the cinema, (or 'The Flicks', as we used to call them), to actually watch the film. Not for us the snog in the back row, oh no. Our interest was what was being shown on the screen!

In those far off, halcien days, cinemas (unlike the uniform impersonal boxes they are today), had great character and were more like grand theatres.

With names like; 'The Essoldo'; 'The Gaumont'; 'The Odeon'; 'The Empire'; 'The Shaftesbury' and 'The Palace', these popular places of entertainment were beautifully decorated. They had crystal chandeliers hanging from wonderfully ornate ceilings. Cherubs holding lighted, (electric), torches looked down from the decorated walls and there were balconies, plush carpeting and huge blood red curtains covering the screen. Going to the cinema was a proper night out! And quite a cheap one too!

Entrance fee was usually in the region of one shilling and ninepence, (approx: 9 pence).

A hot dog was about one shilling and sixpence, (7 1/2 pence), and you could get tubs of ice cream and ice lollies for between threepence, (less than2 pence), and ninepence, (less than 4 pence).

So, as you can see, pretty cheap.

Although our taste in films was pretty diverse, it goes without saying that - much like my character, Quentin Greely, (see 'The Short Cut' near the end of this blog) - our main passion was horror films. We just loved being frightened by spooky suspenseful movies.

Back in the 60's, the masters of the genre, in my humble opinion, were Hammer Films. Although low budget films, they had a very special quality about them.

Mainly starring, (the late, great), Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, (recently in Lord of the Rings), these films could have you on the edge of your seat with some fabulous heart stopping moments.

'The Mummy'; 'Dracula'; 'Curse of the Werewolf'; 'Frankenstein'; 'Jekyll and Hyde'; Hammer covered them all... superbly.

Of course there were other makers of excellent horror films including United Artists and MGM but Hammer, I think, topped them all!

And compared with todays horror bloodfests, I have to say, on reflection, that the old, creaky horror films of my youth were far scarier. As I recall, they had far less blood and much more suspenseful scenes.

Okay, I admit I may be suffering from an acute case of nostalgia-itus here but there are honestly very few of todays horror films that scare me as much. (Maybe 'cos I'm older and wiser?)

So, are horror movies scary anymore? With a very few odd exceptions, I really don't think so.

Most are pretty formulaic these days, variations on a single theme. Again, in my humble opinion, I think they rely too much on blood and gore and special effects and usually offer a very weak plot rather than a cracking storyline.

And in most cases you virtually know whats coming and so very rarely enjoy the heart stopping 'jump' factor, which is what all good scary films are about.

Now, I'm not saying there aren't any really good modern movies. There are some over the years that gave me a bit of a scare. 'Saw' was pretty good as was 'Wrong Turn'; 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'; 'Constantine'; 'Godsend'; 'The Mummy I & II'; 'Alien'; 'Hide and Seek'; 'Silence of the Lambs'; 'Se7en'; 'The Ring'; 'The Sixth Sense' and a few others of that ilk.

All I'm saying is that, apart from the odd few, most of todays horror movies don't have that 'toe curling, stomach tingling aaarrrgggghhh!' factor that all horror fans love. Whereas the older movies, like 'The War of the Worlds', (original version much better than Spielbergs effort), 'The Thing from Another World', (again much better than the Carpenter remake), Hitchcock's 'Psycho' and 'The Birds', usually did.

To give you an idea of what I mean, let me cite an example:

'Nosferatu'

Back in 1985, my then 16 year old son, a film fanatic like me, decided to watch a 1923 black and white silent horror film about the vampire Nosferatu.

Now my son, having been brought up watching colour TV didn't particularly like watching black and white films, and certainly not silent ones. Refused point blank to watch them.

But in this instance, he thought he would watch this one, just for a laugh.

I can tell you that by the end of the movie, my son was not laughing. This grainy 72 year old silent film had scared him witless and had given him his first 'toe curling, stomach tingling aaarrrgggghhh!' factor.

He's loved that movie ever since!

It was the dark shadows and suspense that got to him. No blood, no gore, just a movie that allowed him to use his own imagination to scare him.

Naturally, the older films don't scare me now, and they do look very dated and somewhat creaky, but I still think they are special and love watching them.

Well that's my opinion, (which probably doesn't count for much), but, what do you think? Is there too much emphasis on the use of blood and gore and not enough on a suspenseful plot? Or do you think todays films are better and scarier than the early horror films?

P.S. One of the greatest cult horror films of all time...

... is over 30 years old. Still so fresh, it's hard to believe, isn't it!