AnythingHorror Central

This past week I got a few screeners in the mail for the upcoming original SyFy series DESTINATION TRUTH and BEAST LEGENDS (look for my early review of BEAST LEGENDS coming soon).  I’ll be completely honest; I’ve never watched any of these so-called “paranormal investigation” TV shows.  Why not?  Well because I think they’re all a bunch of bullshit with very questionable “investigations,” and the investigators look like they just rolled out of a frat house.  What’s more; I don’t believe either in ghosts or in the notion of a Judeo-Christian soul.  I don’t believe the soul is a separate aspect of the body but that the body and soul are inexplicably connected and when the body dies so does the soul.  Ok; enough of my personal beliefs.  The bottom line, at least for me, is that there is no part of the human being that “lives on” after we die.  So all these shows that chase and investigate ghosts are, in my opinion, very silly and futile.

Destination Truth's Josh Gates.

So why, then, am I recommending DESTINATION TRUTH?  Simply put … it’s fun.  Ya know something, I must correct myself.  I have seen one of these investigative shows.  I watched two episodes of FACT OR FAKED: PARANORMAL FILES, and found them insufferable.  The assembled team has terrible chemistry together, the “investigators” all take themselves way too seriously, and their investigations are extremely one-sided and completely unscientific.  But mainly the cast is terrible (Jael needs to disappear back to her hostessing job at her local Chili’s Restaurant).  But the assembled cast on DESTINATION TRUTH look like they’re having fun and they definitely aren’t taking themselves too seriously.  Yes they believe they are proving the existence of the paranormal, but somehow Josh Gates and Brad Kuhlman keep everything fun and light-hearted.  And let’s face it; these shows are mainly about the entertainment factor.  If FACT OR FAKED was entertaining then I’d be watching it.  It’s not so I’m not.

DESTINATION TRUTH is premiering on Thursday, September 9th at 9pm.  This premier will mark this show’s fourth season.  This show has had a steady increase in loyal viewers since it’s debut back in 2007 (last season it was pulling in 2.2 million viewers a week!!).  This premier episode has Josh and Brad visiting Pompeii (“Poltergeists of Pompeii”) and Western Kenya (“Nandi Beast”).  The segment in Pompeii was definitely an interesting one.  Even as a non-believer I have to take a step back and admit that if there was ever a place on earth where ghosts were possible, it’d be here.  Pompeii is of course the town that was wiped out within seconds of Mount Vesuvius erupting.  Pompeii was wiped out so quickly that there are still 2,000 year old bodies frozen in their death throes.  Talk about restless spirits!!

The DESTINATION TRUTH team got exclusive permission to stay within the city of Pompeii over night in order to investigate eye witness accounts of paranormal activity (mainly from night watchmen who patrol the tourist trap).  So the team sets up some night vision cameras, splits up, and investigates.  There’s an odd scene in the beginning where they meet an Italian psychic who tells them they need to descend into Mount Vesuvius to find a particular rock and offer it up to the ghosts of Pompeii; if they do that the ghosts will come.  It’s a scene that really has absolutely no relevance to the overall investigation and seems to be an excuse to get the guys to film an action scene mountain (or volcano) climbing.  That entire scene also feels like padding to the overall segment.  Besides; why would an incorporeal spirit (if they did in fact exist) need or want a fucking rock??

Josh in deep thought.

Anywho … Their investigation turns up the typical cryptic audio and video “evidence” that is too quickly credited as being proof of some kind of paranormal presence at pompeii.  You know the kind of “proof” I’m talking about; they present sounds and images that aren’t really evidence to anyone but the on-screen investigators.  There are sounds that we’re told are the ghostly sounds of people’s last gasps for air (as the volcanic ash overwhelmed them) and one night-vision video shot of an apparition ducking behind a pillar.  I rewound and replayed that scene at least a dozen times and for the life of me could not see any “ghost” ducking behind a pillar.  But I’m just some schmuck who writes horror reviews and doesn’t have any “paranormal training” or psychic powers.  Or do I?  Nope; no I don’t.  Bottom line is they spent one night there and then made a lot of very bold claims.  That was annoying but at least it was fun watching them, and isn’t that what these shows are really all about?

A drawing of what the Nandi Beast might look like.

The other segment was about a mythical creature in Kenya called the “Nandi Beast.”  It’s supposedly a powerful creature that likes the taste of human flesh.  The locals are scared to death of this beast but I think they forget that they live in a country full of wild, carnivorous beasts (a point I was glad the team brought up).  This investigation was pretty fun to watch as well and the team cleared this one up in a jiffy (sorry; no spoilers here).  The “Nandi Beast” was so simple to solve that the team had some extra time to play golf.  Playing a round of golf in Western Kenya … now that’s a story!!

So what are you to make of this review full of my rants and personal beliefs (more than usual, too)?  First; I don’t believe in any of this bullshit of ghost hunting and paranormal investigations (damn you X-FILES for opening this door).  Second; with the right cast and atmosphere that doesn’t take itself too seriously, these shows can be fun and entertaining.  DESTINATION TRUTH accomplishes this by balancing a fun cast with lighthearted investigations that just don’t take themselves too seriously.  The people making this show may not find this review flattering, but I had a lot of fun watching Josh and Brad and their team.  They have great chemistry together and I look forward to watching the rest of this season, which takes them to the “Spirits of Angkor Wat,” to a “Canadian Lake Monster,” and to the “Siberian Snowman” to name a few.  They made a new fan with this reviewer and I recommend you check it out.

(Please note that since this isn’t a film I won’t be doing my standard “My Summary” round-up).

My Summary:

Plot:  3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by Scott Shoyer