PLOT: A six episode paranormal investigation series with Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman. The two spend 72 hours in reportedly haunted locations, all the while dealing with little sleep and very little connection to the outside world.
REVIEW: When it comes to dealing with the paranormal on television, it is certainly a subject matter that has been tackled ad nauseam. A camera follows a host around while searching for the occasional creepy voice (aka EVP) or moving object is not a new concept. And while the new series with paranormal investigator Nick Groff certainly has elements of that, there is something that truly sets his latest venture apart from the others. To describe Paranormal Lockdown as yet another ghost hunting show doesn’t really tell you why it works as well as it does. The new series benefits from the double bill of Groff and his co-host, Katrina Weidman. Not unlike a movie, the latest reality series involving the supernatural is a success because it is easy to find yourself invested in the hunt thanks to a great concept and charismatic hosts.
The premise is simple, take two people and place them in a haunted location for 72 hours straight. This is a surprisingly unique concept that gives Paranormal Lockdown a fresh feel. Each episode explores several places including the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Anderson Hotel, Franklin Castle, Randolph County Infirmary, Hinsdale House and Kreischer Mansion, all of which leave both Groff and Weidman visibly worn by day three. Hell, after 24 hours you can tell that the surroundings are already taking their toll. With six episodes airing on Destination America – the first premiering on March 4th – the series follows the two hosts, and their cameraman Rob Saffi, as they delve into the dark history of the many locales.
While Paranormal Lockdown follows a similar pattern to other shows, it certainly sets itself apart as to how much time they spend investigating a specific location. With 72 hours, they are able to pack a solid 42 minutes with fascinating footage. This brings a few legitimately scary moments. One scene involves a shaken Rob, who is apparently bit by an unseen thing. There is little here that is just filler. In fact, my only minor complaint is that there isn’t enough of each place. With that much time spent in a single environment, you could have easily stretched it out to two episodes. However, it certainly keeps the series moving at a brisk pace.
Aside from the idea behind it, the key factor as to what makes Lockdown so much fun is the on-screen chemistry between both Groff and Weidman. Frankly, before I watched the series I had qualms about reviewing the series. I’ve had the pleasure of doing my own mini-investigation with Groff at The Washoe Club in Virginia City, Nevada. Yet after sitting down and taking it all in, it was surprisingly easy to disappear into the series. So while I feared that there my be some bias going it, this was quickly dispelled thanks to the two investigators and the terrific pacing of a this freaky and fun series.
Weidman, who I wasn’t familiar with before hearing about the series, is a real asset. She gives it a perfect balance that makes this paranormal journey a compelling watch. Both she and Groff make for a perfect team. There is a real sense of honesty in the way they react to the surroundings. Even if you don’t believe in anything supernatural, it is hard not to feel a sense of dread and excitement during each episode. We see the two under stress, tired and unsure of the surroundings, but the respect and care they have for each other creates real drama. The uneasiness of being locked in a single environment for that long of time is pretty spooky whether you believe or not.
Paranormal Lockdown not only opens with a damn good theme song – I certainly didn’t expect that – but it continues to create an impressively entertaining hour of television. With only six episodes – I’ve seen the first three – here is hoping that we get a season two of this fine show. Groff and Weidman are fantastic together, and as simple as it may seem, it all feels sort of groundbreaking in the way they go about their investigation. If you are a fan of this type of series, this is a perfect example of taking something familiar and making it new. Get ready to get spooked when Paranormal Lockdown premieres on March 4th.