By David Dent
There’s an old saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Dominic O’Neill’s debut feature is a fine example of this; an homage to/update of BBC TV’s 1992 production Ghostwatch, with events transposed from north London to Northern Ireland.
We join a film crew as they set up a live broadcast for Northern Ireland Television on 31st October 1998 (six years after the events in Ghostwatch). Hosts Gerry Burns and Michelle Kelly (Mark Claney and Aimee Richardson, taking on the Michael Parkinson and Sarah Greene roles respectively, and both excellent) are broadcasting from a reputedly haunted house in the north of Belfast, where a series of mysterious incidents have been terrorising the property’s occupants, the McKillen family.
Meanwhile up in the address’s attic local radio personality DJ Declan (Dan Leith, playing the Craig Charles lovable geezer role) is spinning the tunes and raising money for Irish victim support via a phone in (the events are set just after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and references to ‘the troubles’ echo throughout the ‘programme’).
Things play out much as they did in the 1992 classic: the story of the house – containing a notorious spirit – is gradually unveiled via a pair of psychics and members of the local community who gather outside; mysterious events begin to occur inside and there’s the usual VT playback to analyse them; and the McKillen’s daughter Rose (Libby McBride) eventually becomes the locus of supernatural activity.
There’s nothing as creepy as Ghostwatch happening here, but what is interesting, and not seen in the BBC production, are the ‘off camera’ moments when the presenters show their true disdain for the production, the family, and even the producer who is about to pull the curtain down on the whole thing, until increasing viewer numbers require that he keep the feed open.
Of course a long time has passed since 1993, and the world is considerably more culturally ‘hauntological’ than it used to be. Thus we have a very Ghostbox inspired degraded look for the footage and titles, some timey wimey subject matter and a soundtrack (by the director) that’s very au courant. But I liked this a lot and run wise it knows not to outstay its welcome.
Haunted Ulster Live is available on UK and Ireland digital platforms from 14 October 2024.
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