You might have thought the world of paranormal investigation had exhausted every dusty corridor and shadowy corner – think again! The Supernatural UK, a brand-new YouTube series from filmmakers John Shackleton (Panic Button, The Sleeping Room) and Andy Bourne, breathes eerie new life into the genre. Launched on July 21st, this ten-part docuseries throws away the textbook dramatisation in favour of something raw, immersive, and refreshingly unpolished.
Selling itself as a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ paranormal investigation series, The Supernatural UK strips back much of the glossy dramatics and over-produced tension of more mainstream ghost-hunting series. Instead, Shackleton and Bourne deliver a more candid exploration of the haunted heritage of the United Kingdom, as experienced through the sights – and other senses – of both seasoned paranormal investigators and the filmmakers themselves.
Episode 1, the aptly named “Objects That Move”, kicks off with a visit to the Museum of Curiosities in Nottingham, home to an atmospheric labyrinth of various oddities and supposedly haunted objects, where a sinister doll soon becomes the unexpected star of the show! Left rolling, the cameras catch paranormal investigators Diane Chambers (aka the Healer) and Justin Cowell’s (aka the teacher) unguarded reactions. The subtle phenomena detected feel even more chilling since they’re not being spoon-fed to the audience. There’s a sincerity here that’s often lacking in paranormal investigation shows.
In Episode 2, “Accident”, the team journeys to the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth, one of the oldest theatres in Wales and a venue with a reputation for spectral anomalies. The quiet of the theatre creates an unnerving backdrop. Investigators Craig Williams (aka the accountant) and Amy Cox (aka the Kickboxer) have their work cut out. There’s audio illusions, EMF spikes, and a surprisingly philosophical chat with a ghost!
But it’s Episode 3 “Awakenings” that ups the ante. At Bath’s notorious House of Frankenstein, investigators Kev Kerr (aka The Engineer) and Katie Goodland (The Scientist) encounter poltergeist activity, failing electrics and a case of possible multiple spirits. It’s the balance between the chilling and the mundane that The Supernatural UK handles so well. The tension is real, but so is the humour of everyone involved.
What sets this series apart isn’t the apparent presence of the paranormal, which remains, as always, open to interpretation – but the very real reactions of the Investigators. The various ghost hunting duos are as diverse in belief and methodology as they are in personality. From those who favour high-tech gadgetry to the spiritual/ Clairvoyant to ritual-based investigators, each group brings a new lens through which to explore the unknown, and the filmmakers give them space to operate.
Visually, the series is unpretentious, often lit only by torches and headlamps, which adds to its authenticity. The result feels more like a home video or found footage than a polished series, but that’s exactly the point.
The Supernatural UK is an oddly intimate return to basics. It doesn’t try to convince you – it doesn’t need to. It simply shows you what happened, and lets the chill creep in from there…
