The ParaPod – A Very British Ghost Hunt follows comedians Barry Dodds and Ian Boldsworth on a somewhat unconventional road trip as the pair travel to various supposedly haunted locations in the hope of finding proof of the supernatural. That is to say that Barry, the staunch believer in all that is supernatural, is desperately trying to prove to Ian, the complete skeptic, that ghosts exist.
Now if you are looking for a serious ghosthunting film you are going to be disappointed. Most of the investigations are less than professional, something Ian himself calls Barry out on during the film. However, Ian isn’t exactly professional either.
Spending most of his time trying to scare or ridicule Barry, Ian takes his skepticism to extremes and despite telling Barry that he needs to be serious if he hopes to prove something to him, goes out of his way to not take anything seriously as far as possible. Ian’s behaviour during these investigations is reminiscent of Shane Madej from Buzzfeed Unsolved, if Shane was on a sugar high.
While Ian’s behaviour is somewhat infantile and far from professional at times, one cannot fault him for his exasperation with Barry on occasion. This all makes for a highly entertaining and amusing film. This in turn helps to make the more pensive and reflective moments in the film that much more striking and powerful.
As someone who walks that grey area between being a believer but also being a massive skeptic, there are times throughout the film where I empathise with both Ian and Barry, as well as times where both of them manage to annoy me and make me side with the other.
However, it is in that very ambivalence that the beauty of this film lies in my opinion. This isn’t a film about the supernatural or even about investigations. At its core, this is a film about two friends on a road trip. There are moments where the bickering goes beyond merely being playful banter, where it turns into a full-on row. Beliefs are questioned at times and even the friendship gets put to the test. This is what truly makes this film a pleasure to watch.
A far more lighthearted take on the usual paranormal investigation films, The ParaPod – A Very British Ghost Hunt, is definitely worth checking out. The ParaPod – A Very British Ghost Hunt is coming to VOD from 27th September – Pre-order your copy here!
