March 29, 2016

Paranormal Lockdown: Hinsdale House will air on April 1 on the Destination America channel.

Continuing their 72 hour sleepovers in highly-trafficked haunted locales (with that traffic applying to both living and dead), Katrina Weidman and Nick Groff, along with cameraman Rob Saffi, pay two long visits to the Randolph County Infirmary and then the Hinsdale House.

At the Randolph County Infirmary they're joined by Grant Wilson, who is a pleasure to see in action. His approach is always low key and methodical. This episode's highlights are his brief appearance, Nick and Katrina's morning exercises, and Rob "red shirt" Saffi's not being bitten or attacked in any way. I'm disappointed Rob remains unscathed in both episodes. I'm sure Rob is happy though.

Not much else happens except for EVPs I'd want to listen more closely to, and jarring knocks that are always mysterious and unsettling. Looking at Ray's credits, he's held the camera for Ghost Adventures, Ghost Stalkers, and Ghost Stories, so by now he know's what he's getting himself in to. One strong point about Paranormal Lockdown is how we see glimpses of Ray filming and how the hosts acknowledge his presence. Time was you'd not disturb the sense of host-solitude unless the camera or sound person got bonked by a malicious entity (you may recall the incident involving the sound man getting suddenly knocked off his feet during one episode of Ghosthunters). 

I wasn't being sarcastic about Nick and Katrina's aforementioned morning exercises. By now I'm sure even you're wondering what they do to work out the body and mind kinks from staying onsite for 72 hours. And what does Rob do? Does he sleep in the van or rent a room? 

The Hinsdale House visit is disappointing–no concrete visual evidence is produced–and intriguing–everyone feels something not quite right when in the house or traversing the nearby woods. While personal impressions can be influenced in non-supernatural ways, when everyone feels the same way after entering the Hinsdale House, further investigation into both supernatural and natural causes is warranted. The house itself has the usual history you would expect for one associated with demons and hauntings. Left derelict at times, reluctantly inhabited at other times, the dreary house and its surroundings are picture perfect for local gossip to run wild.

What makes Hinsdale House receive a lot of attention by paranormal investigators and ghost tourists is its backstory of exorcism, Gregorian-like chanting supposedly heard in the woods around the house, and the depressing feeling of your energy being drained when you enter its rooms. In the 1970s the Warrens investigated the house. Tony Spera (noted as a religious demonologist), son-in-law to the Warrens, joins the hosts for a walk-through in the house and around the woods. Paul Kenyon (author of You Know They're Here), comes in to describe an experience he's had in the house.

A nightly walk in the woods has Nick hearing chanting and coyotes looking for their next meal. Me, I'd have left with Rob already. There's something not quite right with the Hinsdale House. Maybe it's its architecture and flies, or perhaps its location. I'm not sure I'd want to do a ghost tour there, but be my guest.