The Enfield Poltergeist
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Drawn-out docudrama has eerie moments, cursing.
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The Enfield Poltergeist
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What's the Story?
THE ENFIELD POLTERGEIST is a four-part docudrama about the world's most famous poltergeist haunting. In 1977, Maurice Grosse (Christopher Ettridge), a member of the Society for Psychical Research, went to 284 Green Street in Enfield, London to investigate alleged supernatural occurrences. Using a reel-to-reel audio recorder, he interviewed working-class single mother Peggy Hodgsons (Paula Benson) and her children, 13-year-old Margaret (Charlotte Miller), 11-year-old Janet (Olivia Booth-Ford), and 8-year-old Billy (Daniel Lee). With the help of actor portrayals and field recordings of interviews with the Hodgsons, witnesses, as well as some of the supernatural phenomena happening in the home, the miniseries offers an extended look at what the family endured until 1979. Archive media footage also highlights the international interest in the case, as well as speculation among experts that what they were witnessing was a hoax.
Is It Any Good?
The strange and occasionally creepy series attempts to recreate what happened at the Enfield house by featuring actors lip-synching to the original recordings made during the investigation of the alleged poltergeist haunting. What's heard, described, and reenacted (this story inspired the film The Conjuring 2) is often presented with shadowy lighting and other elements to heighten the fear factor. Some of the interviews with surviving witnesses, including now adult Margaret and Janet Hodgsons, and family members of those who are deceased, reveal the emotional turmoil that the family went through during that time. But some conversations highlight the doubts others had (and continue to have) about the validity of the Hodgsons' claims.
The Enfield Poltergeist is methodical in its storytelling, making the overall narrative feel long and drawn out. As a result, the sense of eeriness in the first and second episodes almost disappears by the final installment. Nonetheless, if you're in the mood to learn more about one of the most publicized hauntings of the late 20th century, this series is worth the watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what a poltergeist is. Do you believe they are real? Or are they made up to scare people?
What does The Enfield Poltergeist suggest about the media interest in what was allegedly happening at the Hodgsons' rented home? How would the media coverage differ if events were reported to be happening today?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 27, 2023
- Cast: Paula Benson , Charlotte Miller , Olivia Booth-Ford
- Network: Apple TV+
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: October 31, 2023
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