Haunted Ulster Live takes a bold departure from the conventional found footage style, opting for a unique approach reminiscent of films like Ghostwatch and WNUF Halloween Special. In a departure from the norm, this film unfolds within the confines of a live news broadcast, weaving a narrative that immerses viewers in the chilling events as they unfold in real-time. It’s a captivating deviation from the expected format, offering a heightened sense of immediacy and suspense by presenting the eerie occurrences as they happen. Despite its innovative and immersive nature, it’s somewhat surprising that more filmmakers haven’t ventured into this style, considering its potential to captivate audiences in a fresh and compelling way.

On Halloween night in the late ’90s, a news anchor and reporter team up to present a live broadcast of a potentially haunted house in Belfast and the family that lives there. As the night goes on, they are joined by a medium and her colleague, and things begin to escalate. Far beyond bumps in the night and shadows in the corner, this will be a night that tests everyone involved.

The standouts are Gerry (Mark Claney) as the veteran news caster and Michelle (Aimee Richardson) as the children’s presenter turned field reporter. Both bring very different energies to their roles. Gerry as the more seasoned and gruff character that may be past his prime. He shows his doubt and eagerness to stay relevant. Michelle on the other hand, while being a bit green, comes off as supportive and personable. The rest of the cast does well, no one stands out as bad or underwhelming.

From a technical standpoint, Haunted Ulster Live does what it sets out to do. Which is to replicate that 90s TV feel. For better or worse. On the visual side of things, the retro look works well for the movie. It really does feel like we’re watching an old broadcast recorded on VHS which added to the uneasy feeling all throughout. The other side of the nostalgic coin is the audio, and while it was a faithful recreation of the time period, you soon realized that some things should be updated. The sound was easily the roughest part of the film. Grainy and inconsistent all throughout made it more of a challenge to watch than it should have been.

Haunted Ulster Live thrives on the element of surprise, making it a cinematic experience that truly benefits from going in with minimal prior knowledge. The beauty of this film lies in its ability to gradually draw viewers in, piquing their curiosity without revealing too much too soon. As the story unfolds, it effortlessly sparks a sense of investment in the characters and the unfolding events, making it easy for audiences to form an emotional connection. The journey it takes you on is one filled with unexpected twists and turns, ensuring that when the credits finally roll, you’re left genuinely surprised, perhaps even astonished, by the culmination of events. While not perfect, it was a far more enjoyable experience than I was expecting.