Sideworld: Damnation Village is a documentary that explores the stories of some of the most haunted villages in England. It is directed and narrated by George Popov. It is written, produced, and edited by Jonathan Russell.

This is one of three Sideworld films, but this is the first I’ve seen. If I were to narrow down what this film is at its core, it is simply a series of ghost stories. Why watch this over endless hours of youtube videos that cover similar topics? To start with, the editing is top-notch. The editing is the major character in this documentary as well as its equivalent of practical effects. The cinematography is excellent. Many gorgeous settings and environments are captured. I know they put some serious thought into every shot. Lastly, when an audience watches something similar they are often living vicariously through the people on screen. In Sideworld: Damnation Village, there are no people on screen. The audience is still viewing the world through another’s perspective because they are seeing carefully selected images organized to make an intentional impression, but the difference is Sideworld: Damnation Village transports the audience to these places. It’s not unlike the classic red Viewmaster many of us grew up on. All the pleasing visuals are paired with really great audio. The bulk of it was in the background and complemented the storytelling. When the audio was brought to the foreground it became something of note. It demanded my attention. There were moments when I was watching a scene, and suddenly it sounded like someone was talking right beside me.

My major grievance with Sideworld: Damnation Village is that all the stories run together. There is rarely any breathing room between stories. As soon as it was done with one story it was moving on to the next. I can recall very few of these stories because they are merged in my mind. The ones I can recall contained drawings and photos of people I could use as an anchor point, but that didn’t occur often. By the time the credits rolled, I actually didn’t feel like I learned much of anything. In addition, the constant stream of narration without anyone to connect to or associate with began to wear on me by the end. It is worth noting these are not problems everyone is going to have. I’m merely writing about my own experience. The worst that can be said here is it may not be a winner for everyone.

I think the things that make Sideworld: Damnation Village unique also have a hand in its flaws. I cannot say I would sacrifice that uniqueness for something that might be a little more flawless. Furthermore, its unique traits make it rather multifunctional. The visuals are so good you could put it on mute and have it in the background at Halloween parties. If you’re busy, you don’t have to sit and watch it. You can listen to it while doing other things and still enjoy the stories. It is hard not to recommend it because it is such a short experience.