‘There is no escape’
Paranormal Prison is a 2021 American found-footage style horror film about a YouTube investigation channel’s desperate attempt to go viral.
Directed by Brian Jagger – making his feature debut – from a screenplay co-written by Randall Reese, the movie stars Todd Haberkorn, Paris Warner, Don Shanks and Corynn Treadwell.
Plot:
The impending demolition of an abandoned prison has the paranormal investigation team “The Skeptic and the Scientist” rushed to spend a locked-in night within the prison’s walls before the wrecking balls start swinging to convert the now state historical building into condos.
Knowing their channel desperately needs views, team leader Matthew (Todd Haberkorn) funds one last-ditch effort in hopes the device science expert Sara (Paris Warner) has invented will be their ticket to fame and fortune. Along with their sound technician Ashley (Coryn Treadwell), cameraman Jacob (Brian Telestai) and guided by their assigned park ranger, the team recorded everything, hoping to capture elusive spirits.
What they captured instead will change paranormal investigation forever, and may have even solved a long-standing mystery.
Reviews:
“The 66-minute Paranormal Prison was, in effect, a documentary followed by a horror film. Its first 50 minutes did little to scare or intrigue. But its last 16 minutes were filled with admirable jump scares and curious mystery.” Heaven of Horror
“The script plays as “typed” more than written. The line-readings sound like just that — readings, flatly intoned by a cast not quite up to acting on camera. Yet. And the “frights” cooked up by director Brian Jagger? Not worthy of the name. My advice? Don’t do the crime — streaming this — if you can’t do 70 minutes of hard time.” Movie Nation
“There is a lot of investigation and potential scares packed into an hour and ten minutes. They even added a pretty fun twist in the end. Without spoiling it I will say that the twist is something simple and has been done a bunch of times throughout “scary movies” but regardless it was fun to see unfold.” Nightmarish Conjurings
“It’s too bad the script is so bland because Paranormal Prison was shot in an actual prison, The Old Idaho Penitentiary, and it makes for a great location. With so much potential it’s criminal that most of the film is either the crew sitting at their command center or walking around talking. The film is watchable if you’re in an undemanding mood, but it could have been much better.” Voices from the Balcony
Release:
Paranormal Prison is released theatrically in select locations and On-Demand on February 19, 2021.
Cast and characters:
Todd Haberkorn … Matthew
Paris Warner … Sara
Don Shanks … Mannequin
Corynn Treadwell … Ashley
Brian Telestai … Jacob
Amanda Fitch … Mary Beth Flake
Sarah C. Patterson … Self
Kalani Seymour … Teen talking about sleepovers
Easton Lay … Park Ranger
Django Laighleis … Man talking about ‘cool kids’ at the prison
Zion Gomez … Teen
Scott Beals … Man confused about family
Ren McGregor … Scared little girl
Filming locations:
The Old Penitentiary, Boise, Idaho
Trailer:
YouTube reviews:
MOVIES & MANIA rating:
