User reviews

I've always been fascinated by this story, and when I finally got around to watch the show, I wasn't disappointed. It's not a 'modern' Hollywood horror movie, which in some sense felt like a little breath of fresh air. A great deal of spooky elements and great acting. If you're a fan of ghost stories, then you should watch this one. As a miniseries it can be a bit long for some, but then again, you'll enjoy it, if you're into the genre. I love 'The Entity' (82) and even though this mini series is not as intense, it still delivers in its own 'British' way. Could it have been better, maybe, but not really because of the budget or the talent. It would just have been different decisions made from the directors/producers side. A last note: I don't feel like it was intended to make a 'light' version of the story, which I appreciated very much.

The story will be well enough known to people of a certain age, so I won't go over it again.

This.....for the first time ever, is a telling of the tale that rips itself free of the awful Conjuring sticky fingers, the hugely entertaining (but fanciful) Timothy Spall interpretation of 2015, and all of the other "point and laugh" contemporary ridicule pieces of the late 70s and early 80s.

The meticulous set builds for the interior of the home, the superb decision to lip sync to Maurice Grosse's original tapes, and the non sensationalist, non judgemental space and breadth given to this who were there to tell their stories added up to a fresh (and refreshing) take on a story that had become perilously close to being lost forever.

For once, the terms "for information" or "for enlightenment" can stand on slightly higher ground than the lazy default "for entertainment only" that has allowed content makers to throw whatever they like into the telling of any given story.

A heartfelt "thank you" to everyone in the making of this docudrama. It's heartening to know that there's still film makers out there willing to resist the addition of sensationalist fiction to gild an already fully formed lily.

Well made documentary by apple tv. I've seen other docs and shows about the Enfield haunting but this one is excellent and you get interviews from people who were there. The series uses Grosse's original audio tapes, and actors recreate scenes that were documented over a two-year period. Creator Jerry Rothwell supplements these with archival footage and interviews from journalists, paranormal experts and the family.

There is an inordinate amount of information to get through - as Grosse once proudly told the BBC: "This may be the best case of the century, and as far as documentation goes, it might be the best case of all time." Plus, there are dozens of agendas to wade through. The media wants a salacious story. The family want to help and to be seen as wholesome and honest. The paranormal investigators want to make a significant scientific breakthrough in their field.

A very smartly done documentary, with actors lip-syncing to the recordings of the owners, neighbors, and those affected by the going's on in that house. Eerie seeing and not seeing what was going on, knowing the reactions are real from the sound - the actors did a very good job of keeping everything in context.

High praises to the filmmakers for keeping us in mind that this is ours to evaluate - from the occasional peeks behind the sets to the real interviews with neighbors, reporters and photographers and ultimately the 2 girls at the center. Just when you think you've made up your mind, you get more information, and then you rethink, then more and a rethink..

Definitely worth seeking out and having a weekend watch party - the tone shifts in episodes 3, and again in 4, but the combined effect is something my wife and I talk about still.

Averagely well-made mini-series, but awfully slow, semi interesting and uninteresting at the same time, played good enough by the actors or who you deem potent, possible and feasible as actors, events that are not seen, events that don't make sense, absolutely no thrill, no sense of urgency at all, with just generic, depressed faces all along.

It is phlegmatic in the most British way. Won't watch another Poltergeist production on the subject for a while.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 5.5
• Development: 7.5
• Realism: 6
• Entertainment: 2
• Acting: 7.5
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 7.5
• VFX: 7.5
• Music/score/sound: 6.5
• Depth: 5
• Logic: 1
• Flow: 3.5
• Documentary/horror: 3.5
• Ending: 3.

Not only the best paranormal documentary I've seen but one of the best documentaries I've seen on any subject.

A fascinating and sophisticated approach to an extraordinary story, with a strange lip-syncing recreation that eerily echoes the phenomenon/possession itself. The voice both real and unreal.

The filmmakers have gone all out, creating a creepy atmosphere but also an investigative and objective style with some real pathos as well. It delves deep but I wish it was even longer.

This really is underseen and underrated (once again don't trust the IMDb ratings). It deserves a big audience.

Captivating, using real audio captured during the supernatural activity. Amazing what they were able to capture & what an amazing surprise part way through the documentary. Deserves an award!

I'm not sure how this relates to any of the Conjuring movies, but this documentary seems to capture EVERYTHING other supernatural documentaries can never quite capture.

I really enjoyed it, however it leaves you wanting more; it's not clear on how the poltergeist activity stops or why.

The acting is brilliant, the set is amazing, the constructive layout is spot on, the story is captivating, the surprises are well...surprising. Well worth a watch.

I don't watch a lot of documentaries, but I went for this one being a huge fan of horror and The Conjuring movies. It is a really well made documentary, the idea of using the real footage was excellent, it gave the whole thing the sense that everything we are watching is real and it was not manipulated to prove point A or B. I honestly don't know how to feel about the case, whether it was real or not, and I love that about the storytelling. Without spoilers, I can say that I certainly felt some shivers during the last episode that made my atheist self question the nature of our reality. I will be really surprised if this doesn't get at least an Emmy nomination. Another beast of a series from Apple.

The use of original audio combined with lip sync was such an interesting and eerie way of telling the story of what unfolded at the house in Enfield. It went into great detail and had me gripped throughout.

I had watched the play only a few weeks back and was curious to learn more about the case, this documentary does it for you and totally honours all those involved, I thought it was well written, feeling a bit similar to a play in the different acts unfolding slowly.

It's worth watching for the authentic, sympathetic way the team approach the story of the Enfield Poltergeist.

If you like horror or thriller, definitely watch it!

...This is how to make a documentary.

The Enfield Poltergeist, arguably, checks all the required boxes with regard to making a documentary.

There are no bombastic statements to be had here. Instead there is ample research into "a case". There is an eloquently balanced presentation of various facts and hypotheses where "all sides" are allowed to; not only present their views on a series of happenings but explain the rationale behind their conclusions.

For some documentaries the primary objective is to present a conclusion, for some it is to objectively present facts -so as to enable the viewer to form their own opinions.

The Enfield Poltergeist, most definitely falls into the latter - and it makes a stellar job of it. This is most refreshing in a time when documentaries of latter have had a tendency to present hypotheses as facts.

So there you have it, the story is told, the facts presented, now it's your prerogative to draw any conclusion you wish - and also respect anybody who's opinion may differ from yours.