Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Mitchell Tapes’

Written by Scott Edwards

​The battle for higher ratings is something that no network or television show is above. I remember a South Park episode where they said ‘Sh*t’ 162 times and while they were trying to make a point, it was one of the highest rated episodes of the show for many years. You see it all the time as shows continue to push the boundaries and we have seen some of them succeed like The Walking Dead while others fall. You never know what they will do next or what the FCC will allow next year, but one thing is for sure, you will be entertained.
​
Producer Gene Robinson has a new idea for a show that will take him to the next level. The Ghost Kids will take over the paranormal genre for one reason alone, nobody has involved youth in a ghost hunting show up to this point. Getting the interviews done, Gene has formed his team with some good-looking kids that are going to skyrocket the ratings. With Jason, Matt, Chelsea and Bree all on board to shoot their first show, the group is excited, but have no idea what awaits them in the infamous Mitchell House.

Sitting the group down the night before the big event, Gene opens up about what happened in the Mitchell House many years ago. Sam Mitchell was spotted talking to a child that later disappeared, the towns folk were quick to point fingers at the man and were able to find the child in his basement, ready to be killed. Not knowing how many other kids were killed in the same manner, the town’s folk strung him up in the front yard and left him to die. But there is a twist to the ending of the story as Sam Mitchell’s body was never recovered. Now that the story has been told, Gene lets his Ghost Kids have a good night’s sleep, as they will be in the house looking for any signs of Sam Mitchell or his victims to get the ratings and prove that he can still produce a quality television show.

Entering the house with a couple crew members, Jason is in the lead and directs the group where to go first. Finding all sorts of stuffed animals around the house, none of the kids seem to know what to do when their equipment starts to go off. Trying to call out to the old killer, the group witnesses’ cold spots and the team outside picks up some EVPs, but nobody is catching Sam Mitchell roaming around his house. As the night continues, the group breaks up to investigate more of the house, allowing for Jason and Matt to head down to the basement while Bree and Chelsea head upstairs. Getting some readings, but not seeing the ghosts, the group is forced to come back together when Matt mysteriously disappears. Trying to find their co-star, the group tries to call for help, but being locked down in the haunted house until the sun comes up, there is no escaping the Mitchell ghost and all the torment he is going to bring.

A ghost hunt gone wrong on so many levels and I must admit that I enjoyed the heck out of this movie.  While I did not appreciate the ghost hunt aspect of the movie, I did enjoy all of the paranormal expert’s opinions being shuffled to give it more context. Also, all of the cuts to the locals who were willing to talk about the house and its history made the movie really easy to get lost in. While nobody that lives in the area would go near the house and other paranormal investigators avoid the place due to the nature of the haunting, the hunt for a paycheck is too great for Gene and he is willing to put that before the wellbeing of his young team. With a haunted house, inexperienced ghost hunters, stuffed animals, a creepy basement, and some ghostly torment, this movie will make you think twice about entering a house where horrific murders have taken place, not only because the killer may still be there, but because their victims are sick and tired of being sought out. Stay Scared

---