Hartford City, Indiana. A charming small town harboring a sinister presence within its suburbs, confined within the walls of a two-story home. This is the infamous Monroe House, a place synonymous with aggressive paranormal activity and alleged connections to the occult. Venturing within its walls spells guaranteed terror, but for accomplished paranormal investigator Matt Benton, it’s one more case he is called to crack… and you’re invited to come along.
Evil Unearthed is Benton’s latest and greatest, showcasing the joint efforts of the Paranormal Research Unit, DIG Paranormal, and Interface Death, to uncover new evidence of the dark past of the Monroe House. More specifically, they are focusing on the overall history of the house with particular interest in its crawlspace. That fact alone is chilling enough if you give it some thought, especially with a backdrop that heralds ritualistic killings and demonic presence. The production value is impressive, if a little overdone at times, as Benton walks a fine line between entertainment and education (edutainment) so as to keep his audience engaged.
The film ultimately succeeds when it’s framing its real-life event as an actual film. In fact, sometimes you forget you’re watching a pro at work, with the lighting and editing pulling from popular found-footage horrors to maximize immersion. Then again, how much are you willing to suspend your disbelief when it comes to ghost hunting?
If this is your first foray into the world of ghost hunting, then congratulations, you’re in for a doozy. It’s a chill-inducing introduction with a decent dose of old American history to go along with it. It’s eerie on the surface, but the way that Benton commands the screen as its protagonist is its most compelling element. The best thing you can do is go in blind and let him lead the way.
Whether you are a skeptic or not, the supposed evidence might not always line up. Even staunch believers might find the more dramatized elements a step too far, while casual audiences might not even pick up on them to begin with. Of course, it’s easy to try and disprove whatever the group is doing from the comfort of your home, as you aren’t physically there getting your soul oppressed by the Monroe House.
When the chips are down, Benton’s film works as much as your experience with the paranormal allows it to. If you’re someone who keeps up with the world of paranormal investigators on YouTube, you’ll probably see all the telltale signs of a haunting from a mile away. Evil Unearthed’s length might also be a hindrance to some. The convoluted and mysterious backstory of the Monroe House is fascinating, and so are many of the situations Benton and co. find themselves in. Yet they aren’t quite enough to prop up a 140-minute runtime, and it does lead to a slew of filler being introduced to pad the less fast-paced areas.
Evil Unearthed might not be the most concise documentary to satisfy veterans of the genre, but will absolutely scratch that horror itch for those who venture in not knowing what to expect.
