Ghost Hunters International Recap Episode 1.14: Dracula's Castle

Posted by Ron Martin on 08.21.2008

This week on the season finale of GHI, the team hits Romania to investigate a couple of castles but mostly just to hear the Romanian mix of the usual spooky music and to see if Barry will speak in tongues. I'm not going to keep you in suspense -- he does.

Here we are at the end of season one of Ghost Hunters International. I suppose they are finishing the season up here instead of one more leg of investigations to get 20+ episodes in. Both GHI and GH have the oddest schedules. I've always wondered if they couldn't just draw each investigation out to the full hour. Surely, there's enough footage to fill 45 minutes, right? When I have this thought, I think of the Ghost Hunters LIVE Halloween Special last year and how they did six hours live and got nothing, so maybe they can't. Have I mentioned how much I dislike the fact their doing the Halloween special from the Stanley again this year? Wusses.

In preparation for the last episode, I have a Coke Zero, a pine scented candle and a small bag of Funyons, the spookiest of all snack foods.

Hey Robb, congratulations on that second Lamborghini, buddy.

Think we're past that evil ad to the right, yet? If we're not…screw it!

Welcome all to…



First up, a little

Ghostly Gossip

Thanks to a reader, I came across a little podcast called Bware. It may have been a radio show that was turned into a podcast later, I don't know for sure, but there host, blogtalk radio hosts a lot of paranormal shows. The interesting news coming out of the podcast was the fact that it is a show hosted by Brian Harnois and Donna LaCroix. On the July 23 show, both explained their absences from GHI and decided that they were retiring from paranormal media (save for the Bware show.)

Donna's decision was brought on, obviously, by her battle with Crohn's disease (notice the correct spelling). Brian based his decision on the fact that he needed to spend more time with his daughter and he didn't like being away from home five weeks at a time. They both bemoaned the "drama" of the paranormal community and said occasional private ghost hunting was for them. Brian went out of his way to say he had one more conference obligation to fill and that was going to be it, you'd never see him again.

I doubt that. I have no doubt that Brian's intentions are pure and coming form the right place. However, in the years we have known Brian, this is the third time he has quit a show. His track record indicates he'll be back trying to stretch his fifteen in some way sharp or form. If not within a year, then within two years. I don't personally know Brian, and I have nothing against the guy, that's just my hunch. It wouldn't surprise me if Donna was attached to a project with him as well. I have to imagine that it's kind of like the whole Brett Favre thing. The intentions are pure and it's good for awhile, but you get that itch again.

My only complaint is that I wish Brian would have at least finished out the season. In Donna's case it was understandable, she needed immediate attention. Brian had to have known the commitment he was getting into when he signed the contract. At least get through the season and then call it quits. I don't know – maybe there aren't any contracts. It too bad. I was getting into Brian's renegade ghost hunter act.

Interesting note: Donna, Brian and Andy pitched this show as just a plain spinoff of Ghost Hunters doing he exact same thing, just with a different team. Somehow, Pilgrim Films turned it into Ghost Hunters International.

Thanks for the info, Anthony!

Now we are ready for GHI proper, so on with the show!


TONIGHT ON GHOST HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL…

The good news is this – my DVR caught the very last few seconds of the previous episode and I got to see Barry take his fall in Nottingham Forest. Nothing wrong with that. Tonight, the team is in Transylvania to use Brandy as bait once again. Then, the team is off to Dracula's Castle to hunt vampires, which is odd because they won't show up on the thermal. Promise.



We get scary vampire music to introduce us to Transylvania. Since it's the last episode, Dustin gives us all the finger by wearing a bright yellow upside down visor. There's a second cut away to Brandy, then back to Dustin who no longer sports the visor or his coveted backpack. Maybe he heard us. Brandy looks very worried about the townsfolk digging up dead people and ripping out their hearts so they can't become vampires. Doh! Dustin's visor is mysteriously back. It hurts my soul.

Case #1: Banffy Castle, Transylvania, Romania

The Investigation
David – the most Romanian of all Romanians, is our tour guide. Guess who owned the castle? The Banffys. I know, I never would have guessed. Dude, that porch has grass on its roof. I could play golf on it. A stable boy caught one of the ladies of the castle in an affair and she killed him for it. David told it all long and drawn out like. I summed it up in once sentence. David shows them a secret room that no one has ever been in. There's only one way in and out of the room says David, but if he has never been in the room before how does he know? And how did that board get in there? I'd be willing to bet a week's worth of tips that Andy crawls through that window. Students see things through the windows at night, but really – they're students, what do they know?

Barry is either wearing a light or a badge that is reflecting light on his head. Either way, it's better than Dustin's visor. Andy has his curiosity piqued because the spookings are happening in areas that aren't under renovation. Robb didn't pop in with a non-sequitar about how there is a theory that renovating or changing a building is an invitation for paranormal activity, but I'll tell you that.

LIGHTS OUT!

Robb and Brandy are in the horse stables trying to talk to the dead stable boy. Robb talks directly to the stable boy, thus denying any other ghost that might want to talk. Brandy fails to apologize for all the women of the world, just for herself so the ghost bangs on something. We come back from commercial and they replay the whole entire last segment for no reason. The noise was a door shutting…maybe? Robb tells the ghost that he knows that the ghost knows that something it going on. Then he uses Brandy…wait for it…wait for it….for BAIT! Drink! Interesting technique though. He wants the ghost to sneak up on Brandy and whisper something in her ear. You know what I would tell her?

Brandy…I'm out of Funyons. Do you have any?

Barry and Dustin are in the courtyard. I think Dustin's visor causes hauntings. And blindness. Barry tries a ‘speriment where he is lighting up the area that students are seeing activity in the windows. He walks in front of the light and a shadow is seen in the windows. Problem with that is that Dustin sees movement in other windows that aren't lit. Not to be outdone, Barry sees a flashing light. He'll probably challenge it. Who do you think would win in arm wrestling, me or Barry? Barry sees a flash of light in the same room that Dustin saw movement in from outside. Barry comes up with the genius plan that they'll "have to keep an eye on it." Dustin goes into the room from the outside to investigate and thinks he hears a dragon. Uhm….does anyone know if upside down visors are common amongst hallucinatory drug users?

Dustin, in his altered state, calls Andy because he knows about animals. Even animals that don't exist? Andy is trying to debunk while Dustin insists it's a dragon, still. Andy finds owl pellets and seems all to happy to pick them up and play around with them. He decides it's an owl. Now, I've heard owls, but never the rare Transylvania Dragon Owl. They may have just discovered a new species of bird.

Robb and Dustin are at the main entrance, where the activity seems to be taking place. Robb is upstairs doing an EVP session. He wants Dustin to film him. Robb wants someone to walk towards him. Robb wants to know who the little boy was that was murdered. It was the little boy inside of me, Robb. Dustin's visor killed my innocence. They hear a noise in the entranceway, but we don't get to see what it was.

Barry is in the courtyard taking pictures with his better-than-yours camera. They are getting some really good shots of the investigators under the full moon. And Barry sees something immediately so…

…we cut to Andy and Brandy in the stables. Andy crawls through the hole into the room that supposedly no one has ever been in before. You guys owe me money. They are using the thermal. The room is almost entirely green – that doesn't mean there aren't vampires. Andy starts moving stuff around to find a good spot to carve ANDY THE DEBUNKER WAS HERE but instead find what looks to be a hole in the wall. Those bricks were VERY loose. I am beginning to doubt that Andy is the first one ever to touch them. The hole area is a different color on the thermal. This excited Brandy because it is the same color as her last name. The hole is a tunnel and Andy has seen no tunnel he wouldn't travel though so he ties a rope to himself and climbs down. Andy falls into some sort of basement type storage room. Man, it's a good thing they had that camera guy positioned in there for hundreds of years just in case because he caught the image of Andy being the first person in the room ever! For this being a room connected to a room that no one has supposedly been in, there is a lot of stuff in the room that doesn't seem as old as the castle.

Robb has seen enough. Or he heard a rooster. Or someone gave him the wrap-up signal. Barry is excited by his camera work (Drink). Either way, Robb says to get the "h" out.

The Analysis
The two B's are on analysis duty. Barry says he wants to look at the camera images. Brandy must do everything else. A little rookie hazing. Put her panties on the flagpole, Barry! Barry finds something and pines for the acceptance of Robb and Andy.

During a commercial they show a preview of the upcoming Ghost Hunters season and they show Tango and Steve screaming at something while they are looking up. It never even occurred to me that they may have seen something paranormal, the first though was "spider" right away. That's how bad it's gotten over there.

Findings
Everyone gets a bonus for wearing GHI gear. Brandy finds an EVP. They hear a something in answer to one of Robb's questions, though I didn't hear a damn thing. Barry wants to get on with it, because he wants to look at his pictures. On the full spectrum camera, Barry has caught a light coming out of the doorway that is self-illuminating. That's the important part kids, self-illuminating. It's in the same spot that they got the EVP.

The Reveal
Andy tells David about the ‘speriment Barry and Dustin did to recreate what the students saw in the windows. Robb gives David an out by saying it's just one explanation. David graciously takes the out and moves on. Andy boasts about his monkey like antics in the "secret room." David acts like he knows nothing of the tunnel. I have my doubts. Robb tells David about the stuff they saw near the entranceway while spookier than usual music plays. They play the EVP, which is just a knock. I still didn't hear it, but everyone else did. They don't have spooky music playing to impede them, either. They show Barry's pictures. Andy is impressed by the size of the light. It's not the size that matters, Andy! Unless you listen to the e-mails I get every day. Robb calls the haunting a "strange happening." I'm glad they're not calling this place haunted based on that evidence.

Status: Not Haunted.

David still isn't ready to say yay or nay to a haunting and accuses GHI of creating new unexplained questions. Cartalk. Andy talks of coffee, students and ghosts. Ah, the good old days.

Case #2: Dracula's Castle, Curtea De Arges, Romania

You got 22 minutes, boys. And girl. Brandy pleads to Dustin's love of all things Dracula to try and get rid of the visor. Dustin says Dracula is one of the reasons he got into the paranormal. Another was the choice selection of visors. They are not normal, my friend. This is one of those where they have to carry all the equipment up a hill. Good luck with that, guys. Robb goes on to explain this is the real Dracula's castle. As Robb says this is the castle of Count Dracula, they show a picture of Count Orlock from Nosferatu. What the hell is up with that? The worst part is that they've already investigated Orlock's castle, so they production crew should really know better. Robb gives us a history lesson that really sounds like he is reading out of a book or something. Anyone not familiar with Vlad the Impaler's history can click here. The place is very much set up for tourist. I would go there.

The Investigation
Popa is our guide. That's his last name. I like it better than his first name so I am calling him Popa. Just try and stop me. He tells how hard it would be to conquer the castle. The fortress is very well set up for visitors. Popa tells the team that a lot of people died building the fortress. Vlad's wife committed suicide at the castle instead of being a sex slave.

Robb says they are going to give an answer as to whether or not the place is haunted. I'm guessing not. Any place they devote less than 20 minutes of air time to is not haunted. He also says the team is doing something I have never heard of called triangulation with three teams doing EVP work at the same time. I think it might be cold because Brandy looks real cold, but then she's a girl, so you never know. Robb says they can't use this technique in bigger locations, but can use it here.

Barry and Brandy are together, Dustin and Robb are in the hallway and Andy is in the tower. Barry is talking in tongues again. We actually get a pretty cool three-way cut where they show each team ask a question rapid fire one after the other. And that was that.

Andy and Brandy are now going onto the grounds while everyone else checks for EVPs. Brandy brings up Vlad's bad memories of his childhood. Andy wants to know about atrocities. Obviously he didn't see the last round of GH episodes. They hear something, but there are woods around them so it could be anything, really. They're getting no animals on the thermal. Vampires don't give off heat. In a vampire flick, Brandy would be the first to get bitten.

Dustin, Robb and Barry are listening to the EVP sessions. Only Barry heard something on his. Barry, Dustin and Brandy are doing an EVP session where Barry was before. Barry speaks in a language that could be anything. They don't really tell us. And……Robb wraps it up. We get shots of a bunch of weird people we have never seen before carrying equipment down. This show needs for one of those guys to get hurt like in GH season one.

Analysis
Barry wants to try and clean up the activity he heard in the EVP sessions. He listens to everything three times and makes Brandy listen.

The Reveal
Back up the steps with Popa. There's no computer. They got nothing. Jason and Grant walk across the bottom of the screen thus false advertising their upcoming group of episodes. Now is they were just shown sitting on a couch, that would be something different. Robb explains everything they did to Popa. All of Barry's sounds were from the surrounding area.

Status: Not Haunted.

Popa is glad because now he knows. He can definitely tell people the place is not haunted.

Cartalk. Robb gloats about being one of a select few to have investigated Dracula's Castle. He says he is looking forward to getting home but when he does, he knows that he will already have an email from Barry about new equipment….and then my DVR cuts off.

Overall: Not their best episode. Why would they end the season with a quick 20 minute investigation where they got absolutely nothing? Regardless of that, this half of the season was leaps and bounds better than the first half of the season. Dare I say that I think it was even better than the last batch of Ghost Hunters episodes we got. At least these guys were motivated and not concentrating more on acting like a clown than ghost hunting. I still have some issues with the format. The more I think about it, the more I think they should go to one investigation an episode. You could pad out your episodes that way and even if you don't have enough stuff like in the Dracula's Castle episode, you can still show the team doing other things. It wouldn't be a terrible thing for the audience to get to know their team outside of the hunts. I can't imagine it's hard to fill up 45 minutes with one hunt. Like I said, you get more episodes, more advertising dollars, and you don't have to take a historic location like Dracula's Castle and cram it into 20 minutes. We know that if we're 40 minutes in and the second investigation hasn't started then they're not finding anything on that investigation.

Also, I really think Pilgrim Films and Sci-fi dropped the ball with all the cast changes. Dustin came in for Shannon. Fine. That needed to be done, no explanation needed. However, when a cast member disappears from the show, you have to at least mention it. When you get a new cast member, we need to know something about her. They have set Brandy up for the audience to hate only for the sheer fact that the only thing the average viewer knows is her name. As for Sci-fi, their GHI page still lists the team as Robb, Andy, Barry, Dustin and Donna. Okay. Donna and Brian left on the same show. The same show that Brandy came in on (at least in the order they aired). When you went to the site to take Brian's name off, why not take Donna's name off and add Brandy's. Maybe they think Donna's coming back or something because they don't listen to BWare radio.

Good run this time, GHI crew. Keep it up! As for me, I'll be back September 3 with new episodes of Ghost Hunters that I imagine will run through the Halloween special. For that I imagine they'll have their regular six plus an ECW wrestler plus Krysten and Heather. I wouldn't mind seeing some combination of two of GHI team pop in for the special, but I don't think it will happen.

Until then people, beware the ghost!