Analysis of the “Screaming Hotel Ghost” video By Kenneth Biddle By now, you’ve probably seen the viral video from a Wingate Hotel somewhere in Illinois, of a security guard John, checking on an empty room from which blood curdling screams are coming from. When the guy goes in, a ghost floats out. In addition, the voice of another security guard claims John says all the furniture in the room is upside down, the carpet is ripped up, and the shower is on – all from a room that no one is checked into. The video most frequently shared is 3:01 long. (Source - youtube/watch?v=BobA5ujHkvU) Let’s break down the video first – In the opening text, we are told of the video that “It has not been edited”. Honestly, that should be your first Red Flag. When they feel the need to say that upfront, they’re usually faking it (No, it’s not science, that comes from experience). The ominous soundtrack that was added kinda puts a question to the whole “not edited” disclaimer. I have several issues with the audio track. In the description, it states “The audio is a mix down between the security camera audio and a separate recording from inside the office”. So, right away we have two audio tracks that were edited together, and not knowing what may have been edited out. As John (the guy seen in the video) is walking down the hall, the screams are heard for the first time. When asked “What’s going on John?”, John’s response is unintelligible…both times he spoke into his microphone – strange that one can hear screams from inside the room, behind a closed door, and picked up by the security camera…but John’s voice could not. John is using a two way radio that requires him to key the mic (push the button) in order to talk. The main voice (the guy the in the security office) is having a conversation with Amy (female voice heard in the beginning that is reporting the screaming), yet…we don’t hear her anymore. Even when the main voice asks “but we’re sure that no one’s checked into that room…correct?” there is no audible response from Amy. This is odd, since the audio is being recorded in the security office and should have picked up Amy’s side of the conversation (like it did in the beginning of the video). Main voice guy then tells John “I would wait for the police…JOHN”. John fails to respond at all, and in fact goes about opening the door and going in anyway. I see no reaction from John whatsoever to being told to wait for the police. Also, at timestamp 1:16, there is a skip in the video – his body and most notably his left foot skip position. This could be a glitch in the video, or a point where they edited the footage. Oh, and suddenly, without any conversation with John, the main voice guy is telling Amy that “John’s gonna enter the room real quick just to check…make sure…see what’s going on…”. There is either a severe lack of communication with the hotel…or this audio track has large gaps missing. Continue reading. John goes in the room, shining his flashlight around, and a low-budget, Paranormal Activity-style ghost walks out and down the hall (we’ll talk about this a little more later on). Then with John all the way in the room, and out of view of the security camera…the lamp on the wall in the hallway flickers. Why didn’t John turn the light on in the room? And I find it odd (and funny) that the “ghost” takes off down the hall to the right, but the lamp on the right of the room flickers, while John is hidden from view. Main voice guy then asks “John, are you there?”… and three seconds later John comes out of the room (still didn’t turn the lights on) and is looking back into the room, shining his flashlight into it. Main voice guy suddenly says “OK Amy, John wants you to call the police right now if you don’t mind”. We see, nor hear, absolutely no communication between John and main voice guy that relays that information. What is going on with the audio? (it’s edited, that’s what’s going on). Main voice guy is then telling Amy (who still is silent) that John says “Uh, he says no one’s in there, that all the furniture’s been turned upside down…and the….hold on…He says the carpet’s been ripped up and the…that the shower is on…”. The problem is that we still don’t hear anything coming from John, not from the security camera that supposedly had audio…or the recording from the office. Also, at timestamp 1:53, we see John raise the microphone to his mouth and speak –yet we STILL hear nothing from either audio recordings. We never seen any images or video of the chaos reported in the room. This is also no verification that it indeed in a Wingate hotel…or if it’s even in Illinois. With all of the issues I had with the video, and so many people sharing it on Facebook (some tagging me), my OCD kicked in and I decided to see what I could find out about it. The video was originally post to YouTube on September 4, 2012 by username Jimmynut22. What’s interesting from the start is that the video was uploaded under three different titles; Ghost screaming in haunted hotel – FULL LENGT, Scary ghost caught on tape by security camera | Real ghost on tape | Scary ghost videos 2013 (Both posted Sept. 4, 2012), Alien caught on camera (September 5, 2012 – 63,330 views). He also has another video up, under two different names, yet posted the same day; Alien Caught on Video –1988 and 2013 – Ghost walks by Camera in BASEMENT. (Source -youtube/watch?v=ueZxoUzeqPM) Take a look at the ghost/alien…notice any similarities between this “ghost” and the one in the hotel video? Sure looks like the same effect to me, which I’ve been told involves filming the area twice, once with your actor and once more with a “ghost” walking around…and then combining the footage. I noticed something else in this other video – the opening text states “I was recently hired to transfer a series of video tapes for archival purposes by the state”. This line sent up another Red Flag…one that said this guy is probably a professional video guy. Hmmm, the plot thickens. After subscribing to his profile, I checked out what he was up to. I found a post in which he reveals himself – “Hey! My name is Turner Clay and I made the movie State of Emergency.” (Source - youtube/watch? v=CqPCNppw_qc). So, on to an internet search that brings me to IMDb which has a listing for Turner Clay. According to the site, Turner wrote and directed the movie State of Emergency. However, it doesn’t end there. Turner is credited with two movies (State of Emergency, Interception, Canary Suicide, Bryon Phillips: Found) and two shorts (Silent Night, Employee of the Month). He’s not only a director and writer, he’s also given credit for Producer, Sound Editor, Post Sound Mix, Camera Operator, Actor and Digital Effects. (Source - imdb/name/nm2571852/) So, we have a mysterious video, which no one can verify where it took place, released 11 years after it supposedly happened, and posted by a guy that not only writes and directs/produces movies, but has digital effects and sound editing experience/credits. My professional opinion - It’s fake, scripted and not very good…reminding me of Paranormal Activity too much. Perhaps it’s a deleted scene from one of his Shorts or a film school project.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 12:32:31 +0000
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