I always forget how deafening silence is when it’s in a found footage film; it always adds such an uncanny feeling to the movie. As part of a collaboration with new vertical streaming platform Microhouse Films, Terror Films Releasing brings us Episode 12, a found footage tale of one family’s distressing paranormal haunting and the TV crew that becomes part of the conspiracy.
On June 6th 2023, a television show called Paranormal Closure was abruptly and mysteriously pulled from all broadcast stations with no official statement as to why. One year later a video surfaced online claiming to be from an episode that never aired.
Episode 12
Two-person television crew Paranormal Closure ventures to the secluded home of the McCoys, of which husband John disappeared from a month prior. After viewing video tapes taken by the wife showing John coming home injured, becoming sick, and having panic attacks while holding a knife, the crew help investigate and get to the bottom of why and how he disappeared. The footage wad never released, becoming the last, unaired episode of Paranormal Closure: Episode 12.
Episode 12 starts off as any found footage movie would, with a small introduction to the crew doing the filming and the main story surrounding the lost tape. Immediately, the premise of someone experiencing some paranormal activity out in the woods doesn’t come across as anything new; the addition of the kids being actively involved in the search and rescue (and taping of the show) brings a fresh addition to the genre. By the end, though, we see why the episode was never aired — all that’s happening isn’t exactly what we think it is.
One thing I especially enjoyed about Episode 12 was the authentic feeling the children gave off. They felt like kids; their dialogue matched their ages, and they acted accordingly as well. Plus, their chemistry with the adults was both funny (such as the toy horse scene) and and heartbreaking (any scare that brought out childhood fear).
And as Episode 12 is a found footage film, there had better be some sort of scare involved. The more the crew presses on about John’s disappearance, the more dicey things around the house start to get. The kids are acting strangely and seemingly hiding secrets. Use of paranormal investigative equipment brings on frightening real-world consequences (i.e., a ground-shaking earthquake centered solely around their home). Paranormal medium Zelda doesn’t sense lingering lost souls, which hints at something else at play. And with time running out, the noises outside just keep getting louder and louder. When shit finally hits the fan, there really isn’t any place that provides much-needed protection.
Episode 12 is slow-paced, so if you’re looking for high-energy action and back-to-back scares, this might not be for you. But for those wanting a slow burn with a bit of mystery in the background, this flick is one to watch. What starts off as a run-of-the-mill found footage movie turns into another genre entirely — you’ll have to see it to believe it.
Episode 12 is streaming now on the Microhouse Films app. Download the app and learn more on web and Instagram.
