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Starring: Peter James, Fiona Horne, Debra Wilson, Frank Sontag
Directed By: Charles Adelman
Released: 2007
Grade: B-
Review by Kelsey Zukowski
Ghost Encounters: The Queen Mary is a documentary film that ventures in to the paranormal. We are taken aboard a ship with our host, ghost investigator, Peter James. He partners up with Fiona Horne from the Sci-Fi channel’s “Mad, Mad House”. They guide us through a journey full of stories of the past and those that are still there now after all these years.
The Queen Mary is a large ship that was largely used during World War II. During this time, there were people packed on to the boat. Many of these people ended up dying there too. We are told that there remain to be 600 resident ghosts still with very alive spirits. This isn’t all that surprising with the number of people on the boat and the amount of deaths that are typically associated with war. However, there were others who were deliberately killed. One of the men serving killed his wife and two daughters by strangling them to death. James tells us that the oldest daughter killed, Dana, still screams for her mothers help as she did when she was being murdered. There were also natural deaths, at one point an entire sector of people were killed.
The biggest source of evidence of in this film is through sound. We never see any of the ghosts but we are led to believe that they are talking to Peter. He tries having conversations with them, calling out to them. Sounds respond to him, but it is largely him asking confirmation of what the ghosts are saying. The noises are loud, but pretty unclear. As they go on their rhythm changes and there are pauses. It is suggested that this is their form of breathing, much like humans who pause in between words through out a sentence. If they can’t get through by talking, Peter tells us that they might just tap or make noise any way they can for attention or even help. This is all very possible, the noises could really be from ghosts, but it does not confirm anything. It is far too circumstantial, but it does show us possibilities. I would much rather have a ghost documentary with small and vague instances of ghost activity than an obvious computer animated and false film claiming to be real.
Peter James is experienced with ghosts. He hosted a ghost show called “Sightings”. Peter has been studying the possibility of ghosts being present since the 1980’s. His belief in this could be present because of a personal paranormal experience of his from when he was 7-years-old. His professionalism is very evident in the film through his knowledge and conviction. He is our leader through the ghost quest. He has done his homework, he knows the history of The Queen Mary. James could have just interviewed people and asked questions. However, it takes it upon himself to learn things on his own and directly attempts to make contact with the spirits. Peter educates the audience and lets us peak in to the world that was once a part of the ship and might still be. He explains this and other relevant theories about ghosts. His presence in this film isn’t surprising. The director even states that Peter James is the main reason he decided to take on this project. Fiona Horne works off of him and asks questions, which let us explore different aspects. Fiona Horne, Debra Wilson, and Frank Stonag all begin to believe more and more as the film goes on. Some of them were non-believers, but the experience on the ship changed their views drastically.
Ghost Encounters: The Queen Mary lacks spookiness and proof. However, it is very interesting through the theories largely produced by Peter James. He in fact goes against stereotypes and says that he does not believe that ghosts are harmful. James has been kicked and even burned by ghosts in the past. However, he feels that they are no different than humans; the majority of them are good. It is suggested that the way a person dies is directly related to their existence as a ghost. The odd thing about this is James thinks that most ghosts don’t know they are dead or ghosts at all. They see themselves in the time period they lived in yet they see humans as they are presently too. The ghosts want to be acknowledged as they were when they were alive. If you are looking for proof or the scare of your life Ghost Encounters: The Queen Mary is not for you. If you are interested in the possibility of life after death and the theories behind it, you may find this film of interest. It will at least get you thinking about the chance that this could be true. To quote the conservation of energy law, “energy cannot be created nor destroyed. It can only change its’ form”. With the combination of this and magnetic energy, what makes you think that these energies aren’t changed from your body to your soul to live .. death?
Kelsey Zukowski
