If you've been living under a rock these past few weeks and haven't heard the hype about this goblin documentary, I will give you a very brief synopsis. No spoilers in this review. Feel free to read on. Hellier is the name of a town in Kentucky where there have been sightings of goblin-like creatures. Greg and Dana Newkirk of the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal & Occult, along with their crew, set out on a quest to find answers about the strangeness happening in this Appalachian town.
I've known Greg and Dana for a few years now and I was very excited to hear about the series. I have been following the goblin story on their Week in Weird page, so I was familiar with it and was confident the Newkirks would create a true to life documentary without all the exaggerations, everything-is-a-demon, and just plain bad paranormal crap that's out there today. Best of all it's FREE! This is so refreshing in a world where everyone is out to make a buck.
The documentary was what I expected it to be and so much more. On board is Karl Pfeiffer, who is a fantastic photographer and filmmaker, so you knew the video quality was going to be good, Connor Randall, investigator and audio, and cameraman, Rashad Sisemore.
I've known Greg and Dana for a few years now and I was very excited to hear about the series. I have been following the goblin story on their Week in Weird page, so I was familiar with it and was confident the Newkirks would create a true to life documentary without all the exaggerations, everything-is-a-demon, and just plain bad paranormal crap that's out there today. Best of all it's FREE! This is so refreshing in a world where everyone is out to make a buck.
The documentary was what I expected it to be and so much more. On board is Karl Pfeiffer, who is a fantastic photographer and filmmaker, so you knew the video quality was going to be good, Connor Randall, investigator and audio, and cameraman, Rashad Sisemore.
EVEN MY HUSBAND LIKED IT
The first time I watched the documentary I binge watched all 5 episodes, it was that good. The second time through I watched with my husband, who had his laptop out doing work. Not far into the first episode his laptop screen went blank and I noticed he was paying attention to the weirdness on the screen. My husband is interested in the paranormal but does not usually ask to watch these type of shows. The next night he asked if we could continue watching.
REAL INVESTIGATING
I rarely watch these type of documentaries because I don't like the way most of them just tell a story and don't actually go out and investigate themselves. I am ecstatic to say this is not one of those documentaries. This is boots on the ground, real research, real digging for answers while living in this town for days, real paranormal investigating, including a visit to a local hole in the ground, and paranormal experiments. That is what I loved most about this show. They tell it like it is. We are riding shot gun with the crew on this adventure. We see their highs and lows, not just an hour of the best footage filmed over days or weeks. It's real. I have been a paranormal investigator for 8 years now and I can attest this is what a real investigation looks like. There are many dead ends. There's a lot of behind the scenes research and running around that goes into an investigation, which is not glamorous enough for TV, but yet they showed this and did a good job doing it.
MORE THAN A MONSTER HUNT
This documentary is way more than a monster hunt. The main theme is the synchronicities that happen throughout their journey. After you watch it, you may find your own synchronicities to the case. I found 10 of my own! This still blows my mind. Here they are:
1. I have done my own investigation into the Kentucky goblins and investigated a haunted house in Kentucky particularly because of the caves on the property.
1. I have done my own investigation into the Kentucky goblins and investigated a haunted house in Kentucky particularly because of the caves on the property.
2. I attended the Kelly Green Man Festival in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, which is a festival for the Kentucky goblin story that takes place right near the property where it happened. I also met Geraldine Sutton Stith, who was a child at the time the Hopkinsville goblins came to her home.
3. During my research into Kentucky goblins, I too, considered the aspect of the Mammoth Cave system connecting the sightings and was unable to find a decent map online so I went to Mammoth Cave to find one. While I was there I pick up a book in the bookstore called Scary Stories of Mammoth Cave, which I had not even cracked open until now. There are 2 mentions of creatures in the cave system in the book. Page 53, "... mythical cave creatures called hodags ..." Also on page 76 it mentions, "subterranean goblins."
4. I just went to Brown Mountain a couple months ago.
5. They mention baby cries in the documentary that may be associated with elementals. The week prior to the release of Hellier, I bought The Faery Forest oracle deck and found under my kitchen sink a ceramic fairy bowl that had been collecting dust for years that belonged to my grandmother. I pulled the bowl out, cleaned it up and put crystals in it.
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6. I was asked to be a guest on a live radio show called Radio Wasteland KCNR 1460AM. One of the topics they wanted me to discuss was the Kentucky goblins. I thought that was really strange. I only mention one time on my website that I investigated the goblins. There is no video footage, nothing of the investigation. I felt completely unqualified but I knew the story so I winged it.
7. Connor and Dana both mention their ears were ringing. I've had this condition for the past couple years, even went to a specialist with no explanation. The week prior to Hellier being released the ringing in my ears became louder and still is as I'm writing this.
8. Karl is from Loveland, Colorado. The day prior to Hellier being released, I randomly posted a photo of my investigation of Loveland Castle on Instagram.
7. Connor and Dana both mention their ears were ringing. I've had this condition for the past couple years, even went to a specialist with no explanation. The week prior to Hellier being released the ringing in my ears became louder and still is as I'm writing this.
8. Karl is from Loveland, Colorado. The day prior to Hellier being released, I randomly posted a photo of my investigation of Loveland Castle on Instagram.
9. Connor lives in Arvada, Colorado. This is the same town my late aunt lived in, who knows they could have been neighbors. My aunt was the inspiration for my travels and this blog.
10. The strangest synchronicity of all is the day after I watched Hellier, on the night of it's release, I was checking notifications on my paranormal group's Facebook page and a familiar name popped up. I haven't seen this name on our FB page since.
10. The strangest synchronicity of all is the day after I watched Hellier, on the night of it's release, I was checking notifications on my paranormal group's Facebook page and a familiar name popped up. I haven't seen this name on our FB page since.
Maybe some of these "synchronicities" are stretching it but I don't believe in coincidences. There are too many to ignore.
MY ONLY CRITICISM
There are too many guys! Dana, you need another woman to join your crew. I happily volunteer myself.
MUST WATCH
Heller is a must watch. This is what paranormal investigating shows should be. No hype, no over exaggeration, only truth. Go to www.hellier.tv and find your own synchronicities. Season 2 is also out for a total binge watch and is even better than season one.