Review: Evil Unearthed

As far as horror documentaries go, and the gambit runs wide, Evil Unearthed by paranormal investigator Matt Benton, strikes all the right chords. Benton’s exploration of the infamous Monroe House is years in the making. Upon multiple visits and investigations, Benton and his team compile evidence, footage, and chilling personal encounters that take the viewer on this intriguing and ominous journey. Benton seems to masterfully walk the line between keeping a professional, evidence-based point of view while still delivering a compelling, personal, and frankly, terrifying real-life tale of the paranormal. After experiencing this dark location through the lenses of these investigators, the viewer is left to ponder and quake at the question- does true evil really walk the earth?

As the film opens, we are roped in immediately with a real-time, real-life paranormal encounter as experienced first-hand by colleague investigators. Benton gives us a glimpse of what is to come later in the film as we listen in on a recorded call that strongly indicates a real demonic possession.

The Monroe House sits, seemingly innocuous, in a quiet little neighborhood in Hartford City, Indiana. Those in the know may be familiar with the dark history of the house and the encounters eyewitnesses have provided. Certainly, the Monroe House is on the radar of any fan of the paranormal. Benton and his team aren’t the first to investigate this haunted location, but they certainly may be the first to uncover the chilling evidence that they reveal as the film progresses. Benton is careful to dole out the history of the property and its inhabitants as we go along. Providing a generous mix of real-time investigation along with background history of the house, the people, and the goings-on, all serving to move the film along in a compelling way. Like peeling back the layers of an insidious onion, we learn a little bit more about the house and its dark history.

Evil Unearthed - Trailer

The terror mounts as the film itself builds upon what the investigators experience with each particular visit to the house. Terrifying breadcrumbs, leading to more information and experiences that though chilling, draw us in. Without giving too much away, when a certain entity is linked to a very ominous and demonic name, the film really picks up in intensity. Benton ingeniously brings a small, but experienced group of collaborating investigators in on one of the final trips to the Monroe House. Benton takes the reins during an investigation using the Estes Method, and bravely volunteers himself as “voice” for whatever presence or spirits are in the house. (For those that don’t know, the Estes Method is a technique that uses sensory deprivation and often times a spirit box in attempt to communicate with spirits.) We collectively take a big gasp as the spirits of this location begin to show awareness and communicate with the investigators.

Benton himself has an electric, sharp and eager presence on screen that really allows the viewer to trust him. We get the sense he isn’t faking any of this. He is straight forward, informative, and presents himself with a genuine interest in bringing the truth to light. He has an unpretentious excitement and even a sparkle in his eye as he speaks about the process and just what’s involved in undertaking such an investigation. He dives into solo investigations with bravery and gusto. Clearly exhibiting his passion for the paranormal and documenting everything he can. It’s magnetic, and viewers can’t help but be drawn into his journey, even though they may be pulling away from fear at the same time!   

Bringing in other well-known investigators such as Eric Conner and Joe Vitale into this exploration only serves to bolster the films credibility.  All of the investigators are experts in their own rite, bringing slices of expertise to tackle the Monroe House. Each investigator has their own personal take and experience with the house and it is fascinating to hear their accounts and see how that informs their part in this investigation. It seems a brilliant move on the part of Benton to indeed bring in second sets of eyes and voices to collaborate and corroborate his own findings. So that when we reach the point in the film that Benton finally reveals the bone-chilling experience that one investigator had, it lands at the perfect time.

Up to this point, we have heard from those that have investigated the house, those that own the house, as well as explored what people from the past have experienced here. And as we come to the conclusion of Evil Unearthed, we hear from Deb, an investigator with some psychic abilities, who had a terrifying, no doubt life-changing experience in the house. A true demonic possession. At Benton’s request, she faces her fears and comes back to the house to give her account on film and to take part in the investigation. As she calmly and insightfully relays her disturbing experience, the viewer cannot take their eyes away. This sequence in the film is powerful, eye-opening, and just plain terrifying! We are left to wonder… can this really be?

Bringing in the sage and scholarly insights of Michelle Belanger, an occult expert, toward the finale really brings it all together in a very concrete, informative and credible way. Overall, Evil Unearthed is a solid, compelling, realistic and captivating approach to documenting what can only be described as real paranormal activity in a real-life location. Benton lays it out in a straightforward, evidence-based way- there’s no overly dramatized stuff going on here- and the effect is true bone-chilling, cold-sweat inducing, terror at the REAL unknown. Audiences that seek out real-life paranormal documentaries will not be disappointed here. If anything, they will appreciate the filmmakers honestly, candor and knack for telling this story for what it is. But they’ll still get goosebumps too, because the truth is scarier than any fiction. Bravo Matt Benton and team! Will be sure to be on the lookout for more spine-tingling work from Benton in the future.