Ghost Bait (2019)

Ghost Bait is a riveting paranormal reality television series that premiered in 2019 on the Travel Channel. The show was originally launched in 2013 on the Bio Channel but did not return for another season until six years later when it was revamped by the Travel Channel. The updated version of the series has successfully drawn in a large fanbase, enthralled by its unique take on ghost hunting and the supernatural world.

At its core, Ghost Bait is a chilling exploration into the world of hauntings. Each episode focuses on individuals who are severely terrorized by paranormal activity occurring in their homes. These individuals have been living in fear for months, sometimes years, with seemingly no escape from the eerie events that plague their day-to-day lives. They've experienced everything from disembodied voices and inexplicable cold spots to instances of ghostly apparitions and violent poltergeist activity which have drastically affected their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

In the midst of this terrifying dilemma, Ghost Bait's paranormal investigators, Bob Magill and Tina Storer, step in to help. Both Bob and Tina are deeply experienced in the field of paranormal investigation, having dealt with a myriad of haunting types in different locations across the nation. However, the main point of difference lies in their approach to confronting these paranormal entities. Rather than trying to prove the existence of ghosts through scientific technology like many other ghost hunting shows, Ghost Bait's approach is more psychological.

The show's unique and somewhat controversial methodology, known as "human baiting," revolves around forcing the affected individual to confront their worst fears head-on. The theory is that the person’s heightened fear and emotional state will entice the entity, giving Bob and Tina the window they need to intervene and hopefully quell the activity. However, this technique which includes the use of a horrifyingly claustrophobic burlap hood doesn't come without its fair share of controversy and critique due to the extreme fear and distress it can induce.

Each 30-minute episode takes viewers on an intense emotional journey, filled with suspense, fear, relief, and sometimes skepticism. The first half typically includes introductions, interviews, and background explorations, along with the ghost stories associated with the location. The owners of the haunted home talk about their experiences and are forced to confront fears that have long dominated their lives.

In the concluding portion of the episode, the much-anticipated and often dreaded "bait" session takes place. Viewers nervously watch as the affected person, fully covered under the burlap sack, sits in silence and darkness, their fear acting as the bait for the haunting presence. Meanwhile, Bob and Tina maintain a vigil, ready to step in when the activity heightens. Whether they are successful or not forms the conclusion of the episode. Some episodes end on a hopeful note, with reported levels of activity dropping or entirely stopping. Other episodes, however, leave the viewers in doubt, whether the problem has been resolved or would continue to haunt the terrified individuals.

Still, at its center, Ghost Bait is a show about fear and overcoming it. It's about people taking control of their lives by facing the terrifying unknown lurking in their homes. Though the show's methodology is questionable, the drama, the intensity, and the exploration of human emotion make for compelling TV.

What Ghost Bait successfully does is take the premise of a ghost hunting series and give it a twist. It may not convince the skeptics nor please every paranormal enthusiast, but it's an intriguing addition to the landscape of reality ghost hunting television. It takes viewers on a journey of the unseen world of unknown spirits, all while dealing with the very real, very human emotion of fear. Whether you are a believer in the supernatural or merely a lover of thrilling and emotionally charged reality TV, Ghost Bait pushes the boundaries and promises a riveting watch from beginning to end.