We here at Spectral Review are not paranormal investigators, demonologists, or drama critics. We don’t even play any of those on TV! But we do watch most paranormal shows and can tell the good ones from the bad.
Paranormal State episode report card.
“Asylum”
The PRS explores a New York state prison that was once a mental asylum.
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Paranormal State takes a turn in the series and investigates an institution instead of a haunting being experienced by a person or family.
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Client Credibility
This episode in this series was different than any other so far. There really wasn’t a client in this episode. At least not like their other episodes. It was more like a Ghost Hunters International location but without the legend.
We were shown the grounds by Melvin Williams the current superintendent of the facility which is a drug rehab center. And Michael LePage, a staff member told us of a sighting of a apparition. Another staff member Lisa Bordeaux told a story of feeling someone was near her and a door opening.
Investigation
Chip Coffey appeared on this episode. He felt there were many active spirits. Then another spirit that he thought was a nurse or someone who was trying to help the “trapped” spirits by the name of “Lucy”.
They use a controversial tool called a “Frank’s Box”. It’s been used by Christopher Moon and is known as a “telephone to the dead”. You can watch a demonstration video.
We think what is dangerous about this device is that it could be something that could be a hoax. It’s not an “off the shelf” device like a digital recorder that is often used in EVP collection. Since the device is designed to pick up radio waves it seems to us very exploitable by someone who wants to perform a hoax. We are NOT saying this is what happened it’s just bothers us because there is a lot of room for a hoax here.
Using the device it reports that a demon is present and a strong one at that. To be honest we thought for a moment that the demon from an earlier episode was back. But this appears to be a different demon and it’s holding the spirits back from moving on.
Then when the device falls to answer it’s claimed by Frank that the demon is holding everyone back. Then when Chip Coffey starts spraying holy water the box appears to say “stop that eff-ing spraying”. That was what we are told the box said by Frank but to us on TV it was inaudible. Does that Demon’s Mother know what comes out of it’s mouth?
What is good is that Ryan and the team are skeptical of the box. We are glad that they just don’t buy it hook, line and sinker.
They do go onto trying to find “Lucy” who might have been a nurse. The superintendent and a former nurse are not able to shed any light on anyone who may have worked at the facility.
Evidence
The “Frank’s Box” was the only evidence gathering device highlighted really. It did claim to find “Lucy” as did Chip Coffey. The box is such in doubt though it’s hard to trust it as evidence.
Conclusion
They did put together a service for the mostly unmarked graves in the cemetery on the property. They also perform a ceremony with Lorraine Warren to try to help the spirits.
Overall an interesting episode. The team usually excels at the historical research of a location but this episode didn’t come up with any historical details that matched up. They did try but just didn’t come up with anything. It was great that the team was skeptical on “Frank’s Box”.
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