Paranormal UK: UFOs, Cryptids & Hauntings is almost an anthology documentary, looking as it does at four different topics of paranormal, alien, and cryptid events. Produced, directed, edited and hosted by Warren Speed (Abigail's Castle: The Haunting of Featherstone Castle, Zombie Women of Satan), this low budget documentary was entertaining to watch, but a bit light on details.
I'm not sure if this was pieced together from other documentaries Speed had done, but the first segment certainly was, being taken from the Abigail's Castle doc I watched for review recently. This takes up the first twenty two minutes of this near ninety minute program. My thoughts on that can be read elsewhere, some details are provided of Featherstone Castle and the supernatural events associated with it, obviously provided in a truncated fashion. That had previously already seemed a bit light on details, so a shorter version of that also felt a bit light on too many details.
This then moves on to Bonnybridge in Scotland, a place that has long been associated with sightings of UFOs. The fifteen minute segment is mostly made up of an interview with Malcolm Robinson, before it moves on to Rendlesham Forest, a place that has been described as Britain's Roswell. There are a few different accounts of UFO sightings, which was interesting enough, and includes Speed on location at the forest, with him giving his own account of a UFO sighting as a teen.
This then moves on to Bonnybridge in Scotland, a place that has long been associated with sightings of UFOs. The fifteen minute segment is mostly made up of an interview with Malcolm Robinson, before it moves on to Rendlesham Forest, a place that has been described as Britain's Roswell. There are a few different accounts of UFO sightings, which was interesting enough, and includes Speed on location at the forest, with him giving his own account of a UFO sighting as a teen.
It is then a return to the paranormal with a somewhat meandering account by a woman, Alexa De Strange, who talks of her encounters both at the London Dungeons, as well as a haunted house (30 East Drive, Pontefract) that she stayed in one day. I can't recall the name of the place, but Speed has also visited it, though without any footage being taken. Her story was fanciful, and you could argue that she has a bit of an overactive imagination. I felt this part more than any other could have benefitted from a deeper insight into the property and its history. Instead, you have Speed consulting his notes on camera and suggesting you check out the house's website to get more details.
The final segment of the documentary revolves around Cannock Chase, with elements of the supernatural, cryptids (sightings of a pig-faced man), and UFOs all coming together, again light enough on details that I was left not really sure of the history of the place and its many sightings of various things.
Much like Abigail's Castle, as rough and low budget as this was, it was still entertaining. There always felt like not enough background details were given on the topics covered, and a reliance on interviews over more on screen research having been done. It felt more biased towards believing the accounts than more rational explanations for what was being described. This was again a nice piece of escapism, but due to the various disjointed topics covered I never really felt like I was learning anything new, or anything in much detail. Still, as rough as Speed can be as a host, he had an endearing quality to his likeable persona. Bayview Entertainment have released Paranormal UK: UFOs, Cryptids & Hauntings on Digital Platforms including Amazon Prime Video.
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