Unsolved:Paranormal Witness

Paranormal Witness
	Series title card
Also known as	Paranormal Witness: True Terror (2015–)'
Genre	Paranormal; Mystery;
Composer(s)	Joel Beckerman; Ty Unwin
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	64 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Bart Layton; Dimitri Doganis
Producer(s)	Mark Lewis; Simon Mills; Amy Lee-Jones (story); Sarah Zammit (assoc.); Kate Harrison (Can.); Steffan Boje (field)
Cinematography	Joel Devlin; Gary Clarke; Will Pugh
Editor(s)	Julian Hart; Bjorn Johnson; Iain Kitching
Running time	60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production company(s)	Realand Productions, LLC; Raw TV
Distributor	NBCUniversal Television Distribution
Release
Original network	Syfy (United States); Really / Watch / Pick (United Kingdom)
First shown in	United States
Original release	Original series; September 7, 2011 – November 27, 2013; Revived series; August 26, 2015 –; October 26, 2016
Chronology
Related shows	Ghost Hunters
External links
	Website

Paranormal Witness is an American paranormal documentary television series made by a British production company which described itself as "true tales of supernatural hauntings and explanation-defying paranormal experiences, which are brought to life through recreations".^[1] The series premiered on September 7, 2011, on Syfy in the U.S. It is also shown in the UK on Really, W, and Pick.

Ranked as one of the top 10 new original series, it was renewed for a 12-episode second season which premiered on August 8, 2012.^[2] Based on the high ratings of the first three episodes of season two, Paranormal Witness was renewed for a 20-episode third season which premiered on June 5, 2013.^[3]

Although Syfy did not announce the series' renewal following its third-season finale, it was reported that a fourth season had begun filming.^[4]^[5] On October 29, 2014, the series was officially renewed for a 13-episode fourth season,^[6] which premiered on August 26, 2015, under the new title Paranormal Witness: True Terror.

On November 18, 2015, Syfy renewed the series for a 13-episode fifth season, which premiered on August 3, 2016.^[7]

Reception

While Deseret News writer Mark Rappleye characterized the show as "full of mind-numbing creepiness", he said that the show "will likely appeal more to believers and less to the even mildly skeptical". According to Rappleye, "Paranormal Witness” simply tells the story, insinuating that everyone should simply believe it as having actually occurred the way it is presented. This leaves little, if any, room for intellectual challenge or edification".^[8] New York Times reviewer Neil Genzlinger criticized the show, saying, "It doesn’t bother hunting for hard evidence; it simply uses first-person testimony and re-enactment to sell the idea that someone has had a psychic encounter".^[9] Reviewing the show's "Long Island Terror" episode, science writer Sharon A. Hill said, "Paranormal Witness, is not what I would consider a fair documentation. It is not wise to take TV shows at face value. People put forth their story as they perceive it but it may not be how others perceive it or how it actually occurred. Saying there is a demon and Satanic activity associated with the house is a steep claim. Evidence is suggested but without verification we can’t go anywhere with this story".^[10]