A Haunting in Connecticut was the first of two pilot episodes for Discovery Channel's A Haunting: Seasons 1-4, one of the best paranormal television series of all time. The story documented herein is perhaps more fascinating now than it was when the program first aired back in 2002, as the story - and the controversy surrounding it - has received renewed attention coinciding with the release of the film The Haunting in Connecticut based on the same story of ghostly infestation. While I have not yet seen the new feature film, a quick perusal of the plot summary makes it quite clear that it differs significantly from original eyewitness accounts - in other words, this program is well worth watching even if you've seen the 2009 horror film. On the other hand, this documentary actually tells a significantly watered-down version of the original story. I find that disappointing yet understandable given the deeply personal nature of some of the reported events and the fact that the credibility of the entire story had come strongly in to question by 1999, when Ray Garton, the man contracted to write the story of the haunting in the book In a Dark Place, publicly impugned the integrity of the family as well as world-famous investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Whether the whole story is truth or fiction, though, I think all would agree that it makes a hell of a good story.

This particular haunting is particularly troubling because it involves the demonic targeting of a young teenager battling cancer. The Parker family (as it is referred to here) moved from New York to Connecticut so that their cancer-stricken son Paul would be close to his doctors; desperate to find some place for their fairly large family to stay, they jumped at the chance to land this large and relatively inexpensive home. Only when they moved in did they discover that the place used to be a funeral parlour. The parents really aren't concerned about this, though - even when three of their children begin reporting frightening sights and sounds. It's bad enough that both parents refuse to believe their children's stories, but it's frustrating to say the least to watch them blame Paul for putting the idea of ghosts in his siblings' heads. Whether they believed him or not, I can't understand why they would force an obviously-frightened young man fighting a life-and-death struggle with cancer to stay in a room that scares him so much; the father even removes the light bulbs from the room. This sets Paul up for great suffering indeed. Of course, once the parents finally get a sample of what has been tormenting all of their children, they race to find a solution to the problem, eventually turning to demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren for help. The Warrens and their research team are soon treated to a range of evidence that convinces them that a strong demonic presence abides in the ill-fated house.

The truth of this haunting is very much in doubt, but the events recreated in this program are pretty extraordinary and, in some cases, quite distinct and unusual. This isn't a program you would want to let your kids watch just before going to bed, as bad dreams are made of the phenomena on display here. A Haunting in Connecticut is the equivalent of a regular A Haunting episode on steroids, making full use of its extended running time of 94 minutes. You won't find this or A Haunting in Georgia included in any of the season DVD sets of A Haunting, so be sure and pick these up separately.