Going in, I had no idea what to expect. We’ve seen so many multi-media gimmicks hit the horror genre – especially with the advent of mobile devices – yet director Neal Edelstein (producer of films like The Ring) has found a way to channel his story through something that’s incredibly smooth, creative and ambitious.
Written by Andrew Klavan (True Crime, Dont Say A Word), Haunting Melissa stars Kassia Warshawski as Melissa Strogue, Travis Nelson as Brandon, Barb Mitchell as Katherine Strogue, Jasmine Berg as Holly, Greg Lawson as Jack Strogue, Larry Reese as Mike Cole, Christian Laurian Kerr as Carter, Lisa Moreau as Amanda Maynard and Lorette Clow as Dr. Carroway.
The Haunting Melissa app and the story that will unfold within it features an easy-to-use visual guide that includes a color-coded path to identify what has been viewed and what awaits. The installments will come at random times – so you may have one chapter to view on a Friday with another arriving on a Monday or Tuesday. Also, you may find previously-released installments peppered with new material to enhance the story even further. So, don’t be surprised if you wake up one day to find a story chapter squeezed between episodes two and three, for instance.
Haunting Melissa is also highly social – viewers can easily sign in through Facebook and alert friends they are watching Haunting Melissa, share theories, freak out and make predictions of what comes next.
Currently, Edelstein has no plans to bring this to any other medium – such as DVD and Blu-ray. Buying Haunting Melissa from the App Store is the only way to go. The app is free and the first chapter is free as well with additional chapters available via In-App Purchase.
It’s definitely something to check out and keep an eye on. I’ve yet to see the series itself, but I can certainly say what Hooked Digital Media and Edelstein have put together in terms of getting you set up for the viewing experience is welcoming and exciting.
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