Parijat Ghosh 
Netflix’s True Haunting isn’t just another ghostly re-telling — it’s a resurrection of real lives. Based on actual accounts of paranormal terror, this docuseries takes realism to the next level by casting actors who don’t just resemble the real people — they feel like them. Every look, every tremor, every haunted stare hits the right note. I watched the first part. So, a complete review is pending. But, the first half casting? Tremendous.
When Real Meets Reel
The show’s brilliance lies in how seamlessly the real survivors blend with their on-screen counterparts. In most docudramas, you can sense the split — one moment you’re hearing the survivor’s shaky voice, the next you’re watching an actor too polished to match that raw fear. True Haunting dodges that trap like a pro.
Wyatt Dorion as Chris Di Cesare, the central figure of the infamous “Eerie Hall” haunting, is a revelation. He doesn’t just copy Di Cesare’s trauma — he channels it. His posture, his half-whispers, and that constantly alert look make you believe he’s been sleeping with the lights on for decades. The resemblance isn’t just visual; it’s emotional. When you see Dorion flinch at a creak, it mirrors the real Chris recalling that same creak during interviews. It’s eerie — in the best way.
Faces That Feel Familiar
The supporting cast deserves just as much praise. Rhys Alexander Phillips as Jeff Ungar, Makenna Pickersgill as Linda, and Ralph McLeod as Vito Di Cesare all echo the authenticity of the real people. The casting team clearly did their homework — right down to matching subtle expressions.
Even the smallest details — like the way Makenna tilts her head when she’s uncertain, mimicking Linda’s nervous interview tics — show that these actors studied their real counterparts. It’s rare to see dramatizations where the people onscreen move and react like the originals. Usually, it’s “TV fear.” Here, it’s “I-lived-through-this” fear.
Ghosts Aren’t the Only Things That Feel Real
The magic of True Haunting isn’t just the jump scares; it’s how you forget who’s acting and who’s remembering. The transitions between interviews and reenactments are so fluid you barely notice them. When the real April Miller recounts her sleepless nights in “This House Murdered Me,” the actress playing her almost breathes the same panic seconds later. That mirroring makes the audience part of the haunting.
There’s also something quietly brilliant about casting actors who look ordinary. No glamorous faces, no horror-movie clichés. Just people you might see in class, at the grocery store, or sitting beside you, which makes their terror hit harder.
Conclusion: Casting That Haunts You Back
If True Haunting works — and it does — it’s because the casting makes it believable. The actors don’t perform fear; they inherit it. The survivors don’t narrate trauma; they relive it. Together, they blur that fragile line between documentary and nightmare.
So yes, the ghosts might be real. But what’s truly haunting about True Haunting is how perfectly every actor embodies the living souls who met the dead — and lived to tell the tale.
And, with that, if you have any questions regarding True Haunting, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe, and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
