Conjuring Kesha debuted in July 2022 on Discovery+. The show stars pop singer, Kesha, and her besties. Each episode looks at a new haunted place or monster, and follows Kesha and friends as they experience paranormal encounters. Get the review after the jump.

Conjuring Kesha Summary

Travel Channel set July 8th, 2022 for the streaming premiere on Discovery+. Conjuring Kesha would have a short, six-episode season. The overall emphasis would be on ghostly encounters at haunted places but one episode featured Bigfoot hunting. Each episode also has a bestie join Kesha on her paranormal adventure. The entire season plays like a journal of spiritual and paranormal discovery.

As for the format, you’ve seen most of it before. First, Kesha gets a tour of the haunted hotspots and some dark history about the haunt. Next, she and her BFF explore the haunt and try to connect with the spirit. Ghostly (or monster) evidence gets replayed a few times (a la Ghost Adventures), and then Kesha gives a recap. There’s no real evidence reveal with person who owns or manages the haunt.

Now for the ghost hunting gadgets used, which is to say there’s nothing cutting edge used. This isn’t a show about proving or disproving a paranormal claim. It’s focused on how Kesha can find, connect and learn from the paranormal encounter. Some gadgets include REM pods, full-spectrum cameras, ghost portals/spirit boxes, an Ovilus, and her vintage digital camcorder. It’s all bedazzled with stickers on it. I want one now.

Overall Impression

Conjuring Kesha started with a bit of trainwreck first episode but improved over the season. The first episode (‘Not Today, Satan’) at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary careened from meltdown and jump scare, to heavy-handed production interference. Now, I don’t mind a good meltdown but it really seemed like the producers and Kesha lost control of this one. I was more interested in what Whitney Cummings, the guest bestie, had to say. This almost turned me off to the entire season.

But I stuck around obviously.

My favorite things about the show are the camaraderie of Kesha and her BFFs, and ‘gee-whiz’ gumption as they explore the unknown. It’s a fresh take, focused on discovery and learning about the paranormal. I wish Trending Fear followed this model. There’s also a sense of awe and innocence in Kesha’s journey. The show also had great b-roll, which I totally appreciate, to stitch together the segments and smooth the transitions. I’m a nerd and pay attention to those sorts of things on a show.

If you’ve read my former blog, Ghostly Activities, you know how much I detest producers being active participants. Conjuring Kesha is guilty of this. To me, it says the participants don’t know what they’re doing, or they try to make a story out of nothing. It’s cool to show a behind-the-scenes element like in episode 6, but not during active investigation time.

Season and Episode Highlights

Warning: Light spoilers ahead!

Here’s a rundown of some interesting things from each episode. There were 3 haunted places you don’t see often, so they may intrigue you to tune in.

Episode 1: “Not Today, Satan”

Kesha and Whitney Cummings (a comedian) visit Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, or Bloody Brushy. Meltdowns ensue and a demonologist gives cryptic warnings about the evils in the prison. You’ve seen it all before on other shows.

Episode 2: “Songs for the Dead”

Betty Who, a pop singer, and Kesha head to Antoinette Hall to sing with some spirits and uncover some dark secrets about the location. I can’t say that I’ve seen any other shows investigate here. Cindy Kaza, of The Holzer Files, swings by give the psychic download, too. This is one of my favorite episodes. It’s a creepy spot and I learned something about the haunt.

Episode 3: “A Terrifying Truth”

Kesha is joined by GaTa, a rapper, and Sarah Lemos (of The Ghosts of Morgan City) to investigate the Westerfield House in San Francisco. While this one isn’t my favorite, I have to appreciate an investigation in a big city. You don’t often get teams going through haunts in big cities. Anyway, there’s ties to Houdini and The Church of Satan. Kesha pulls out the Ouija board and gets startled! It was a fun episode, but not one I’d watch again.

Episode 4: “Into Bigfoot’s Lair”

Ronny Le Blanc (Expedition Bigfoot) guides Kesha and JoJo Fletcher (The Bachelorette Season 12) as they search for Bigfoot near Mount Shasta in Northern California. There’s a lot of full-spectrum camera work in this one, and Kesha finds a connection to the mountain. It was nice to break up the ghost hunting with a touch of cryptozoology.

Episode 5: “Kesha Faces Mortality”

Ok, this is my favorite episode. Kesha gets access to an Odd Fellows Society temple in Illinois. She brings along model, Karen Elson, and Michelle Belanger. This is the first time we’ve seen inside a temple from the reclusive group. Kesha takes part in a ritual to commune with spirits, and there’s some haunted shenanigans afoot. I think the show really gets its groove in this episode.

Episode 6: “Descent into Madness”

Kesha, Big Freedia (a rapper), and Chip Coffey investigate the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia. This one has the creepy factor ramped up to the max. Spectral shenanigans abound, and Chip can sense the darkness within. Big Freedia becomes a converted skeptic, and I’m not mad at the producers being involved. The sprits really get aggressive in this one. At the end, Kesha promises there’s more to come during her recap. I hope that means we get another season.

Conclusion

Should you watch Conjuring Kesha? Yes, absolutely!

This is one of the freshest versions of a paranormal reality show. It may follow the same structure as other shows, but the discovery and spiritual growth angle gives it a bit more life. I don’t know about you, but many of the current shows seem stale. It’s the same ol’ places with the same ol’ jump scares.

Conjuring Kesha is fun, much like Ghost Brothers, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I hope the production team keeps the innocence and BFFs coming for a season 2. I’m hooked. I can’t wait to see what Kesha conjures up next.

Feature image provided by Discovery+ media materials.

Last Updated on March 21, 2024 by Jacob Rice