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Exploring the Supernatural with Josh Gates: A Deep Dive into His Spine-Chilling Adventures

Published

3 years ago

February 6, 2023

True fans of Josh Gates know that he is like a real-life Indiana Jones. He has been all over the world exploring the secrets of ancient civilizations, finding treasure, and even crossing paths with the supernatural.

Meet the Reality Daredevil

Gates was born in Massachusetts. But his adventures would take the now 45-year-old far from his home and into the unknown — several mystical destinations that are far more fantastic than the ones of Steven Spielberg’s fedora-wearing adventurer.

Clad in his adventure garb including his signature necklace, Gates has taken viewers into places they most likely will never visit in person. Along the way he, and we, have encountered some pretty hair-raising adventures.

We have gone in search of Amelia Earhart and explored lost Incan ruins. He has brought us along to find cryptids and other supernatural mysteries.

In fact, when FOX News asked him about the one place he would never return his answer was a place notoriously known for its ghostly inhabitants.

“I would say Waverly Hills, which is an abandoned sanitarium here in the States — it’s high on the list of places I don’t ever want to spend the night again,” Gates said. “A lot of those old, 19th-century sanitariums, mental institutions, there are a number of them left here, old prisons, things like that.”

The 6’2″ explorer was raised Episcopalian but thanks to his deep dive into the afterlife, has since become a little more fluid in his spiritual beliefs.

“Most cultures believe, and most religions believe, that there is a spirit, there is a soul, there is something that happens when we die where this spirit leaves our body,” he said in an interview for FOX. “And there are people all over the world who believe in ghosts and angels and demons — things like that. And we touch on this throughout [Destination Unknown: Search for the Afterlife]. But belief and faith are very personal things.”

Destination Truth

This is the series that started it all. Gates was not only the host but also its co-executive producer. In its run from 2007 to 2012, there were a total of 30 episodes. It was on the SyFy Channel back when it was called “Sci-Fi.”

This was the world’s first introduction to Gates. They quickly found him fearless and intrepid. But he also had a sense of humor. There were a few popular supernatural reality series at the time. Shows such as MonsterQuest and Ghost Hunters had already perfected the formula, but Gates took it one step further; he explored remote parts of the world and took us along with him.

The one thing about Gates is that he is a borderline skeptic which often leads to humorous one-liners or witty banter with his team. However, when he experiences a phenomenon that can’t be explained right away, he doesn’t dismiss it.

Whether it is scuba diving, exploring an ancient temple, or tromping through the jungle, Gates is always trying to find the truth even if there is no definite answer to what he is seeking.

Ghost Hunting

Jason Hawes, Josh Gates and Steve Gonsalves

Speaking of the cable television hit Ghost Hunters, another popular reality show with nosey infrared cameras and hosts, Gates crossed over into the series in 2007 with a live Halloween special. He became a regular guest and even hosted a seven-hour live investigation in 2008.

Gates seems to have a soft spot for ghosts and the people who hunt them. In 2012 he made a guest appearance on Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files and created the paranormal reality series Stranded under the Jason Blum production company.

Today, he produces another show called Ghost Nation which stars Ghost Hunter legacy investigators Jason Hawes, Steve Gonsalves, and Dave Tango.

Additionally, in 2020 he teamed with paranormal researcher Jessica Chobot and scientist Phil Torres for a show called Expedition X.

Expedition Unknown

At the beginning of 2015, Gates began working for the Travel Channel with this adventurous reality series. The show would eventually make its way to the Discovery Channel where it would remain a channel staple.

In that time Gates would investigate a haunted ship, Mayan ruins, vampires, Japan’s Atlantis, the lost city of Roanoke, and the Bermuda Triangle.

Josh Gates is back in 2023 with the continuation of this series. This time he invites viewers on an adventure of a lifetime. He once again visits captivating archeological wonders while trying to solve some of history’s most captivating puzzles.

Additionally, the bearded daredevil will continue to explore the stranger side of the unknown in a series of action-packed episodes.

Destination Unknown: Search for the Afterlife

Taking things into the great beyond, Gates isn’t satisfied limiting his exploration to the corporeal world. In this series he assists with a real exorcism, talks to scientists about what happens the moment we die, examines a haunted ship and learns about the afterlife in Varanasi, India.

This series, he admits, was a trek into things that made him question his own faith.

“In the first episode, I openly stated that I was raised Christian,” Gates said. “And like a lot of people, I sort of drifted away from the church as I got older. Now I have two small kids. I have a family and I’m starting to ask those questions. I’m at a point in my life where I’m saying, ‘What is really out there?’ For me, there were a number of moments in the special that really challenged my agnostic beliefs.”

Josh Gates On Tour

Gates has continued to connect with his fans through live appearances. He just finished up a national tour at the end of last year, and although he doesn’t have another one scheduled at this time, be sure to follow him on social media for updates and schedules. His shows are very popular and often sell out.

Discovery+

If you are interested in following Josh on his many adventures, most of the shows listed above can be found on Discovery+. This is a paid content app that requires a subscription.

Final Thoughts

Josh Gates is a reality show celebrity, but what is different about him is his team’s fearless and often dangerous forays into places most of us fear to tread. Whether he’s diving into the ocean’s depths to explore its mysteries, traversing through a haunted house, or spelunking into a deep cave, he always delivers a nail-biting good time.

While we still love our fictional cinematic adventurers, we can always count on Gates to take us away from the theater and put us into his Jeep for a wildly exciting road trip.

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Related Topics:Cryptids Destination Unknown Discovery+Ghost Hunters Josh Gates Paranormal

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This Week in Horror: Black Phone 2, The Backrooms, and the Return of Scary Movie

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Luna Gray

A release week. Something in theaters today, something on Netflix tomorrow, a trailer that is going to divide people cleanly down the middle, and a Kane Pixels situation that is either the most exciting thing to happen to A24 horror in years or a complete disaster, and we are about to find out which in two weeks. Here is everything.

Obsession Opens Today

Obsession is in theaters today. Curry Barker directed, Inde Navarrette stars, and the premise involves a supernatural toy called One Wish Willow that does not appear to grant wishes in a way that works out well for anyone. Barker is coming off solid work in the short horror space and this is his feature debut.

The Black Phone 2 Hits Netflix Tomorrow

The Black Phone 2 streams on Netflix starting May 16. Scott Derrickson directed both, Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames are back, and the first one did $132 million on a budget that did not require $132 million to recoup, so this sequel had time to actually be made right instead of being rushed out.

The first Black Phone is one of the better supernatural thrillers of the decade, and the ending left enough room that a sequel is not a stretch. The thing I want to know is whether Derrickson is doing something with that space or just filling it. Tomorrow we find out.

The Scary Movie Trailer Is Here

The Scary Movie trailer is out and June 12 is the release date. Michael Tiddes directs. Anna Faris is back. Regina Hall is back. Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans are back. The whole thing looks exactly as chaotic as you would expect from a Scary Movie film in 2026, which will either be a feature or a problem depending entirely on how you feel about the franchise.

The original Scary Movie came out in 2000 and it was funny. Some of the sequels were funny. I am genuinely not sure what this one is going to be, and I mean that in a way that is not entirely negative. Faris has not been in a wide release in a while. Seeing her back in the thing she was genuinely great at is enough to make me curious even if the whole rest of the movie turns out to be a mess.

Insidious: Out of the Further Gets an August Date

The sixth Insidious film has been officially dated for August 21. Jacob Chase directs, Amelia Eve leads, and Brandon Perea and Lin Shaye are back in the cast. The trailer showed at CinemaCon in April and the response was apparently positive enough that the August date got locked in immediately after.

Shaye has been the connective tissue of this franchise since the beginning and the decision to keep her involved in whatever direction the series goes next is the right one. She is also just an extremely good horror actor who does not get enough credit for how much work she has done making these films feel like they are about something beyond the haunted house mechanics. August 21.

The Backrooms Movie Is a Month Away

The Backrooms opens in theaters May 29 through A24. Kane Parsons directed it. He is 20 years old. He is the Kane Pixels person, which means he built an entire mythology from scratch in YouTube shorts and did it well enough that A24 hired him to make a theatrical feature before he could legally rent a car in most states.

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve star. James Wan and Shawn Levy are producing. The budget exists. The question that has been hanging over this project since it was announced is whether a feature-length Backrooms works or whether the whole thing depends on the specific intimacy of the short format, and we are two weeks from knowing.

American Horror Story Is Going Back to the Coven

American Horror Story Season 13 is coming in October on FX and Hulu, and it is going back to the Miss Robichaux’s Academy setting from Season 3. Sarah Paulson is back. Evan Peters is back. Angela Bassett is back. Ariana Grande is joining the cast.

The Coven season was the last time the show felt like it had a unified identity, and bringing the whole thing back around to that specific world is a reasonable way to remind people why they liked it before the middle seasons started doing a lot of experimental things that did not always work.

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Exclusive: ‘Key of Bones’ Reveals New Poster and Cannes Fantastic Pavilion Gala Screening

Published

3 days ago

May 14, 2026

Anthony Pernicka

The curse is heading to Cannes.

iHorror is exclusively revealing the brand-new poster for Key of Bones: Curse of the Ghost Pirate ahead of the film’s screening this Saturday at the Fantastic Pavilion Gala during the Cannes Film Festival.

The supernatural horror-comedy will screen as part of the Fantastic Pavilion festivities during Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, marking another major moment for the indie production as momentum continues building toward the film’s Fall release.

*Actor Jeremy King, Actress Gina Vitori, Writer/Director Tony Armer, & Actress Melissa Chick*

Filmed in Key West, Key of Bones: Curse of the Ghost Pirate follows a local waitress, a ghost tour guide, and an unlucky tourist who accidentally awaken a pirate curse tied to the infamous Anne Bonny. What follows is a wave of ghosts, supernatural chaos, cursed treasure, and paranormal mayhem spreading across the island.

Written and directed by Tony Armer, the film stars Gina Vitori, Melissa Chick, Jeremy King, Chad Newman, Benjamin Healy, Ty Spann, Kitty Clements and Vincent De Paul.

*Gina Vitori as Mary Read* *& Jeremy King as Christie*

Key of Bones also marks one of the first feature film productions connected to iHorror, expanding the brand beyond horror coverage and into original filmmaking.

The newly released poster leans into the film’s mix of pirate mythology, paranormal horror, cursed treasure, and the eerie atmosphere of real haunted locations in Key West. It offers another glimpse into the movie’s supernatural adventure, comedy, and ghostly chaos.

If you’re attending events in Cannes this weekend and would like to catch the screening of Key of Bones: Curse of the Ghost Pirate, visit Fantastic Pavilion for event schedules and screening information.

For more on the film, visit www.KeyOfBones.com

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Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show Ends 36 Year Run

Published

5 days ago

May 12, 2026

Piper St. James

The Horror Make-Up Show at Universal Studios Orlando has closed its doors after 36 years of entertainment. But not permanently.

The long running show that combines horror, comedy, and interactive demonstrations is next in line for a makeover at the Florida theme park. Besides the E.T. Adventure, The Horror Make-Up Show is the only other remaining attractions at Universal Orlando from its opening day.

A Brief History of the Make-Up Show

The idea for the show originated from an attraction at Universal Hollywood called The Land of A Thousand Faces. Land ran from 1975-1979. The twenty minute show entertained an audience of up to 1,700 visitors in an open air venue. The show taught the audience about movie makeup. Additionally, two volunteers were chosen to be transformed into the Frankenstein monster and his bride.

Despite the show’s popularity, The Land of A Thousand Faces was closed to make room for a new experience at Universal Studios Hollywood.

An Era of Gods and Monsters

Lon Chaney

Explained with movie clips, Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show explains the humble beginnings of makeup and special effects in horror movies. Starting with the classic Universal monsters such as Frankenstein’s Monster, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Phantom of the Opera, this era heavily features the work of Lon Chaney.

Lon Chaney’s contribution to the world of horror makeup greatly impacted the industry for decades to come. Many of his creations were the results of self experimentation. In fact, his extreme dedication to his craft earned him the nickname “The Man of 1,000 Faces”.

While we do know how he did some of his makeup effects, Chaney took many of these secrets with him to the grave when he died in 1930.

Rick Baker

Another important name in the industry that Horror Make-Up mentions is Rick Baker. Baker created the incredible werewolf transformation in An American Werewolf in London (1981). It was his work in this movie that earned him his first Academy Award for Best Make-up in 1982. This would be the first win for the make-up artist in a long line of achievements.

Perhaps Baker’s second highest achievement was his work in Michael Jackson’s music video Thriller. Baker’s make-up transforms the pop singer into a werewolf among a hoard of zombies. The makeup artist even makes a cameo in the video as one of the undead.

Other movies Baker helped bring to life with his craft include; The Howling, Men in Black, and The Wolfman (2010).

A Blending of Technologies

As seen in An American Werewolf in London, Rick Baker did not only use prosthetics to create horror movie magic. Baker and his team designed the animatronics and “change-o” heads, limbs, and other props to create the groundbreaking transformation from man to werewolf.

The combination of prosthetics placed directly onto the actor in combination with robotics began the blending of technologies used to create the next generation of monsters.

The Horror Make-Up Show continues its education of the genre as technology expanded into the computer era. The final clips shown on screen demonstrates the latest evolution of horror make-up in Universal’s The Mummy (2017).

Computer generated imagery is layered over physical practical effects to create the amazing hieroglyphics covering the character of Ahmanet, played by Sofia Boutella. It is the partnering of these two technologies that the host of the show claims creates the best and most convincing effects in modern day horror.

Moving Forward

Hardcore horror movie fans of the Horror Make-Up Show will be some of the first to say while entertaining, the show is indeed outdated. The names Lon Chaney, Rick Baker, Dick Smith, and Tom Savini certainly deserve to be immortalized in horror history. However, there is so much new blood that should be acknowledged for their contributions to the genre that continues to propel it forward.

Artists such as Damien Leone (Terrifier), Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead), Todd Masters (Final Destination), and Eryn Krueger Mekash (American Horror Story) are all examples that have continued the evolution of visuals in the genre.

Damien Leone, Philip Falcone, and a victim in the make-up chair!

As touched upon in the original Make-Up Show, the best results in movies is when practical effects are blended with computer generated effects. Using just one style versus the other runs the risk of looking “too fake.” Using both techniques can also be more budget friendly and less time consuming for the actor in the make-up chair during the creation process.

The Future of the Horror Make-Up Show

Universal Studios Orlando is expecting to re-open their doors to the new Horror Make-Up Show during the winter of 2026. However, they have not yet announced what changes will be made, or what the future show will look like. The most the theme park has announced is the show will be:

“featuring classic and modern horror properties along with shockingly fun surprises – all while staying true to the comedic and irreverent vibe that guests love.”

What were your favorite moments of Universal Orlando’s original Horror Make-Up Show, and what do you hope they bring to the table when they reopen? Let us know in the comments!