Ep 1. Pilot

In the pilot episode of The Enfield Haunting, we are introduced to the Hodgson family, who live in a council house in Enfield, London in 1977. Single mother Peggy is struggling to make ends meet, and she lives there with her four children, Margaret, Janet, Johnny, and Billy. It's clear from the outset that something is wrong in the house, and the family are experiencing strange and inexplicable phenomena which they can't explain.

The episode begins with Janet, the second-eldest child, trying to go to sleep in her bedroom. Suddenly, she's woken up by her brother Johnny, who's terrified after hearing a strange voice in the room next door. Janet doesn't believe him at first, but she soon hears it too - a guttural, menacing voice which tells them to "get out." The children are so scared that they both hide under the covers, and they can feel something moving the bed beneath them.

The next day, Peggy is understandably skeptical of her children's claims, but she soon discovers that they're not lying. She witnesses furniture moving on its own, objects levitating in the air, and her children being thrown around the room. She even calls the police, convinced that there must be a burglar or intruder in the house, but they find nothing.

As the days and weeks go on, the Hodgson family become more and more terrified. They start to hear knocking on the walls, feel cold drafts of air, and see objects moving on their own. Janet in particular is targeted by whatever is haunting the house, and she's thrown against the wall, dragged out of bed, and even possessed by a malevolent spirit.

The family turn to various professionals for help, including a local vicar, a psychic investigator, and a journalist named Maurice Grosse. Grosse is particularly interested in the case, and he quickly becomes an important figure in the family's lives. He sets up recording equipment in the house, hoping to capture evidence of the supernatural activity. He also spends time with Janet, who is both fascinated and scared by what's happening to her.

The pilot episode is an eerie and unsettling introduction to the series, which is based on a real-life haunting that took place in Enfield in the 1970s. The show does a great job of building tension and creating a sense of dread, without relying too heavily on jump scares or special effects. The performances are strong across the board, and there's a real sense of sympathy for the Hodgson family as they're put through this terrifying ordeal.

One of the most interesting aspects of the show is the way it blends fact and fiction. The Enfield haunting was a real event, and many of the details in the show are taken directly from the family's experiences. However, the show also takes some creative liberties with the story, particularly when it comes to the character of Maurice Grosse. In real life, Grosse was a respected paranormal investigator who was heavily involved in the Enfield haunting case. In the show, he's portrayed as a more sympathetic and emotional figure, who becomes personally invested in the family's well-being.

Overall, the pilot episode of The Enfield Haunting is a highly effective introduction to the series. It sets up the supernatural elements of the story without giving too much away, and it also establishes the strong emotional core of the show. It's a spooky and atmospheric episode that will leave you wanting more.