Documentary Review: ‘It’s Coming’ – Fear and Apprehension Living with the Unseen.

‘It’s Coming‘ is an intense documentary film by Shannon Alexander that delves into the unsettling world of supernatural encounters with the story of Ashley Roland, a wife and mother of five whose life has been haunted by paranormal entities since she was 11 years old.

The film chronicles her chilling experiences as she returns to her family’s ancestral Brooklyn apartment, only to discover that a strange entity does not just passively exist but is now affecting her children.  

Using a compelling combination of interviews and observational footage, ‘ ‘It’s Coming‘ captures Ashley and her children recounting their unnerving experiences in vivid detail. The sincerity of their accounts is striking. Particularly those shared by the children, who appear convinced of the reality of the strange events around them. While it is easy for anyone to argue these could stem from overactive imaginations or a subconscious response to Ashley’s beliefs or hysteria, their conviction is believable.

Ashley’s sincerity is a standout element that the film captures. She openly acknowledges that many might dismiss her as crazy, which is why she hesitates to share her story with people. Yet, her lived experiences, stretching over decades, have solidified her belief in the supernatural. Her raw honesty, combined with her admission that such topics are often kept within African American communities for fear of stigma, lends a deeply personal and cultural layer to the narrative.  

She recounts her first encounter at the age of 11 when a mysterious man in black dragged her out of bed. She believes this entity, whom she refers to as Max, has followed her ever since for a specific purpose yet to be revealed. Intriguingly, a medium brought in to cleanse the apartment suggests Max could be a protector rather than a malevolent spirit. This nuanced perspective adds complexity to the narrative, blurring the line between fear and fascination.  

The documentary captures several eerie incidents, including one where Ashley documents with her phone unexplained smells resembling a gas leak, prompting two fire department visits after the cleansing ritual. These moments, paired with some other strange occurrences caught on camera, such as a microphone stand toppling over or when one of the crew off-camera said that the screen had just shut off all add up to create an atmosphere of uneasiness. Although there aren’t any jump scares, the film uses a foreboding score and unnerving sound effects that also effectively sustain tension throughout.  

I can’t imagine living in a home that I won’t feel safe in. The fear and apprehension that Ashley and her family are faced with seems real but what seems almost unreal is the confidence with with which they are handling it.

Visually, the film’s handheld camera work and deliberate editing choices amplify its unsettling tone. The raw and unpolished aesthetic mirrors the chaos of Ashley’s experiences, immersing the audience in her reality. Director Shannon Alexander’s voice is occasionally heard off-camera and you can tell that he is starting to get spooked at times. This perspective raises intriguing questions. Is his primary goal to prove the existence of the paranormal, or is he simply documenting how an African American family is dealing with something so inexplicable as this?

As the narrative progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to dismiss the possibility of something otherworldly at play. Ashley’s youngest son, for instance, appears to be interacting with an unseen friend, a detail that heightens fears of potential possession. These moments build on the documentary’s ability to provoke both curiosity and apprehension in equal measure.  

While ‘It’s Coming‘ is a gripping exploration of the supernatural, it does feel slightly stretched at times, even with its reasonable 90-minute runtime. A tighter edit could have enhanced its pacing, but this does little to detract from the overall experience. For fans of paranormal documentaries, the film offers an authentic and thought-provoking take on the genre, grounded in the lived experiences of a family fighting to understand and possibly expel the unknown.  

In the end, it does feel like this is more than just a film about hauntings. It is a portrait of resilience, belief, and the complexity of living with the unexplainable. Whether you approach it as a believer or a skeptic, Shannon Alexander’s documentary challenges you to question what you know and what you’re willing to believe.

I will score this film 3.5 out of 5 stars.