Rob Lowe Goes Paranormal In 'The Lowe Files'

Rob, John Owen and Matthew know how to stare down a forest. 

Hunting Ghosts, Searching for Bigfoot, The Family Business

Actor, comedian and all around swell guy Rob Lowe is out to discover the unknown from myths and campfire legends to chilling tales from beyond the grave. He searches California woodlands for Sasquatch and scours an abandoned boys academy from the late 1800s for spooks in A&E’s newly picked up The Lowe Files. Accompanied by his two young adult sons Matthew and John Owen, Rob tries his hand at a tried and true genre: paranormal reality television. So what makes this father-son supernatural road tripping any different than any of the legions of other shows out there?

Star power! Shows like SyFy’s Ghost Hunters, Destination Truth and Travel Channel’s The Dead Files, Ghost Adventures and Aftershocks are made up of teams of investigators who are typically total unknowns and not at all celebrities. Rob comes into this genre as a familiar face and he brings his humor and energetic personality to this Lowe family hunt for phantoms and the peculiar.

The opening sequence to the Lowe Files kicks off with plenty of cowbell. Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” croons over footage of Rob & co. exploring nooks and crannies and crying out in alarm to jump scares. The synchronism is on point when in the last scene of the opener the threesome stands atop a rocky, craggy tower and simultaneously turns to face the audience, all strong jaws and stoic expressions. It’s both hilarious and pretty darn cool, which is just about right for the tone of the show that’s established.

In the beginning Rob is all smiles as he explains how ever since he was a little boy he was fascinated by spooky stories and legends and always dreamed about traveling around and looking into them when he had sons of his own. Well for whatever reason the stars have aligned and this Parks and Rec alumni is hitting the road with both boys in tow. Zooming across the country in a sturdy SUV the Lowe trio is chasing down leads intent on uncovering nuggets of fact from speculation and fiction. So far it’s evident that The Lowe Files is going to run the gamut. The three episodes that have aired thus far have been in the realms of cryptozoology, ghost phenomena and urban legends. Already quite a scope for investigations.

Willow Creek, Cali. is Big Foot Central! Photo from A&E.

The formula used in The Lowe Files episodes isn’t novel. There’s the build up where Rob and sons chat in their car setting the stage on the way to their destination, and share some of the knowledge they’ve gleaned. Then the second part is actually scoping out the location and meeting up with whatever sidekick is joining them in their mission, and the final part is the investigation in and of itself: think night vision cams and standard ghost hunting gear like EMF meters, talking boxes and EVP recorders.

On Rob, John Owen, and Matthew’s first case they’re joined by a family friend and jovial shaman known simply as Shaman Jon. He’s an all around chill guy, who looks like any other guy from street, and has a sense of humor that meshes well with Rob’s. On their second case the trio enlists the services of self-proclaimed Sasquatch Expert Matt Moneymaker, who puts his heart into knocking wood and howling through his hands in his efforts to coax a ‘squatch out for the Lowe boys to see first hand. Something the boys and viewers can’t help but snicker at a little bit. Not necessarily in a mean spirited way. Matt Moneymaker is just shamelessly eccentric is all. To keep this spoiler friendly *wink nudge* the findings and encounters in both of those cases aren’t going to be covered here. You’re welcome. :)

So, what sets The Lowe Files apart from other paranormal offerings on TV today aside from the lure of Rob’s celebrity presence and dashingly good looks? Easy. The teasing humor between the guys, the easy camaraderie they all share and perhaps most of all that even though there are many laughs there’s not a shadow of a doubt that Rob’s heart is genuinely in this. This show isn’t a satire. It’s about as real as reality paranormal shows go. Rob’s enthusiasm isn’t over the top and his sons tend to occasionally be at odds, the more scientifically minded skeptic John Owen and his big bro Matthew who doesn’t quite know what to believe but comes to his own conclusions based on what he sees, hears and encounters. Which provides a nice balance. There’s an overall sense of level-headedness among Rob, John Owen and Matthew. Yes they’re curious, but they’re not overzealous new agey “believer” types. These shows are catnip for certain viewers and if you’re one of them (this girl here included!) you’d be missing out by not giving this humble little supernatural show that could a chance. Chills aren’t a guarantee, but laughs certainly are.

Airing live on A&E, Wednesday nights. Previous episodes can be watched on the A&E website by signing in to your cable provider.

First and last photo from IMDB.