The Devil’s Shop

Haunted Prison: A Shadow Devil, 1980 Riot Energy, and a Burned Relic

What’s inside this episode

We review The Dead Files – “Death Sentence” (aka “Prisoner of Shadows”): a decommissioned penitentiary, a whispered “Hey” from an empty cell, a souvenir hat that never should’ve left the building (and yes, it got burned), plus a rare protocol break where Amy and Steve meet mid-case. We also talk riot energy (1980), portals/“holes,” and why prisons hang onto more than just bad memories.

Content notes: Mentions of prison violence (no graphic detail), demons/attachments, medical distress. No gore, no jump scares in this episode.

The quick take (for the skimmers)

• Title we chose: The Devil’s Shop — borrowed from a nickname uttered by someone who lived through the prison’s worst days.
• Most “whoa” moment: Amy senses a shadow devil and tastes blood during the walk.
• Most “girl, no” moment: The hat. Taken home. Then burned in the fireplace. (We discuss why that’s a problem.)
• Format twist: Amy & Steve break protocol and meet before the reveal — unusual for early seasons.
• Big idea: Places steeped in fear + mob mentality can imprint energy that clings… and sometimes follows you home if you invite it.

Episode recap (light spoilers)

1) Why this case

Megan clocks the timing: with Minnesota prisons in the news, a prison-set episode felt right. Amy warns: watch it in daylight, please and thank you.

2) The client & the cell

Actor shoots a film inside a shuttered penitentiary. During a take, someone behind her goes, “Hey, how you doin’?” She answers… turns… no one there. Later she’s locked in a cell by a shadowy presence.

3) The souvenir (and the mistake)

Wraps, finds a hat, takes it home for the kids. Activity spikes. Solution chosen: burn it in the fireplace so the “bad” goes up the chimney. Spoiler: attachments don’t respect your HVAC.

4) The walk

Amy calls out a malevolent shadow devil, sees figures crawling the walls, and fixates on holes/portals (one in the prison laundry room, one in the client’s house). She feels mouthfuls of blood while a historian discusses the 1980 prison riot—one of the ugliest in U.S. history.

5) The protocol break

Early-season drama: Amy and Steve meet before the reveal. It’s moody, noir, and yes, we noticed the Exorcist-y sound design (that insect buzz trick = instant dread).

6) The reveal & remedy

The sketch underwhelms visually*, but the advice is clear: coordinated cleansings—a medicine person at the house while the client is away and a separate cleansing at the prison. Afterward, the client reports activity subsiding.

*No shade to the artist, it just wasn't scary, but they did a good job, seeing as the directions were basically 'draw something you can't see.'

Our take

• Don’t pocket history. Even if the hat was just a film leftover, objects can become carriers. If you must take a souvenir (don’t), cleanse and ask. Better: leave it be.
• Riot imprinting is real (energetically speaking). Massive fear, rage, and panic etch places. That doesn’t make every creak a ghost, but it means the baseline vibe is spicy.
• Rule-break episodes hit harder. When Amy & Steve cross paths mid-case, it signals elevated risk or uncertainty. Stakes feel higher, and we get more context in real time.
• Sound design matters. That insect drone? It’s a classic anxiety dial. If you’re feeling jumpier than usual, your ears got primed.

Practical paranormal: what to do (and not do)

• Don’t: Burn mysterious items. Fire can release energy; it doesn’t necessarily banish it.
• Do:
• Return the item to where it came from, respectfully.
• Cleanse (smoke, sound, prayer, salt, holy water—use your tradition).
• Close portals: salt + iron at thresholds, protective prayer/intent, and if needed, a trained practitioner.
• Cut ties: “You are not welcome. You may not follow.” Repeat like you mean it.

(We’re not your clergy or clinicians; we’re podcasters sharing experience. Safety first.)