MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): When you think
of successful markets that have thrived during the pandemic
while so many others have perished, you think of Zoom,
Amazon, sweatpants, and haunted dolls.
That's right.
Haunted dolls are big right now.
Now I'm not usually an occult guy.
But to survive in this economy, I'm willing to make
a deal with the undead.
But, first, I had to find out more about the business.
And who better to teach me than Kat Blowers,
the number one seller of haunted dolls on eBay?
Be scared of demons.
Be scared of negative energy.
But other than that, if you're interested,
you should jump in with both feet.
You are literally in the business of ghosting people.
When did you notice that the haunted doll business was
skyrocketing and that you are basically the Jeff
Bezos of haunted dolls?
[laughs] I started in 2014, and there
was only a few shops.
Now there's probably 50, 60 shops for haunted dolls.
How many dolls would you say you've sold in the last year?
Probably a thousand.
There's money in this?
There is.
I've seen a haunted doll go for $4,000 before.
Woo!
OK, now Kosta is into it.
MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): But my big question,
aside from how can I hide $4,000 of dolls sales
from the IRS, is what made a haunted doll a haunted doll?
According to haunted doll sellers,
any doll that was inhabited by the soul of a dead person
was prime for selling.
But what made one haunting more expensive than another?
MICHAEL KOSTA: When you say haunted, for me,
that sounds scary.
You're also saying that there's a positive haunting?
Absolutely, and I try to keep most of my stuff
on the positive side. - Oh, you mean--
Like that's going to--
--the baby with its legs ripped off?
KAT BLOWERS: Actually, that one's not that positive.
Right.
What if it's, like, a really evil spirit?
I actually do charge a little bit more.
I don't want the little, young kids to be able to afford it.
MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): You can sell a human soul on eBay?
There was a ban.
Who was selling too many human souls?
KAT BLOWERS: You have to have a disclaimer if a ghost caused
you to murder your wife.
Isn't capitalism fascinating?
It can be.
That's about 25% of the business,
and people send them to me.
And right now I have a two and a half
year waiting list for evaluations.
Yeah. - What?
Write down everything you know about the doll
so that when I open the box I know what I'm dealing with.
And I'll talk to you in two and a half years.
The rest of the business is people contacting me,
looking for a haunted doll.
Are you looking for a little kid?
Are you looking for something that's going to challenge you?
Are you looking for something that's
going to scare your neighbors?
There's spirits that will motivate you to do work.
There's spirits that will attract money to your house.
There's spirits that will attract love.
MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): Wow.
Clearly, Katherine was selling these
haunted little hot cakes.
But who are the everyday folks buying these haunted dolls?
[knocking]
Hi.
Oh, I no-- I-- it's you.
I know you.
Hey.
MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): Yup, the Stormy Daniels.
Stormy's doll, Susan, was purchased in 2011,
and is said to be cursed with a uniquely malevolent spirit.
We believe Susan belonged to a little girl
who died in 1955.
And it definitely had something to do with a stomach issue.
Before we even started shooting, the producer on set
here wanted to touch her.
And you said, don't do that. You'll shit your pants.
Yes.
Three people that I slept with in a row she attacked.
They had stomach problems and back issues
pretty much immediately.
She's more mischievous than malicious.
I've never felt like I was in danger.
What has Susan added to your life?
STORMY DANIELS: She adds protection
when you go into these places that could be dangerous.
MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): OK, but is
Susan really worth that much?
I have been offered $7,500 for her once
and $10,000 for her once.
But she is not for sale.
She has her own TV show.
She's on VH1's The Real Life.
Anyone who follows her Instagram will
know this little plastic bitch has
been on yachts and Ferraris.
Is that her handle, this little plastic bitch?
It should be.
Would you say she's living her best afterlife?
She is definitely living her best afterlife.
MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): So I went back
to Kat to learn about the highly
scientific analysis process used
to identify a haunted doll.
MICHAEL KOSTA: So--
[bell ringing]
Bells?
OK.
MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): After studying
the extensive tools needed and the strict procedure--
What if the UPS guy rings the doorbell?
That screws it up.
MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): I knew
if I was serious about getting into the business of haunted
dolls, the next step had to be trying out the haunted product
to see what all the fuss is about.
Her name is Jennifer.
She is about seven or eight years old.
And we think she was murdered.
Is it safe to say that she was killed by a white man?
[laughs] Yes. MICHAEL KOSTA: Probably.
KAT BLOWERS: Absolutely.
What is it with a white men lately?
What would Jennifer cost for someone?
60, 70 bucks probably.
- 60, 70 bucks, OK. - Yeah.
MICHAEL KOSTA: All right, Jennifer.
Sorry you got murdered.
MICHAEL KOSTA (VOICEOVER): So I left with my free trial
named Jennifer, and I took a video diary
to record my feedback.
Hey, so day one with Jennifer,
I don't know if I really get it yet.
The only thing I can report, I have had some violent dreams.
There was a river of blood, and there was a stabbing,
but still better than what I was
dreaming about before, which was the state of this country.
So I think I'm starting to get it a little bit.
Did you make this for me?
I don't know if she's following me.
[gasps]
Or if I just bring her everywhere.
I can't do this with you watching.
Thank you.
The soul of this doll has excellent comedic timing.
It's just great having someone around
who laughs at the jokes.
She is a haunted doll, and I know what I'm saying,
and it sounds crazy.
But it's just-- it's wonderful.
(HIGH-PITCHED) Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet-- I'm going to kill you.
Just kidding.
[laughs]
The trial-- the trial is over, and I
can't get into this business.
Sending Jennifer back to Katherine
is the hardest thing I've ever had to do.
Jennifer, you got to go.
Get in the box.