Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction? (1995)

Documentaries always seem to pop up into my viewing rotation, as I love researching different aspects of the outer edges of reality. For me, this is just a commonality and part of what we all should be doing on a regular basis. Research is fun, especially research on the topic of Aliens and UFOs, as there is so much information out there that fact that governments refuse to disclose the truth is laughable. My flick for the evening was the controversial 1995 documentary Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction?

Plot/ This provocative FOX Network television special investigates the purported Alien Autopsy footage that was allegedly filmed by the United States military after the legendary UFO crash near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947.

Documentaries are always fun and interesting, especially those that stir debate and that was the case with this one after it aired in 1995. While it has now been an admitted hoax (although there are still lingering questions with the 50-year old film), in many ways this one re-ignited the Roswell Crash Investigation for many investigators. While there was nothing new from a research perspective of the famous UFO crash, the documentary went through expert commentary for the validity of the autopsy footage while showing the different aspects of the autopsy. Honestly, it was extremely believable when released and still holds some merit today. Not for everyone, this is a great documentary for anyone interested in researching the Roswell UFO incident.

The Bay (2012)

I am all about finding movies with an interesting synopsis and giving them a shot. Yes, even if they are found footage mockumentaries. However, at times, these movies can be something much different that what is advertised. In some ways, that is the case with this selection, The Bay.

Plot/ Chaos breaks out in a small Maryland town after an ecological disaster occurs. When people start turning up dead, fear turns to panic and the town is shut down. This is what occurred.

I am not the biggest fan of found footage movies, but when done correctly they can offer something entertaining. The Bay does this and is decently entertaining. Unfortunately, it is less of a horror / thriller and more of an environmentalist themed piece. Yes, there are some graphic shots and some horror elements are used, but it is more about pollution and how the government handles a situation. While the acting is somewhat believable, it is the use of multiple styles of camera’s  from multiple perspectives that make it interesting. It really could be what a situation like this would appear to be in today’s technological society.  For me, it was entertaining, but the overriding environmental storyline screamed Global Warming, and that is one hoax that I cannot believe is still getting traction. If you are looking for a horror flick, you may want to grab something else and leave this to the environmental purists. 

Bigfoot: The Lost Coast Tapes (2012)

 

 

After a couple days sitting directly in the supernatural and paranormal worlds, I decided that I wanted to go into a different direction. For me, as you know, that could go any way. After some debate, I decided on a flick that caught my eye at Family Video the last few times I made my way through, the 2012 entry, Bigfoot: The Lost Coast Tapes.

 

 

Plot/ After a Bigfoot Hunter claims to possess the body of a dead Sasquatch, a disgraced investigative journalist stakes his comeback - and the lives of his documentary film crew - on proving the find to be a hoax.

 

 

When I saw this, the first thing that crossed my mind was that someone was going to again benefit by creating another outlandish Bigfoot travesty. Unfortunately, I was wrong, and this one actually created something different. Yes, it is another of the found footage flicks that seem to be everywhere today, but that was fine in this incarnation. This was really a decent entry, with sound acting, an interesting context and a storyline that was a lot more layered than I could have expected. Yes, there are flaws, as some of the scripting may have been over-the-top and there were some uneven and confusing moments, but those in no way drag it down. In the end, this was extremely entertaining and honestly a bit eye opening, as it definitely takes a different direction to the legend that is Bigfoot. If you have not watched it and are a fan of the genres, check it out, you should definitely enjoy it.

Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie (2008)

After watching the Pittsburgh Steelers dismantle the New York Jets, it was time to find something to watch. When searching, I was in the mood for something a bit different, as I am a bit tired after hiking with Jillian in the Forbes National Forest today. What I decided on was actually a documentary, Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie from 2008.  It has to be decent, it shows the hoaxer side of Tom Biscardi, doesn't it?

Plot/ Through the experiences of two amateur Bigfoot researchers in Appalachian Ohio, we see how the power of a dream can bring two men together and provide a source of hope and meaning that transcend the harsh realities of life in a dying steel town.

When I turned this on, I had no idea what to expect. What I found was so much more than I could have expected. Sure, it really is not a Bigfoot or Sasquatch research film, in fact, that is just a subtle backdrop to the story. This one is clearly a documentary about friendship (although it does quietly discuss how shady Tom Biscardi is in researching the subject).  As a documentary fan, it was an interesting break for me from the cryptozoological, horror or UFO related material I have been watching. In the end, if you enjoy documentaries that look into the real world of friendship and the strange world that draw people together, you may enjoy it.