Missing 411 (2016)

I remember first hearing about the theoy of people going missing in National Parks on Coast to Coast AM some time ago. It was fascinating and eerie. Having spent many days and nights in the field, this story resonated with me. For the longest time though, I stayed away run the video series, they is until this year.  Next up is the original Missing 411

Plot: Based on the books series written by David Paulides Missing 411 chronicles the unsolved yet eerily similar disappearances of five children in the wilds of North America accross multiple decades. A real-life horror story for those involved, the film examines each case from multiple perspectives in an attempt to shed light on the unsettling topic. Les Stroud of Survivorman and Obama-appointed, former Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar are both interviewed for their insight into the topic, as are the families who have fallen victim to tragedy.

The initial installment of this series may also be my least favorite.  While the cinematography and storyline is outstanding,  the selected stories all have plausable explanations available.  These are nowhere near as mysterious as the entries in subsequent installments. The majority of interviewees are in no way captivating, and over little in the way of moving the story forward. Even the editing is a bit choppy, jumping between multiple stories and adding some unneeded confusion.  In the end,  this one is good,  but not as entertaining as the others in the series. It does do a great job at bringing the subject into the mainstream and that may be the most important thing to come out of it.  This is a subject that is mysterious and also potentially dangerous for all of us.  You should check it out.  

A Night with Edgar Allan Poe

With tomorrow being Halloween, it was nice to see the rain from the weekend clear and allow us to get out. Not knowing what tomorrow will hold, i was able to get tickets to see to something different: ANight with Edgar Allan Poe.

Tonight I had a chance to sit back and watch a tremendous performance by literary historian Rob Velella. During this hour and a half show at Fort Necessity Nation Battlefield, he was able to channel his energy and take us into the life and words of Edgar Allan Poe with a combination of well-known and lesser-known works including Shadow A Parable, The Oblong Box and of course, The Raven. 

This special evening program was held at the Visitor Center at Fort Necessity National Battlefield and the amazing performance drew a packed house. For me, as a huge Poe fan it was nice to see such such a diverse group on hand to learn about the works of one of the greatest authors of all time. Especially in a performance that was both entertaining and informative. 

Velella, who is an independent literary historian and playwright specializing in American literature of the 19th century, created the perfect character and seemed to flow through the material effortlessly. I would highly recommend checking out a performance if you get a chance.