Files of the Unexplained is an eight-part documentary series released on Netflix on April 3, 2024. It is produced by Vox and each episode has a runtime of about 33-48 minutes. The docuseries sheds light on perplexing phenomena including eerie encounters, bizarre disappearances, mysterious hauntings, and chilling cold cases that remain unsolved mysteries.
The documentary series features Eddie Hickson, Jay Willis, Calvin Parker, Waynette Parker, Karen Nelson, Rebecca Davis, Judy Branning, Dennis Kidder, Hester Eby, Morgan Moss, David Young, Mary Thompson, Troy Taylor, Dr Karen Stollznow, Tom Huett, Tony Wright, Ryan Graves, Bill Carson and several others.
Files of the Unexplained Review
At first glance, all eight episodes seem to be covering different incidents that happened in the past. But as you move from one episode to another, it becomes a hodgepodge of unique events revolving around either aliens or restless souls of the dead aka ghosts. The first episode explores the Pascagoula Alien Abduction in 1973, where Charlie Hickson and Calvin Parker claimed to have encountered aliens who abducted them for a solid 30 minutes. They described the similar details that we have heard about the extraterrestrials – faceless and tall lanky figures with crab-like hands.
Many other people also corroborate their story by sharing their experience of seeing the light-emitting UFO but apart from getting media fame and a corner to their name, nothing substantial could be proved. The second story moves to the Ghosts of Myrtles Plantation, where Visitors and tour guides share their chilling accounts about the Plantation, a hot spot for hauntings and a place with a dark, complicated past. Contrary to the alien’s story, believing that a place with a history of tragedy and numerous deaths is haunted, is rather easy and spooky.
The history behind slave plantations is grave already, so it doesn’t take much to believe that those tortured souls could still be roaming around the property. Due to excessive coverage and popularity, this is one phenomenon that seems plausible. The third episode about Missing Yuba County Five was truly baffling. In 1978, five men vanished in Yuba County. Disturbing evidence fueled a series of questions: Did they get lost — or attacked or did one of the missing men have nefarious plans in mind?
Also Read: 3 Body Problem Review: Astounding Concept that Makes You Retrospect
This episode of Files of the Unexplained does make one wonder, what could have happened to those 5 friends. The popular conspiracy insinuates that Gary Mathias, who suffered from Schizophrenia might be the mastermind behind the unexplained death of his 4 other friends, far away from the destination they were going to. The group was originally off to a game in Chico but they were later found 70 miles in the opposite direction, in the mountains. At first, only their car was found with no sign of the 5 men.
But only after many weeks did they discover the remains of 4 men and Gary’s remains to be missing. Their Intellectual disability often comes up as the factor in delayed and insufficient investigation, which could have potentially saved some if not all—and provided the answers to the mystery. The fourth episode goes back to the aliens and sheds light on how US military personnel have reported strange sightings and dealt with mysterious health issues but were forced to stay silent — until now. From mysterious chip implants in their body to alien encounters, they discuss a few incidents that are kept under cover by the government.
From Files of the Unexplained episodes 5-8, we come across similar incidents like underwater ghost sightings at Lake Lanier in Georgia; conspiracy about aliens or superior species living inside Mount Shasta in California; Unexplained aliens or military events across Washington State; and washing up of severed sneaker feet in the Salish Sea in British Columbia. When it comes to ghost sightings, there’s always a history of torture and deaths involved that somewhat explain the unnatural deathly incidents. And in cases of alien-related events, there’s hardly any proof, or the gathered evidence is either taken away by men in suits – leaving it a mystery forever.
The last episode of Files of the Unexplained about finding various human feet inside sneakers washing up at the Salish Sea is something that definitely needs to be investigated. While the episode hints at a sea snake-like monster attacking people, instead it looks like a puzzle to a big crime happening right under our noses. Why would there be so many severed feet in this particular place, where’s the rest of the body? This is a true case Files of the Unexplained, which needs more attention.
The creators could have clubbed the alien stories and ghost stories together instead of making it an eight-part series, which essentially repeats the same things in the last 4 episodes. Despite many incidents having a logical explanation, the show insists that there’s ‘something bigger’ going on regardless of what anybody says. That should give you a hint that the show just wants to present mostly explainable incidents as ‘mysteries’ and keep up the conspiracy loop going on in our heads. In the end, you might start believing their claims or get a good laugh at their exaggerated accounts to portray themselves as ‘not like others’ or ‘the chosen one’ by aliens or ghosts.
Rating: 2.5/5
Files of the Unexplained is available for streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer Review: Serial Killer Without Motive
Leave a Reply