“This didn’t really happen…did it?” I thought as I watched the trailer for The Manhattan Alien Abduction.
Funnily enough, that’s the question at the heart of the forthcoming Netflix docuseries. One that becomes abundantly clear while watching the trailer, but that is also summed up in the tagline: “A woman claims to have been abducted from her bedroom in Manhattan. This docuseries explores whether it was an elaborate hoax —or proof of alien life.”
This same story was also the subject of a 2022 Tubi documentary, Linda Napolitano: The Alien Abduction of the Century. I’m not sure how The Manhattan Alien Abduction will differ. Maybe a clue lies in the synopsis?
This is the true story behind one of ufology’s greatest mysteries which is still a source of controversy on social media and online forums. But few know that a filmmaker was embedded at the heart of the Manhattan abduction and filmed it all. With access to hundreds of hours of never-before-seen footage, this is the real-life X Files, caught on camera.
I’m thinking the “hundreds of hours of never-before-seen footage” might be the differentiator.
The Manhattan Alien Abduction releases on October 30, just in time for the spookiest day of the year, which is why I think it may become Halloween 2024’s must-binge show.
In fact, I’m even going to go out on a limb and make a prediction that it’s destined for a spot on Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows list.
Here’s why. If it’s anywhere near as compelling as the trailer, it’ll be hard to stop watching.
Let’s Talk About The Manhattan Alien Abduction Trailer
I mean, right from the get-go, it hooks you. A man in a hat says, “There were 23 witnesses.”
Interesting, because rarely do you hear of witnesses to alien abductions. The only one that really comes to my mind is the Travis Walton incident that inspired the movie Fire in the Sky. (If you know of any other examples, please shout!)
Next, a woman with short red hair questions, “But was there any evidence that this thing actually happened?”
Which immediately made me wonder, “There’s a video of it, right? Isn’t that evidence? What’s wrong with it? Is there a reason not to trust it?”
Then another woman says, “I moved to Manhattan to make a film about alien abduction with my husband, Budd Hopkins.” They show Hopkins signing his book, Witnessed: The True Story of the Brooklyn Bridge UFO Abductions.
They also show a brief clip of him saying, “The existence of an extraordinary phenomenon demands an extraordinary investigation.”
Then it cuts back to his wife. “Budd believed that she was very, very credible, and the audience loved her.”
Next comes footage of Linda Napolitano during a radio interview where she’s asked, “When people hear this, do they tell you you’re nuts?”
“I tell you, Jay,” she responds. “I wish I was psychotic. At least there’s treatment for that.”
Admittedly, she’s very charming. I can see why people would have no trouble believing her.
But soon after the trailer delivers a plot twist mic drop when Hopkins’ wife says, “She was pulling the wool over Budd’s eyes.”
“You’d have to be a sociopath or genius to commit a hoax like this,” Napolitano defends herself.
Then the short red-haired woman wonders, “How could Linda possibly be orchestrating this enormous hoax, if that’s what it is?”
Wait. Whose side is she on? Does she believe Napolitano or not?
Real vs. Hoax: What’s the truth?
Near the end of the trailer, Linda admits, “It’s not easy to believe, let’s face it. But these aliens, if they want you…they’re gonna get you.”
It’s game on when the red-haired woman says, “I will continue to ask questions, Linda. And I won’t stop doing that.”
Napolitano’s response is simple: “Bring it on.”
Omg. So many questions! I must know if any are answered. I immediately searched out The Manhattan Alien Abduction and added it to my queue. And I also made a mental note to save the date for a bingefest come October 30. What about you?
Check-In
How much did The Manhattan Alien Abduction trailer hook you? Did you already set a reminder so it’s automatically added to your Netflix list too?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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