Entertainment
UFO Content to Binge During Quarantine!
Published
5 years agoon
By
Ryan SpragueAs we all face this global pandemic with uncertainty, many have found themselves out of work and in self-quarantine. And many have also found themselves trying to fill the endless amount of hours with projects, stay-at-home work, or merely binging as much television and streaming content as they possibly can. And with no shortage of streaming services and content, the list of UFO-themed shows and documentaries is surprisingly large. So, as a UFO researcher, writer for the stage and television, and an avid multi-media consumer, I’ve decided to create a list of my favorite UFO-themed media you should definitely spend your time watching!
Television and Mini-series
Mysteries Decoded (2019 Investigative Series – CW Network)
Okay… so I may be a little biased on this first one… but Mysteries Decoded is a super-fun show where private investigator, Jennifer Marshall assembles a team of experts to attempt to uncover the truth behind some of America’s most elusive mysteries. I joined Jennifer as her co-investigative partner as we delved deep in to the Roswell UFO crash, Area 51, and the controversial Navy UFO videos recently released by the U.S. Department of Defense. Other episodes include the Lizzie Borden murders, Bigfoot, the Montauk Experiments, The Bermuda Triangle, and the Salem Witch Trials. The entire first season is available to stream for free right now on the CWseed.
Alien Highway (2019 Investigative Series – TRVL Channel)
Chuck Zukowski has been investigating UFO-related incidents for over thirty years. Along with his son, Daniel, and investigator, Heather Taddy, they pursue the cases the authorities ignore, finding evidence others have missed, listening to witnesses who are otherwise afraid to come forward and searching for definitive proof of UFOs… all along America’s Alien Highway. This series takes new angles and approaches to some of the classic UFO cases, but also covers new ground as well. The investigative team are all very passionate about uncovering the truth and actually make some exciting and compelling revelations along with way. You can binge the entire series right now on TRVL and Amazon Prime. Also, check out this exclusive interview I conducted with stars, Chuck and Heather!
On the Trail of UFOs (2020 Investigative Miniseries – Independent)
From the gates of Area 51 to the Hudson Valley, this series dares to uncover the truth behind one of the world’s oldest mysteries. Alien abduction, government cover-ups, waves of craft sightings, even mystery lights are explored in this eight episode series from Small Town Monsters and director, Seth Breedlove. Follow investigator, Shannon LeGro as she goes in search of answers to the UAP phenomenon. While I may be biased since I’m featured throughout this particular series, I have had an immense respect for Breedlove and the Small Town Monsters company who are consistently producing high-quality, well-researched, and entertaining documentaries and series’ like this one with their own time, funds, and talent. Check it out right now on Amazon Prime or purchase a Blu Ray at www.smalltownmonsters.com
Hellier (2019 Investigative Miniseries – Independent)
Driven by a plea for help from a man under supernatural assault, a small crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in the dying coal town of Hellier, where a series of strange coincidences leads them to a decades-old mystery with far-reaching implications. Then, in season two, after following up on the creature reports in Hellier, the team receives a new set of emails that propel the case into a whole new, wider realm of conspiracy, extraterrestrial visitation, murder, and occult rituals across rural Kentucky. Both seasons are jam-packed with a journey so cryptic and strange, that it couldn’t have come from anyone other than the team at Planet Weird. After following the “real-life Mulder and Scully,” Greg and Dana Newkirk and company explore everything from goblins, ghosts, aliens, and gods. It’s batshit crazy and I loved every minute of it. Check it out on Amazon Prime or at www.Hellier.tv
Unidentified: Inside America’s UFO Investigation (Investigative Series – HISTORY)
UFOs have always fascinated the public and sightings and reports are frequent. The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) is the Pentagon’s mysterious UFO program that was previously run by Luis Elizondo. Three videos of encounters were released to the public in 2017. Elizondo left his position after expressing concerns of national security and potential vulnerability. He now exposes a series of encounters and journeys on new investigations that urge the public to ask questions. The first season set up our key players of the To the Stars Academy of Arts and Science, including its founder, former Blink 182 frontman, Tom DeLonge, and their dive in to military UFO cases and how they were handled. Luis Elizondo is a charismatic lead investigator with some serious ties. I don’t necessarily buy in to the whole “threat” angle this show is pushing, but remembering that the AATIP program was based around threat analysis, it’s no surprise that this is where the show finds its core. I’m interested to see their continued efforts with season 2 presumably covering their analysis of possible exotic materials allegedly found at UFO sites. Stream Seasons 1 and 2 right now on Amazon Prime
Documentaries
Witness of Another World (2019)
This intimate documentary intends to unveil the mystery of a spectacular close encounter case witnessed by a lonely gaucho in the farmlands of Argentina. Filmmaker, Alan Stivelman, moved by the story of Juan Pérez, decides to investigate more about the event that forced him to take refuge in the countryside for fear of contact with the phenomenon. Dr. Jacques Vallée, a well-known scientist and researcher, participates in this documentary, having met Juan more than thirty years ago. This is the only case in the history of ufology in which a witness has been studied several times during a period of forty years, with his life and the impact of the experience documented fully. It is an absolutely beautiful film that brought me to tears several times, and truly made me believe there is a world out there we may never truly understand, but can embrace in the most human of ways. Stream on Amazon Video and iTunes.
The Phenomenon (2020)
In this highly anticipated film coming in September by James Fox, The Phenomenon will meld together unseen archive footage with interviews with key eyewitnesses, experts and officials to investigate whether or not we are alone in this universe and what they are attempting to communicate. Featured interviews include Harry Reid, John Podesta, Christopher Mellon, Bill Richardson, Jacques Vallee, and many more. In my opinion, this film presents the phenomenon in such detail and empathy, that it is sure to open the minds and hearts of even the most hardened skeptic. The film transcends the UFO question and shines a cosmic mirror back on ourselves asking the even more important question; What makes us human and where do we lay in the grand scheme across the stars? The film will be in theaters in September, and available to stream on all major streaming apps soon after. To learn more, visit: www.1091media.com
Cosmic Whistleblowers (2015)
Filmmaker Simon Sharman goes in search of answers to the biggest UFO mystery of the 20th century, as he tracks down the last living witnesses to the Roswell incident of 1947. During the three-year investigation the director finds himself in the middle of an explosive new controversy when the discovery of some old picture slides are alleged to be photographic evidence of alien bodies removed from the Roswell crash site itself. As the story unfolds, it’s the UFO investigators themselves who become the focus of attention. With unprecedented access behind the scenes during what was the most ambitious and controversial public UFO event of recent years, Sharman shows us a world seldom seen by those not on the “inside” in this unique and refreshing documentary on the Roswell crash and the secretive world of ufologists. This documentary brings us inside the minds of UFO researchers and what happens when belief begins to outweigh judgement and objectivity. Stream it now on Amazon Prime and at www.gaia.com
Mirage Men (2013)
The UFO coverup by the military and government is nothing knew. But what if, instead of covering up the UFO story, elements in the US military had actively encouraged it as part of their Cold War counterintelligence arsenal – manufacturing the myth of the UFO as a powerful weapon of mass deception and the perfect cover for all manner of clandestine technologies and operations? In this documentary, we hear from those whose actions have directly shaped the UFO mythology, and some of their victims, tell their stories, revealing a surreal disturbing and sometimes tragic sequence of events that is part Manchurian Candidate and part Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Mirage Men draws viewers into a saucer-shaped hall of mirrors, a shadow world where every lie contains elements of the truth, and the truth is far stranger than the UFO believers, or their detractors, would have you believe. It’s a factual, yet sincere slap in the face to the UFO community to wake up and realize that things aren’t always as they seem. You can watch for free on Youtube or watch on Amazon Prime.
Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2018)
Former Government physicist Bob Lazar made headlines world-wide in 1989 when he came forward with his account of reverse-engineering an alien spacecraft for the US Military. The reason the public even knows the name Area 51 is because Lazar came forward about the work he did at the formerly secret military base. His testimony remains the most controversial and important UFO story of all time. This film intimately chronicles the challenges and travails of a cosmic whistleblower. Burdened with a revolutionary secret, he had to choose between his oath to his country or his conscience. Corbell’s film will explore Lazar’s groundbreaking claims and the devastating impact it has had on his life over the course of the last thirty years, including rare and never before revealed footage guaranteed to alter the landscape of the debate. In what is perhaps filmmaker, Jeremy Corbell’s most controversial and polarizing film to date, we get to hear from Lazar, in his own words, once and for all as he puts his story to rest. Will we ever know if he’s telling the truth? You be the judge. Stream right now on Netflix and on Amazon.
Extraordinary: The Seeding (2019)
Abductions. Reproduction experiments. Memories of seeing children off-planet. The idea of humans participating in an alien hybrid program sounds absurd until you talk to people who have experienced it. Thousands around the world have had reproductive experiments carried out against their will. The termination of unexplained pregnancies. Memories remain suppressed and fragmented, leaving experiencers confused, depressed and with a profound sense of loss. In others, the memories are visceral and emotionally disturbing. Are aliens involved in a complex hybridization project where humans are used to cultivate a hybrid population? The information presented is intended to educate, entertain and encourage audiences to ask one simple question: What if this is all true? Admittedly, I went in to this film somewhat skeptical of the entire hybridization theory, and while the film did not convince me of the reality of it, it definitely open my heart and mind to those who truly believe this to be the case in their own personal experiences. A complex, yet thoughtful film that definitely surprised me. Stream on all major services including Amazon and YouTube.
Guilty Pleasures – Science Fiction Television
War of the Worlds (2020 EPIX Miniseries)
This adaptation of the H.G. Wells classic is set in present-day Europe. When astronomers detect a transmission from another galaxy, it is definitive proof of intelligent extra-terrestrial life. The world’s population waits for further contact with bated breath. They do not have to wait long. Within days, mankind is all but wiped out by a devastating attack; pockets of humanity are left in an eerily deserted world. As aliens hunt and kill those left alive, the survivors ask a burning question – who are these attackers and why are they hell-bent on our destruction? Emotional, cinematic and rooted in character, it is a unique marriage of human drama and the best science fiction. This is a story of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances – but they are more than just victims in a brutal war. For, as we will come to realize, the aliens’ savage attack on earth is not arbitrary: its seeds are being sown before our very eyes. This is bay far the best representation of this cautionary tale since the original book publication in 1898. Stream on Amazon.
Taken (2002 Miniseries)
Over the past seventy years, a popular mythos has emerged about visitors from outer space abducting human beings. The subject has inspired books, magazines, movies, television shows, radio shows and internet websites, all devoted to the study and exploration of the experiences of those who say they have been taken. None of these, however, has offered the epic scale and compelling narrative of Steven Spielberg in his miniseries, Taken. This ten-part series series produced by DreamWorks Television traces the lives of three families, each intimately connected with the alien abduction phenomenon over the course of more than fifty years. It combines a half-century of alien mythology with the stories of the ordinary – and extraordinary – people on the front lines of man’s contact with other worlds. This remains one of the most comprehensive works of fiction to intertwine factual case studies, similar to that of Spielberg’s blockbuster film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Stream on YouTube.
Roswell, New Mexico (2019/2020 – CW Network)
A re-imagining of the 90s classic television series, this new outing created by Carina Adly MacKenzie surprised the hell out of me when it first premiered. More than anywhere else, Roswell, New Mexico, is ground zero for those seeking proof that aliens exist. Roswell native Liz Ortecho left it all behind ten years ago after the death of her beloved older sister, Rosa. Now, Liz reluctantly returns to her tourist-trap hometown to move back in with her father. When Liz arrives, she reconnects with Max Evans, her teenage crush. But Liz soon discovers a shocking truth: Max is an alien who has kept his unearthly abilities hidden his entire life. The politics of fear and hatred that run rampant in Roswell threaten to expose Max and his family and could endanger his deepening romance with Liz… as well as their lives. While this show is in the vein of many CW originals, containing heavy romance and drama, it hits many recognizable moments of accuracy within its lore of the actual Roswell incident. If you’re looking for some good, fun science fiction entertainment with love stories galore, this one will keep you busy. Stream Season 1 on Amazon or through the CW website.
People of Earth (2016 – TBS)
Created by David Jenkins and produced by Conan O’Brien, this ensemble comedy about an alien abductee support group revolves around a journalist’s investigation of the members’ supposed extraterrestrial experiences. As seasoned writer Ozzie Graham delves further into oddball claims made by members of StarCrossed, his initial skepticism begins to turn when he hears their stories firsthand and realizes he might have a story to tell, too. Though Ozzie struggles with the notion that life could exist beyond our world, StarCrossed leader Gina Morrison tries to get him to accept his possible otherworldly experience. The ensemble in this heartwarming comedy is what truly makes the show stand out, and after two seasons, it was abruptly cancelled even though a third season had been ordered. The show never got the finale it deserved, and I only hope we haven’t seen the last of the StarCrossed group and the pesky aliens who take them! Stream the entire series now on Youtube and Amazon Prime.
Dark Skies (1996 – NBC)
Created by Bryce Zabel and Brent V. Friedman, and directed by Tobe Hooper, this UFO-centric series holds a very special place in many of our saucer-shaped hearts. On July 2nd, 1947, a spacecraft of unknown origin crashed in the New Mexico desert outside Roswell Army Air Base. Four bodies, known as the Grays, were recovered. From that moment on, everything you think to be true about American history has been influenced by that event. We are introduced to John Loengard and Kimberly Sayers, two heroic freedom fighters charged with the unearthly task of protecting humanity against an alien infestation known as the Hive while showing us, through their own experiences and actions, the truth behind our own recent past. Call it alternative history or call it the unthinkable truth. Either way, call it Dark Skies. The show’s co-creator, Bryce Zabel, is no one-trick pony. He continues to be one of the leading voices in UFO research and is currently developing several feature films based on the Rowell incident, the Betty and Barney Hill Abduction, and the life of famed UFO searcher and nuclear physicist, Stanton Friedman. While not available to stream, I can’t recommend this series enough. It’s worth a purchase of the complete series on Amazon.
First Wave (1998 – SyFy)
Framed for murder and on the run, a former thief struggles to expose the vanguard of an alien invasion with the help of a conspiracy theorist and newly discovered prophecies of Nostradamus. This show is so over-the-top, littered with conspiracy theory, and unapologetically Canadian. The connections between the Nostradamus prophecies and an impending alien invasion were very creative and used effectively. I love this show for the pure commitment of the cast and writers. It’s not available to stream, but several episodes can be found on Youtube.
The X-Files (1993 – Fox Network)
In one of the longest-running science fiction series in network TV history, FBI special agents investigate unexplained, mind-bending cases known as “X-Files.” Though the government is convinced that the outlandish reports are false, conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and realist Dana Scully for most of the series, stop at nothing to prove that “the truth is out there.” Series creator Chris Carter also serves as executive producer of the thrilling pop-culture phenomenon. I think this goes without saying… if you haven’t ever seen this show, I honestly don’t know how that’s possible. But in the world of UFOs, anything is possible… so check it out right now! Available to stream on Hulu and YouTube.
So Weird (1999 – Disney)
I’d never even heard of this series until Disney+ arrived, and I’m so happy I found it. Fourteen-year old computer geek Fiona “Fi” Phillips, who is on the road with her rock-star mom, Mackenzie Phillips, is seriously into paranormal phenomena — UFOs, ghosts, you name it, and she’s uncovered it during her travels. Her brother, Jack, and several others, are on the road and hunt to uncover the weirdest paranormal phenomena stretching across the United States. This late 90s show has all the trappings of a fun, goofy, and at times very emotionally powerful string of episodes that are both unique and live up to its title; So Weird. Stream the entire series now on Disney+.
Project Blue Book (2019 – HISTORY)
Dr. J. Allen Hynek is a brilliant but under appreciated college professor who is recruited by the U.S. Air Force to spearhead an operation called Project Blue Book. He is joined by his partner, Air Force Capt. Michael Quinn as they investigate UFO sightings around the country. They use science to determine what really happened to cause the sighting, and some cases cannot be explained. In those instances, Hynek believes he’s being duped by the government into a larger conspiracy that covers up the truth. It is set in the Cold War and atomic era, and each case blends UFO theories with authentic historical events. It’s highly inaccurate in terms of its historical relevance of Hynek’s actual work, but damned if it’s not slick, exciting, and of a high caliber of acting and presentation.
So, what will YOU be watching with your time? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below. But most importantly, stay safe and be well.
We will get through this… one UFO show at a time!
* Summaries of the above programs were pulled from official press releases and official synopsis of each presentation.
