“You will, no doubt, be familiar with the 1995 footage of a supposed alien autopsy,” said Sarah Dempster in The Guardian, in which, over the course of 18 minutes, figures in hazmat suits dissect the corpse of a pot-bellied humanoid.
Since its “yikes-inducing” TV debut, the black-and-white film is estimated to have been viewed by a billion people. Now, for better or worse, it’s back. Over three “increasingly extraordinary” episodes, “The Alien Autopsy Scandal” unknots the incredible tale behind the footage.
It’s a saga “worthy of an Ealing comedy”, said James Jackson in The Times. Ray Santilli, a music producer, claims that in 1993 he was shown real footage of an alien autopsy filmed by a US military veteran at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 (when an alien aircraft is supposed to have crash-landed there). He wanted $100,000 for it. But by the time the money had been raised, the film had oxidised and was ruined.
So, according to Santilli, he and his business partner decided to “restore” the footage in their flat in Camden, north London. The “alien” was created by a sculptor who had worked on “Doctor Who”, and then stuffed with animal organs. It’s bonkers, but “you may find yourself applauding the audacity of it all”.
“It’s a great watch – ‘Spinal Tap‘ territory, but real,” said Rhik Samadder in The Guardian. The dishonest duo got rich from their deception, but in the age of AI slop, there is a certain charm to analogue hoaxes such as these. I thought I would feel scorn, but to my surprise, “I was moved”.
‘Extraordinary’ documentary about an elaborate hoax that captivated the world