The Manhattan Alien Abduction: When Skepticism Outweighs Curiosity—A Story Not Worth Your Time

Spoiler Warning: This review includes significant plot details that may reveal crucial moments of the first episode.

The Manhattan Alien Abduction: Skepticism Meets Curiosity in a Tale of Alleged Encounters

I’ve always been a skeptic when it comes to alien abduction stories. The idea of an extraterrestrial species developing technology capable of faster-than-light travel seems far-fetched to me. If such beings could indeed traverse the universe to reach Earth, I struggle to believe they would choose abduction over outright domination if they wanted our planet’s resources. And yet, I do believe alien life exists—just not in a way that involves popping by our planet for secret experiments.

Approaching The Manhattan Alien Abduction on Netflix, I’m skeptical, both of the participants’ claims and of the documentary’s ability to truly captivate. But the premise of aliens abducting humans without revealing themselves is intriguing enough to consider: if they were here, what possible motives could they have for staying hidden? Theories range from scientific study and ethical concerns to compatibility testing and a strategy of gradual, selective revelation.

So, with a fair share of doubt in mind, I explore what this documentary brings to the table, wondering if it can overcome my skepticism and make a believer—or at least a curious observer—out of me.

Revisiting the Past: A Familiar Setting and an Intriguing Start

Episode 1 begins with a sweeping shot of an apartment complex, and the date stamp reads November 30th, 1989. It’s hard to believe this took place 35 years ago—I was only six years old then. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself more drawn to stories set in the past, especially those that intersect with the years I grew up. There’s a certain nostalgic familiarity in seeing events unfold during a time that resonates with my own experiences.

As the text on the screen reveals, a woman claims she was abducted from her bedroom in Lower Manhattan. The next text adds an interesting twist: this is one of the most credible and contested alien abduction cases in recent history. This was a nice touch, a signal to skeptical viewers like me that, although I might not be easily swayed by abduction tales, the documentary promises a story of substantial intrigue. It’s enough to make me feel more open to giving it a shot.

Curious about the filmmakers, I paused the show and found out more about The Manhattan Alien Abduction’s creators. The documentary is directed by Vivienne Perry and Daniel Vernon, whose previous works have dealt with complex human experiences and societal issues. While I haven’t seen their past projects, such as The Family Secret or The Confession, it’s clear they’re experienced in handling narratives that require nuance and empathy.

The scene then shifts to a woman smoking a cigarette, labeled “Linda the Abductee.” She’s older, possibly in her seventies, with an unmistakable look of defiance. It’s followed by a cut to an older lady, perhaps in her eighties, labeled “Carol the Skeptic.” Ominous, subtle music plays in the background, enhancing the eerie atmosphere without overdoing it. The filmmakers even show the setup process, a trend I’ve noticed in recent documentaries that adds a level of authenticity. It reminds us these are real people sharing their testimonies, not characters in a fictional story.

As Carol expresses her skepticism about what Linda might say, her visible tension hints at a history between these two women—a history fraught with animosity. When she says, “I expect it’s going to be vicious,” I can’t help but feel a thrill of anticipation. A skeptic and an abductee with personal tension between them? It’s an intriguing setup, and I find myself genuinely curious to see how this story unfolds. This might just be the start of a worthwhile watch.

Tensions Rise and Reenactments Begin: The Story Unfolds

As Linda begins her testimony, she insists, “You’d have to be a sociopath or a genius to pull off a hoax like this, and I am neither.” I can’t help but feel intrigued. What could have happened to warrant such a statement? I’m definitely hooked by this mystery.

But it quickly becomes apparent that Linda and Carol have some deep-seated resentment. Linda doesn’t hold back, calling Carol a “disgruntled, bitchy ex-wife.” The directors set this scene up brilliantly; they line the camera to mirror Carol’s view of the screen, making it look like Linda is staring directly at her.

It’s incredibly effective and adds an intense, almost confrontational layer. This style reminds me a bit of The Last Dance, where Michael Jordan’s real-time reactions to comments were caught on camera, only here, Carol’s hurt and shock are plain to see, putting us right in the middle of their unresolved drama.

Carol’s response is quick and direct: “You lied.” With that, Linda dives into her story, complete with reenactments. She describes checking behind her drapes for intruders before something knocks her out cold. The dramatic reenactment feels a little hokey to me—almost too convenient that she’d be knocked out at that exact moment. But I’m still here for the story, so I’m willing to go with it, corny or not.

The reenactments continue with Linda floating over her bed, reminding me of scenes from The Exorcist, and then drifting above her apartment building. Here’s where things take a surprising twist: supposedly, 23 witnesses claim to have seen her in the air that night, and the documentary includes actual footage of these witnesses recounting their sightings. The media frenzy around her story adds to the drama, and I can see why her case attracted so much attention.

Carol, ever the skeptic, recorded her own footage, gathering evidence to counter Linda’s claims. This is where we meet Budd, a prominent investigator of alien abduction cases, and his assistant, Peter. People reported to Budd that they had been made to float through walls and ceilings, a bizarre phenomenon he investigated thoroughly.

Peter reveals that Carol and Budd were once a couple, adding another layer of personal conflict. Carol describes the constant presence of abductee claimants and support group meetings in their home, a strain that no doubt fueled her skepticism.

In one clip, Budd hypnotizes abductees as they recount their memories. The reactions are dramatic, some bordering on comical. One woman, weeping, cries out, “Yellow eyes! They’re all so ugly!” To be honest, I couldn’t help but chuckle at some of these scenes. If these stories are fabricated, the way some people act during these sessions does come off as a bit over-the-top and goofy, adding a layer of dark humor to the proceedings. This blend of drama, mystery, and unintentional comedy has me strangely invested, eager to see how the story unfolds from here.

Hypnosis, Alien Experiments, and Unraveling Drama

The episode shifts to Carol discussing her experience with hypnosis, explaining that she wanted to try it to understand what the abductees were going through. But the session triggered traumatic memories that left her visibly shaken. This transition into deeper, more intense hypnosis footage took me by surprise. I’d been laughing at the dramatics before, but now it’s clear these people are truly suffering from something, regardless of what they perceive happened to them.

The show then introduces a man recounting his alien “experiment,” detailing how something was inserted up his nose. Budd’s belief in aliens’ interest in tracking and studying humans is framed as a growing conviction that extraterrestrials might conquer the planet—a theory he championed on various talk shows, even though he and the abductees were often mocked.

Linda reappears, describing a dream in which she floated and woke up in a field with a bloody nose, later writing to Budd about the experience. According to Carol, Budd had a romantic interest in Linda, which adds a complex layer to the story and clarifies the tense dynamic between Carol and Linda from the episode’s beginning. This love triangle leads me to suspect that Budd’s desperation to prove alien contact might have made him more willing to buy into or even contribute to Linda’s narrative. I can’t help but feel like there’s more going on beneath the surface—a hoax driven by personal motives rather than genuine encounters.

The mystery deepens with Linda’s X-ray, which purportedly shows a foreign object in her nose. Budd was thrilled by this supposed evidence and used it in his presentations. But when we hear an audio recording of Linda telling Budd she believes she was abducted the night before, the credibility of her story starts to crack. Unless Budd routinely recorded all his calls, having a recording of such a precise, spontaneous conversation seems unlikely. I’m skeptical, to say the least.

The reenactments continue, showing Linda’s account of feeling electric shocks, numbness, and a surreal vision of looking up into a volcano before being floated into an alien ship. Budd then reportedly received calls from 23 witnesses who all claimed to have seen her in the sky, which only further inflamed the media storm around her case. Despite her story’s fame, Linda explains that coming forward only made her life miserable, foreshadowing more revelations about her family and a supposed kidnapping.

By now, I have mixed feelings. While parts of the episode are gripping, I’m left unconvinced. This feels less like a compelling mystery and more like a murky blend of trauma, wishful thinking, and perhaps a hoax fueled by personal motives.

The filmmakers did an admirable job presenting the story with intrigue and tension, but I can’t help feeling that the story itself falls flat. Compared to the tangible, tragic events explored in This Is the Zodiac Speaking, these abduction claims feel too flimsy to hold my attention. Ultimately, unless you’re particularly drawn to the alien abduction genre, I’d say The Manhattan Alien Abduction is one you can skip. The filmmakers’ talent is clear—I just hope they choose a more credible story next time.

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