The Manhattan Alien Abduction Review 2024 Tv Show Series Cast Crew Online
Netflix’s The Manhattan Alien Abduction is exactly the kind of docuseries I’d expect to scroll past with a roll of the eyes. Another churned out “documentary of the week” from the streamer, surely packed with shaky re-enactments and cheesy “experts.” Well, the fool is me, because turns out I’ve been missing out on loads of fun by ignoring this crowded genre. What starts as pulpy tabloid fodder turns into a surprisingly engaging three part series, the kind that hooks you with its absurdity and keeps you watching with each ridiculous cliffhanger. The binge feels like flipping through an issue of the National Enquirer, with enough production polish and winks to let viewers in on the joke.
At the center of this UFO mystery is Linda Napolitano, a Manhattan woman who claims she was abducted by aliens right from her bedroom in the dead of night. The docuseries delves into her story, which has since become notorious in paranormal circles. At first, the narrative toes the line between believer and skeptic, exploring Napolitano’s alleged encounters while keeping you questioning whether it was all an elaborate hoax or a genuine extraterrestrial experience. As it becomes apparent that Linda is a bad faith actor, the episodes still lean into sensationalism. Yes, to the sacrifice of credibility, but the talking heads are all peculiar enough that the documentarians can be forgiven.
Manhattan Alien Abduction goes all in on the classic tropes of dramatic editing and twists at every turn. Couple that with interviews with extraterrestrial enthusiasts and people that know Napolitano personally, and you’ve got a recipe for success. It’s campy and plays with the fact that most viewers are going into the show skeptical of the whole concept in the first place. Shock value is present as well, when it’s revealed that Linda’s beam-up moment had over 20 witnesses. Of course, that tidbit soon proves to be more than meets the eye.
Maybe I’ll be checking out more of these schlocky true crime benders in the future for low stakes popcorn fueled fun.
