Netflix
A Netflix docuseries, “The Manhattan Alien Abduction,” is making waves among viewers, warranting a deeper exploration. It narrates the purported real-life narrative of Linda Napolitano, who claims to have been forcibly taken by extraterrestrials in the late 1980s. This series strives to uncover the truth behind the enigmatic events. As you might expect, the reality behind the documentary is somewhat complicated because it involves an unconfirmed phenomenon. Regardless, it’s worthwhile to delve into the history of this case for audiences grappling with what they’ve just seen or those looking to capitalize on the current popularity of this docuseries.
Netflix’s knack for creating popular television from true stories is well-established. The success of programs like “Files of the Unexplained” on the streaming platform is ample evidence of this, and there are countless other examples. However, this most recent instance has a truly extraordinary backstory, one that has been a point of contention for a while, a situation only intensified by this docuseries.
For those unacquainted, Netflix markets the series as the real story behind one of the most significant mysteries in UFO sightings history. The series secured access to hundreds of hours of previously unseen footage and new interviews with Napolitano, as well as skeptics who question her account. Vivienne Perry (“Meet Me in the Bathroom”) and Daniel Vernon (“Nail Bomber: Manhunt”) were the directors of the series.
Is The Manhattan Alien Abduction a true story?
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The term “true” in relation to “The Manhattan Alien Abduction” is somewhat ambiguous because we’re dealing with an event that, at least up until now, cannot be confirmed beyond all doubt. It is, to some extent, based on hearsay. Nevertheless, we’re going to delve into the history of the narrative that forms the basis of this documentary and shed some light on the circumstances.
At its core, in 1989, Linda Napolitano, a resident of New York City, alleged that she was kidnapped by aliens from her high-rise apartment. A key aspect of the incident is that it was reportedly witnessed by over 20 people and subsequently attracted a great deal of media attention. The event has achieved notoriety in UFO circles and is frequently referred to as the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction. Budd Hopkins, a writer and UFOlogist, documented Napolitano’s claims in a 1996 book titled “Witnessed: The True Story of the Brooklyn Bridge UFO Abductions.” For a while, Napolitano used the pseudonym Linda Cortile to recount her story.
Whether it’s pure fiction like Netflix’s popular “3 Body Problem,” compelling evidence suggesting that we aren’t alone in the universe, or an unexplained event not involving aliens is still a matter of debate, depending on who you ask. According to Napolitano, she was visited by three small beings who “levitated her ‘like an angel’ into a hovering craft.” Witnesses reportedly watched in horror. In a 2013 Vanity Fair article, Napolitano remarked:
“If I was hallucinating, then the witnesses saw my hallucination. That sounds crazier than the whole abduction phenomenon.”
The events in The Manhattan Alien Abduction are contentious
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By all accounts, Napolitano has insisted for decades that her story unfolded exactly as she described. Another crucial point to note is that Budd Hopkins’ book “Witnessed” corroborated her story rather than scrutinizing it. Meanwhile, one of Netflix’s promotional materials for the documentary states, “A woman alleges she was abducted from her Manhattan bedroom. This docuseries investigates whether it was an elaborate hoax — or evidence of extraterrestrial life.”
The docuseries undoubtedly leans more towards skepticism. A significant reason for this is Carol Rainey, who contributed to the documentary and is one of the most prominent critics of Napolitano. Notably, Rainey is the ex-wife of Hopkins, who authored the book on Napolitano’s abduction narrative. Rainey worked on the documentary until her death in 2023.
According to The Independent, Napolitano attempted to sue Netflix to prevent the release of the docuseries, alleging she was “egregiously deceived” and would not have taken part in the project if she had known its outcome. The lawsuit described Rainey as an “embittered, alcoholic ex-wife hell-bent on revenge against her husband.” Hence, not only are the events in question contentious, but the documentary is also embroiled in controversy.
When documentaries of this kind are made, they usually stir up controversy. For instance, WWE boss Vince McMahon was displeased with Netflix’s recent, highly successful “Mr. McMahon.” It’s part and parcel of the process. The same goes for uncovering popular stories of alleged alien abductions.
“The Manhattan Alien Abduction” is now streaming on Netflix.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
