The Alien Autopsy Scandal: A Hoax That Swept the Globe
You will, no doubt, be familiar with the 1995 footage of a supposed alien autopsy. Since its jittery black-and-white TV debut, the film is estimated to have been viewed by a billion people. Now, John Dower's documentary revisits the notorious footage, unraveling the tale behind the hoax with great playfulness and eccentricity.
The Making of a Hoax
The documentary reveals that the autopsy film was not shot in a US military facility in 1947, but in a Camden living room in 1995. Trevor the butcher, who supplied lambs' brains and other off-cuts for the dummy, chuckles as he recalls the production. The hoaxers, Ray Santilli and Gary Shoefield, claim they bought an original film from a retired US military cameraman, but it had oxidised, prompting them to create a fake restoration.
Characters and Controversy
Santilli, with tinted glasses and a shifty demeanor, and Shoefield, in a tracksuit, are portrayed as Scooby-Doo villains. The documentary features incredulous ufologists, sweet-natured believers, and a magician who refuses to appear on camera, played by a lip-syncing actor. The plot thickens as former US military personnel claim classified footage of aliens exists.
A Playful Investigation
The documentary is an exquisite, knotty joy, exploring the farce of the hoax while questioning truth in an age of misinformation. As one contributor says, 'People want to believe,' and the film captures a time when a rubber dummy stuffed with sausages was seen as a glimpse of heaven.
