A new documentary is shedding light on a decades-old mystery, and should fascinate skeptics and believers alike.
Between 1966 and 1967, West Virginia residents were terrorized by sightings of a giant winged creature with glowing red eyes—sightings that stopped abruptly when the tragic collapse of the Silver Bridge killed 46 people. Before the collapse, the Mothman was seen by several witnesses who claimed that the creature looked just like a man with wings. The Mothman has also reportedly been seen at tragic events including the Chernobyl disaster, 9/11, and the I-35W Bridge Collapse in 2007.
In 2009, Mothman made an appearance in Mexico during the outbreak of the Swine Flu. A young student reported that the tall and hairy monster, with wings and bloodshot eyes, had actually chased him. This story, supplemented by other tragedies, fuels the rumor that the Mothman is a herald for disaster wherever he chooses to appear.
Though the creature has never been proven to be anything more than an urban myth, the fascination with him remains, due to continued alleged sightings around the world. Now, 50 years after the collapse of the Silver Bridge, The Mothman of Point Pleasant reveals the untold story of the real people whose lives were forever changed when they glimpsed the mysterious phenomenon that came to be called 'Mothman.' Check out the trailer below.
As the trailer shows, the documentary, like the cult film hit Cropsey, seems to take a balanced look at a chilling story and the real lives impacted by inexplicable events, with a strong focus on eyewitness interviews.
Fans of the Mothman legend will likely know that this isn't the first time the winged cryptid has made a film appearance; the 2002 Richard Gere movie The Mothman Prophecies also explored the mysterious legend. However, although based on a nonfiction book of the same, The Mothman Prophecies misrepresented many of the incredible events that occurred in Point Pleasant. It's refreshing to finally see filmmakers recognize that the Mothman phenomenon is fascinating enough to stand on its own, without fabrication.
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The Mothman of Point Pleasant was released on June 2nd, and is currently one of Amazon's top 10 horror movies, right below Alien and the original It. Will this be the movie that finally does the story of Point Pleasant and its Mothman justice? Only time will tell—but we want to believe.
What do you think of the Mothman legend? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured still from "The Mothman of Point Pleasant" via Small Town Monsters
