Those who have spent much time perusing the posts at this blog may recall that the paranormal is a topic of frequent interest. It goes back to my childhood and teen years in the 1970s, inspired in part by the many “documentaries” exploring a variety of phenomena. This interest has stayed with me, including an exploration of the topic from an academic perspective (resulting in this edited volume) and how it scratches an itch for many as a way of creating a sense of wonder and pointing toward transcendence for a skeptical West.

Given my background and this interest, I was excited to learn of a book that came across my social media feed, Weirdumentary: Ancient Aliens, Fallacious Prophecies, and Mysterious Monsters from 1970s Documentaries, by Gary D. Rhodes (Feral House, 2025). I looked at an online preview and found it appealing, but after reading a critical review I thought I might pass on it. Then, a friend of mine posted on social media that he had purchased a copy and offered glowing praise. I decided once again to buy a copy for myself, and I’m glad I did.

Weirdumentary is a wonderful celebration of 1970s paranormal documentaries or pseudo-documentaries, and as the book’s pages remind us, there were lots of them. Here you will read about the history behind these possibility-raising pieces of entertainment. You will also find interesting little tidbits along the way, such as the Latter-day Saint connections to Sun International Pictures, the production company behind many such films that you might remember if you watched these things back in the day. This book also includes gorgeous color reproductions of movie posters, stills and screen captures from these programs.

This is a popular treatment of the subject rather than an academic one, but that does not detract from what it offers. To the contrary, it was nice not to get bogged down in scholarly analysis, and simply to look back fondly at a time when popular culture eagerly embraced all manner of things strange and unusual. I highly recommend this book to those who hold 1970s paranormal documentaries in a special place in their memories.