Conversation with Gary D. Rhodes, Weirdumentary

Weirdumentary

Ancient Aliens, Fallacious Prophecies, and Mysterious Monsters

From 1970s Documentaries

By Gary D. Rhodes

Foreword by Stephen R. Bissette

 

Dive into the forgotten world of pseudo-scientific documentaries!

Unlock the secrets of the strangest cinematic phenomenon of the 1970s with Weirdumentary—the ultimate guide to the bizarre, the unexplained, and the wildly entertaining films and television programs that blurred the line between fact and fantasy.

Weirdumentary examines dozens of movies and tv series, sold to the unsuspecting public as documentaries, beginning with Chariots of the Gods (1970) and ending with The Man Who Saw Tomorrow (1981). Leonard Nimoy’s In Search Of makes an appearance, so does Orson Wells in his late-career role of sinister yet skeptical narrator. Featuring spurious experts, questionable evidence, and low-budget dramatizations, these pseudo-scientific documentaries examined subjects ranging from the Bermuda Triangle to Bigfoot, from the paranormal to speculative histories.

Weirdumentary is a fun and accessible collection of essays by film scholar Gary D. Rhodes. Acclaimed comic book artist, writer, and historian Stephen R. Bissette, best known for his groundbreaking work on DC Comics' Swamp Thing alongside Alan Moore, provides the foreword.

Features hundreds of archival film posters, set photos, and other images in this beautifully designed homage to the high weirdness that shaped a nation of pop culture mavens.

Weirdumentary is a must for fans of cinema and pop culture of the 1970s!

Gary D. Rhodes is a renowned film historian and author with a passion for uncovering the forgotten stories of horror cinema. He’s a world expert on Bela Lugosi and how Dracula is portrayed in films. When he's not diving into dusty film archives, Gary can be found teaching, lecturing, or working on his next independent film.