This pseudo-documentary very successfully mimics the kind of cable TV "documentary" that appeals to scientifically illiterate conspiracy buffs. Described by some as a "found footage" horror film, it actually contains only a small bit of such fake footage along with a mix of real and fake historical photos, but none of it achieves ant real horror -- even the disturbing scene in which a boy is supposedly attacked by a dog is far too obviously phony to inspire any horror. While the film succeeds as an exercise in mimesis, it achieves nothing as a drama. It isn't scary. It isn't thrilling. It isn't funny. It is quite dull and tiresome. The actors do a pretty good job of simulating the "talking heads" of some pseudoscience piece of nonsense but this realism is scarcely entertaining.
18 Reviews
The Bermuda Triangle made me do it
utgard1421 September 2015
An American scientist takes his young son to the Algerian desert because he had heard there was something weird about the place that made animals afraid to go near it. While there the family dog attacks and kills the boy. From this bizarre start we somehow make our way into talking about magnetic fields and vile vortices, of which the Bermuda Triangle is the most infamous.
This boring, meandering pseudo-documentary is one of the worst things I've ever seen put forth by the History Channel. Look, I don't have an ax to grind against fringe science or mysteries or anything like that. I happen to enjoy discussions about the Bermuda Triangle, too. But this thing is ridiculous, throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the mix and blaming it on these triangles around the world. The "hook" is to try and present this information with this fictional story about a scientist's quest to find answers for what made his dog go Cujo on his kid. All the while we're hit with dry bits of triangle history by this host guy who is like water and crackers for dinner. I swear he is missing his calling because with a boring monotone voice like his, he should be doing audio tapes for insomniacs. The actor playing the scientist at the heart of all of this is doing his best but he's never believable. I mean, you lost your kid because of these things (or so you believe) yet you're giddy throughout this talking about your stupid theories. How about the hot female engineer (actress) they bring in to explain magnetism to the dumb host who, I swear to God, says he had no idea the Earth needed a magnetic field!
As for the subject of the Devil's Graveyards/Triangles/Vortices/whatever, we're basically told to be afraid. Be very afraid. I mean, to believe this, the damn triangles are swallowing people up like the Sarlacc! They even shamelessly blame the Flight 370 tragedy on this triangle business. But the dumbest, most submoronic part of this is when they -- and I kid you not this happens -- they blame global warming on the Devil's Triangles. That's a mic drop moment for fringe theorists if there ever was one. You're not topping that. Don't even try. But oh, wait, I forgot what channel we're watching here. So yeah, they bring aliens into it. I'd rather die than watch this again. Hyperbole? Maybe. But I really hated this thing. It attacks the viewers and attempts to cause brain damage to us all. Charges should be filed and History should be forced to pay all medical expenses viewers will have because of this. If you're flipping through the channels and you come across this, please quickly change the channel. Don't play with your health like that.
This boring, meandering pseudo-documentary is one of the worst things I've ever seen put forth by the History Channel. Look, I don't have an ax to grind against fringe science or mysteries or anything like that. I happen to enjoy discussions about the Bermuda Triangle, too. But this thing is ridiculous, throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the mix and blaming it on these triangles around the world. The "hook" is to try and present this information with this fictional story about a scientist's quest to find answers for what made his dog go Cujo on his kid. All the while we're hit with dry bits of triangle history by this host guy who is like water and crackers for dinner. I swear he is missing his calling because with a boring monotone voice like his, he should be doing audio tapes for insomniacs. The actor playing the scientist at the heart of all of this is doing his best but he's never believable. I mean, you lost your kid because of these things (or so you believe) yet you're giddy throughout this talking about your stupid theories. How about the hot female engineer (actress) they bring in to explain magnetism to the dumb host who, I swear to God, says he had no idea the Earth needed a magnetic field!
As for the subject of the Devil's Graveyards/Triangles/Vortices/whatever, we're basically told to be afraid. Be very afraid. I mean, to believe this, the damn triangles are swallowing people up like the Sarlacc! They even shamelessly blame the Flight 370 tragedy on this triangle business. But the dumbest, most submoronic part of this is when they -- and I kid you not this happens -- they blame global warming on the Devil's Triangles. That's a mic drop moment for fringe theorists if there ever was one. You're not topping that. Don't even try. But oh, wait, I forgot what channel we're watching here. So yeah, they bring aliens into it. I'd rather die than watch this again. Hyperbole? Maybe. But I really hated this thing. It attacks the viewers and attempts to cause brain damage to us all. Charges should be filed and History should be forced to pay all medical expenses viewers will have because of this. If you're flipping through the channels and you come across this, please quickly change the channel. Don't play with your health like that.
What possesses ...
kols19 July 2015
Producers to even contemplate making crap like this? Especially trying to pretend it's real.
I am really curious how this piece of fake nothingness came to be made: what was the point? What's everyone trying to achieve? Is there really money in this?
If these idiots really want to do the public a service while making much more money than shows like 'Graveyards' could ever manage, they should produce 'Who's the Idiot', exposing the nuts, bolts and players responsible for all of Discovery's 'let's pander to the lunatic fringe' division's offerings.
Personally, I'd love to know, in detail, who these people are and why they're doing it. I just can't see how the return could match the effort.
I am really curious how this piece of fake nothingness came to be made: what was the point? What's everyone trying to achieve? Is there really money in this?
If these idiots really want to do the public a service while making much more money than shows like 'Graveyards' could ever manage, they should produce 'Who's the Idiot', exposing the nuts, bolts and players responsible for all of Discovery's 'let's pander to the lunatic fringe' division's offerings.
Personally, I'd love to know, in detail, who these people are and why they're doing it. I just can't see how the return could match the effort.
History Channel 2 - Shame on them. "Spoiler" for spoiled TV
pwndecaf5 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Shame on the History Channel 2 for broadcasting this at all. I don't recall if there was a disclaimer at the beginning at all, but the one at the end lasted a fraction of a second. I didn't pause to read it but I understand it says it is some kind of "re-creation" rather than total fiction.
Early in the show, the bit about the area in Algeria where "absolutely no animals lived, not even insects" was discussed, my ears perked. This area was huge so it immediately registered as phony. Then, the only animal in the area, the dog belonging to the guy and his kid goes crazy and kills the kid. No warning about graphic footage or disturbing audio and they play it over and over, supposedly captured as if the kid was recording on a cell phone.
The whole thing becomes obviously recognized as drama, not documentary. Lots of commercially timed "moments" and silly science.
Again, shame on the H2 Channel for not clarifying that this isn't drama throughout the show. Shows like this are why I dropped cable/dish years ago. Not only are they no longer true to their network names (there is no history on the history channel, etc.) but they are endlessly replayed. I saw this while watching a free 2 month subscription to Sling TV by buying a Chromecast device. If it didn't have ESPN, I would cancel it even though it is free.
Early in the show, the bit about the area in Algeria where "absolutely no animals lived, not even insects" was discussed, my ears perked. This area was huge so it immediately registered as phony. Then, the only animal in the area, the dog belonging to the guy and his kid goes crazy and kills the kid. No warning about graphic footage or disturbing audio and they play it over and over, supposedly captured as if the kid was recording on a cell phone.
The whole thing becomes obviously recognized as drama, not documentary. Lots of commercially timed "moments" and silly science.
Again, shame on the H2 Channel for not clarifying that this isn't drama throughout the show. Shows like this are why I dropped cable/dish years ago. Not only are they no longer true to their network names (there is no history on the history channel, etc.) but they are endlessly replayed. I saw this while watching a free 2 month subscription to Sling TV by buying a Chromecast device. If it didn't have ESPN, I would cancel it even though it is free.
How can you trust anything from this Documentary?
CowlickCG20 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Answer: YOU CAN'T.
It makes me wonder if it thinks people are stupid. It's disclaimer that "some parts are dramatized", "fiction" is flashed so fast and used so sparingly in this 2-hour waste of time that you'd think they were trying to cause a "War of the Worlds" situation intentionally! The only saving grace is that the acting, dialog, and special effects are not realistic.
This was just so underhanded, so despicable, that I'd have to give this special a terrible rating. The TV-mockumentary itself is OK, the presentation and intrigue is passable, but the story is riddled with clichés from the casting and costumes the doctors wear, to how the events that happen feel emotionless. Even the editing, if they wanted this to feel like a real thing, why would this film be edited to gratuity show over and over scene's of the doctor's young son's death just to try to make the doctor's story seem "real", make the show feel "emotional". This is not how you would treat a real person's death, yet alone an adolescent child. It's just those kinds of aspects that really bring this show down that could otherwise be maybe a 5 or 6.
It makes me wonder if it thinks people are stupid. It's disclaimer that "some parts are dramatized", "fiction" is flashed so fast and used so sparingly in this 2-hour waste of time that you'd think they were trying to cause a "War of the Worlds" situation intentionally! The only saving grace is that the acting, dialog, and special effects are not realistic.
This was just so underhanded, so despicable, that I'd have to give this special a terrible rating. The TV-mockumentary itself is OK, the presentation and intrigue is passable, but the story is riddled with clichés from the casting and costumes the doctors wear, to how the events that happen feel emotionless. Even the editing, if they wanted this to feel like a real thing, why would this film be edited to gratuity show over and over scene's of the doctor's young son's death just to try to make the doctor's story seem "real", make the show feel "emotional". This is not how you would treat a real person's death, yet alone an adolescent child. It's just those kinds of aspects that really bring this show down that could otherwise be maybe a 5 or 6.
Fake History Channel garbage...
gperla-102124 February 2020
Yikes
robconandrew4 February 2020
Really
cwpcambridge11 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
OMG as this is on the History channel I stupidly thought this must be real documented evidence, how wrong I was it grabbed my attention originally with the story of the poor child attacked by his Dog, but as it progressed I noticed these people were acting, and it was very bad acting... stupidly it took me a while to realise it was all acting ! Mentions of The Bermuda Triangle and certain natural disasters pulled me in along the way to thinking it could be credible, as they throw in things you have heard of along the way to make you think you are watching something factual,, I'm annoyed I wasted over an hour of my life watching this garbage, thankfully I woke up, smelled the coffee and turned it off!!!
History Channel.....Why are you giving fake documentaries air time?!?!?
neillawrence-4902611 September 2020
This is a fake documentary.....I don't really understand why these fake documentaries are made and who they are aimed at, but they are pretty pathetic! Trying to pass off complete rubbish as real science I really don't find amusing.....They will be some poor soul out there who will watch one of these fake documentaries and think it is real 🙈
Pack it in History Channel! Stop giving this Fake crap air time.....
Why do only people from the shallow end of the gene pool review anything that you watch????
ralphnewcomejr24 May 2021
If you actually enjoy reading a story which is known as the theater of the mind it's obvious most people that review movies never do this so they have very small minds I personally would like to say this is one of the greatest stories I've ever watched without reading and print and quite some time. Thanks for the work guys everybody involved.
Crazy people
flocalavinia29 December 2020
Waste of time
GladtobeGrey12 September 2020
Puke worthy
malevuxi25 November 2020
Should have read the reviews first
kris-gray12 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Like others I was sucked in by the horrible footage of the dog attacking the boy. Then I missed some while answering the telephone.
When I came back and they started talking about the Bermuda Triangle I started to worry. Then the so called female scientist saying something hadn't been done by humans I realised this was a hoax, especially with deteriorating quality of the acting which showed that is exactly who they all were.
So avoid at all costs.
When I came back and they started talking about the Bermuda Triangle I started to worry. Then the so called female scientist saying something hadn't been done by humans I realised this was a hoax, especially with deteriorating quality of the acting which showed that is exactly who they all were.
So avoid at all costs.
Absolutely laughable tosh!
Jay_Rusty12 September 2020
This would've probably worked as a cheap-o forgettable found footage flick, but disguising this garbage as pseudo-real documentary is shameful and embarrassing. The 1st clue that it is fake is the 'mobile phone footage' that opens the film, clearly staged and fake; also how the hell is the 'Algerian desert' portrayed as an area lush with greenery?! Mind-boggling amateurism ...
Wow..
gammanick-409946 September 2021
The strange truth
teejaydee-645827 September 2020
This program is out to do one thing, take away the obvious impact on the earth's climate by heavy industry. This is not the only program out there to try to blame anything for climate change other than the big industrial money makers. It is such s shame that they are given the platform to do so.
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