Yeti- Bonus Episode (Hair Sample DNA Tested)

A while ago, I mentioned that I was listening to a podcast with an intriguing premise: to find the Yeti. Two friends, Andrew Benfield (the believing Mulder of the pair) and Richard Horsey (the cynical Scully of the pair) were investigating the yeti. Over 10 episodes, Benfield talked about the origins of his interest in the yeti whilst the two were schlepping off to numerous Himalayan countries and following old clues and sightings to see if they could get to the truth.

I had issues with it is that any little clue was presented in an over the top 'OMG!' way by the believer; it got rather grating when it is debunked or evidence to the contrary is given. It was not as ridiculously contrived as 'Most Haunted' or that ilk of programme but the 'I want to believe' shtick was definitely there. The fact that the expedition was being closely followed by the Royal Geographical Society means that it has the approval of academia but still.. a pinch of salt would help.

The most fascinating part for me was that it placed the sightings and events into a chronological history and this was a fascinating insight into the evolution of this cryptid. As a former student of anthropology, it made me consider the relationship between folklore, mythologies and the sprititualismof the area.

The finale of the series, where they had found some hair from the ‘yeti’, had yet to be revealed but I was not expecting much from this grand reveal which kind of reminded me of Jeremy Kyle envelope opening, after the break of course. So, on the 10th October 2023 the reveal happened and, whilst I won't spoil it here, the fact that you haven't see the Yeti's face all over Time magazine as Cryptid of the Year or had The Sun release an exclusive interview with the woman who apparently had a love child with the creature should tell you that it didn't go to plan.

Overall, this is an interesting thought experiment but works less well as a 10 part series. The fact that it ends with the typical, 'There are different ways of thinking about the creature, for the West it's a search for a physical creature whereas for much of the area where the yeti has been sighted, it is a mystical creature who is symbolic of their spirituality and our connectedness to nature' shtick is aggravating.

This finale pretty much sums up the orientalism that the topic is dealt with and it doesn't sit right with me. Anyways, if you have an interest in the topic as a whole go for it but if you want a Western man trying to go on a modern Grand Tour and be a bit 'I've read The Alchemist so I'm profound now' then this is for you.

LINK: Kolchak: The Night Stalker- Cult TV Series Review

LINK- Twin Peaks Retrospective

LINK- The Transportive Nature of Objects (And the Power of Mini Consoles)

LINK- My One True Gaming Constant in Life- Nintendo

LINK- On, and On and Colston (Or, ‘How We Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism in GB’)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’

LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.

Children of the Stones- BBC Podcast Drama Review

The ‘Children of the Stones’ audio podcast is a modern retelling of the classic spooky 1977 children's series and book. I watched the original series in 2015 after hearing lots of people talking about how wonderful and scary the series was and how formative it was in their childhood so I thought if give it a go. I wasn't disappointed and became an instant fan. The general premise is simple- an archaeometrist (person who looks at carbon dating, mathematics and other data to study historical objects and sites) and his teenage son move to Milbury, a village framed by an ancient stone circle. Over the course of a few weeks the new visitors discover that the town is hiding a dark secret and things are not as they seem as people seem unnaturally happy and cheerful (Yup Toto, we were not in Barking anymore)

The original show dealt with heady concepts like time loops, predetermination and time travel but what really got me was the eerie atmosphere and the sense of unease. I was surprised it was a show aimed at kids as it is genuinely unnerving and gets under your skin. So it was with some excitement (and some trepidation) that I listened to the new audio production; would the drama podcast be as good as the series?

Well, the high calibre of voice acting and moody sound design meant that the creeping dread of the original series has been retained. The sonorous, cacophonous sound design gives the whole podcast an unsettling atmosphere which is perfect for the subject matter of old world magic and eldritch otherwordly beings- it drew me right into the world of Milbury again. The story itself remains pretty much the same but the main protagonist, Matthew, is now a girl called Mia. There are also a few mod-cons added to place it in a more current setting; mentions of WiFi, podcasts and mobile phones don't alter the wider story but does give Mia a reason to be carrying out research for her podcast about unusual and paranormal activities.

This is a very British show and when phrases like piss off, bugger me and arse are all dropped it makes me chuckle and proud to be British (in spite of Brexit).

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 or so hours I had with the audio drama and would recommend it. It's no 'The Sandman' but then it's production budget is significantly smaller and it doesn't have an all-star cast, but with a solid story and earnest cast, 'Children of the Stones' is well worth a listen. Oh, Happy Day!

Children of the Stones- Podcast Drama Review

Lore- Series 1 Review

Monsters are creatures we run from, beasts we warn our children about and fiends that haunt our darkest dreams. Yet, there is something enticing, mesmerising even in their appearance. Terrifying as they might be, we cannot help but look even closer, parting our fingers that our covering our eyes to peer again at the horror. There is no getting around it: Something about monsters fascinates us. They may be the stuff of nightmares that make our hearts beat faster, sweat profusely and make our hairs stand on end but we cannot get enough of it.

It may be that at the most basic level, monsters represent fears held by society, fears associated with the dangers perceived in the often vast, uncaring world. The origins of some of our most deep rooted fears has been the focus of Aaron Mahnke, who since 2015 has been releasing bi-weekly podcasts called 'Lore.'

At the time of writing there have been more than 70 meticulously researched podcasts on a wide variety of themes from vampires to evil dolls. 'Lore' has now been turned into an anthology television series by Amazon Studios and for season 1 looks at a variety of popular horror tropes and their origins. Currently there are only 6 episodes, which are all presented with interesting visuals, which are a mix of live action dramatic shorts alongside archival footage, images and animation. All this helps to bring the show to life and presents the matter in the most visually interesting way. The episodes are:

They Made A Tonic- Before we knew how disease spread, medicine was as much superstition as it was science. And in the small New England towns of the 1800s, there is a belief that consumption can only be stopped by making sure the dead are actually dead.

Echoes- Dr. Walter Freeman is the father of the icepick lobotomy. He believes the ten-minute procedure will all but end the need for the mental hospital. He has the best of intentions but winds up creating an entirely new kind of horror story.

Black Stockings- In 19th century Ireland, folklore has a strong hold. Michael Cleary is convinced his wife, Bridget, has been replaced by a fairy called a changeling. And his belief drives him to the most extreme act.

Passing Notes- In 19th century America, at the height of the Spiritualist Movement, a haunted house is not just the stuff of ghost stories. Many believe the dead can talk and, sometimes, will come back from the other side to wreak havoc on the living.

The Beasts Within- Werewolves are now movie monsters. But they were once thought to be all too real. In 1589, villagers in Bedburg, Germany, are convinced that a werewolf is killing women and children only to discover the killer is really one of their own.

Unboxed- Robert Gene Otto is a child without friends. That is, until he receives a doll as a gift. He names the doll after himself, Robert. They become fast friends and soon the boy believes the doll is real. But to everyone else...Robert the Doll is a curse.

Mahnke's sonorous voice works well on the podcast as it is cold and unsettling, however it works less well when put through the filter of visuals but overall the information is compellingly put together that it is a minor gripe in what is a fine scary, campfire-like storytelling anthology series. The acted scenes are suitably moody and there are some fine actors involved including Robert Patrick and Adam Goldberg.

The show never gives a definitive answer as to whether the phenomena shared are true or merely fabrications, it merely presents the meticulously researched historic materials and documentation and leaves it up to the viewer to decide as to what they believe. If you want to be spooked but like the more cerebral kind of horror this show (and podcast) might just be what you are looking for!