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The Mandela Catalogue

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The Mandela Catalogue
Genre
Created byAlex Kister
Directed byAlex Kister
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes12
Production
AnimatorAlex Kister
Original release
NetworkYouTube
ReleaseJune 9, 2021 (2021-06-09) –
present (present)

The Mandela Catalogue is an analog horror web series created by American YouTuber Alex Kister in 2021. It is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin, which is invaded by "alternates", otherworldly beings that use various forms of psychological torture on their victims with the ultimate goal of assuming their identity as "doppelgängers". The series became popular online through analysis of its story and reaction videos from internet users.

Setting and genre

Primarily set during the early 1990s and late 2000s, The Mandela Catalogue takes place within the fictional Mandela County, located in Wisconsin, which is terrorized by the presence of shape-shifting creatures named "alternates". Alternates, led by a depiction of the archangel Gabriel, are nearly-immortal beings that aim to eradicate humanity by psychologically torturing them to the point of suicide (identified in-universe as M.A.D. or Metaphysical Awareness Disorder) and by manipulating audiovisual media, such as televisions, personal computers, and even vehicle GPS systems.[1][2]

The series contains many biblical allusions, including Noah's Ark, Adam and Eve, Mary and Joseph, and the birth of Jesus. It is heavily implied that the alternates are in actuality biblical demons, and that Gabriel is actually Satan in disguise.[2][3][4]

The Mandela Catalogue is composed of 8 shorts and 4 volumes across two "Acts", the first short of which was released on June 9, 2021. It is a subgenre of horror dubbed analog horror.[5][6][3] Its installments are usually presented as found footage material, or from the point of view of in-universe characters and/or their electronic devices. Nearly all of the Act I installments are rendered in a VHS aesthetic, whereas most Act II installments are made in the style of old digital videos, reflecting the shift in the time period depicted.[1][2]

Development and production

The Mandela Catalogue was created by then seventeen-year-old student Alex Kister from Richfield, Wisconsin as a series of short videos they began in 2021, while in summer college. It was Kister's first filmmaking project.[1][7] Kister originally created "overthrone" [sic] as a one-off video based on a high school writing project and planned to make a series where he edited children's cartoons to be creepy.[7][8][9] However, due to the popularity of the video, Kister decided to continue making videos following the universe of overthrone in the modern day.[7][8][9] The series' name came from the Mandela Effect.[10]

Kister had little to no budget and used basic editing: scenes are shot in his home and characters are portrayed by his friends through still images and voiceover. Kister's mother once played an alternate. In an interview with GQ, Kister said he wanted to develop his horror from "jump-scares that [...] cause a physiological reaction rather than a psychological reaction."[1]

Kister has said the series originally began as a creative outlet for the existential crisis they were dealing with, especially when it came to the subject of religion and Christianity.[7][9][11] The series was also inspired by the isolation and loss of security Kister experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

In October 2022, Kister worked with Makeship to release merchandise for the series.[12] In March 2024, Kister also worked with Retro Release Video to put the first volume on VHS; however, this was cancelled soon after due to allegations accusing him of predatory behavior[13]. Furthermore, because of said allegations, several actors who worked on the series, including Ty Osbourne, dropped out of the project.

Episodes

Act I (2021–2022)

No.TitleDirected byWritten bylengthOriginal release date
1"overthrone"Alex KisterAlex Kister4:01June 9, 2021 (2021-06-09)
A corrupted tape recording of The Beginner's Bible. It depicts an alternate version of the Nativity of Jesus wherein Satan, masquerading as Gabriel, deceives Man during the annunciation to the shepherds, declaring that he is their "true savior". The episode ends with a monologue from an unknown figure, stating that they have been shackled within a tomb of sand and ending their speech with 'If there is a God... please help me.'
2"The Mandela Catalogue Vol. 1"Alex KisterAlex Kister15:09August 9, 2021 (2021-08-09)
A collection of four tapes related to the Alternate takeover. These tapes consist of a PSA about how to identify and avoid Alternates, an evidence reel regarding the death of 17-year-old Mark Heathcliff, a training video for 911 operators instructing them on how to handle calls about Alternates, and a video meant for testing the reaction of young children to specific audio and visual stimuli.
2"The Mandela Catalogue Vol.1 [RESTORED EDITION]"Alex KisterAlex Kister17:29April 4, 2023 (2023-04-04)
A remake of Volume 1, published after the release of Act II.
3"intruder alert"Alex KisterAlex Kister5:47August 18, 2021 (2021-08-18)
The video opens with a public service announcement about the dangers of leaving unsupervised children to watch TV, due to the range of harmful content that exists on various channels. An example of such a situation is then shown, where a woman hears her child crying in front of the television. She enters the room while the child can still be heard, which the broadcast warns against doing. Upon entering the room, the woman finds the child missing as a face on the TV smiles at her and subsequently commits suicide. This is followed by an emergency alert regarding this threat and a collection of police evidence regarding the incident, in which the possibility of the threat being an Alternate is ruled out.
4"metaphysical awareness disorder"Alex KisterAlex Kister1:53September 30, 2021 (2021-09-30)
The tape contains an informational video describing the titular mental disorder spreading rapidly throughout the population as of 1982. MAD is a verbal illness brought about by alternates when they tell people information they don't desire to know. This information causes people to go insane, with 97% of people committing suicide as a result. Since the remaining 3% are able to "reverse the delusion", the tape instructs viewers to avoid religious practices and philosophical concepts to protect themselves. When the audio instructs viewers to stay with loved ones to improve their mental stability, the text changes to instruct the viewer to ignore the man watching them from the corner in their room.
5"exhibition"Alex KisterAlex Kister8:32October 30, 2021 (2021-10-30)
An evidence reel from the Heathcliff case reveals that Mark had been stalked by alternates weeks before his death, leading Davis to conclude that he had been in a prolonged "paranoid" state. Another Beginner's Bible tape depicts an alternate version of the Genesis flood narrative in which Satan/"Gabriel" punishes Noah for "resisting [his] message" and tells him that he will bring another creature onto the Ark, which will bear his "last message".
6"The Mandela Catalogue Vol.2"Alex KisterAlex Kister20:34January 18, 2022 (2022-01-18)
The second full volume, this video follows amateur paranormal investigators Adam Murray and Jonah Marshall, who are both wanted by the FBI. They go to investigate a lady's report of a ghost cat at her home, which is empty upon arrival. Adam goes inside to investigate and finds nothing unusual besides a locked door. Jonah contemplates leaving before a scream is heard from inside the house and Adam insists on going back in. Adam continues to search the house and eventually falls asleep on the couch. While he sleeps, an Alternate starts whispering to him through his walkie-talkie, telling him to wake up, before one appears in front of him whispering garbled nonsense. Upon waking up, Adam finds the door unlocked and hears the "ghost cat" meowing from inside. Jonah insists that Adam shouldn't go in, before telling him he's not invincible and they aren't going to find somebody whose name/identifier is censored, likely a relation of Adam's. Adam is enraged by this and tells Jonah to leave, before walking into the room and going down the stairs to find an analog TV, where the face from "intruder alert" is watching him. The face asks Adam what he's done, to which Adam responds that he did the right thing. Finally, dashcam footage is played of Jonah driving away from the house as another Alternate invades his GPS, taunting him for leaving Adam behind. He parks the car on the side of the road and is presumably killed by an alternate or suicide.
7"The Mandela Catalogue Vol.333"Alex KisterAlex Kister26:41June 3, 2022 (2022-06-03)
A woman named Lynn Murray calls her ex-husband, Jude, about her young son, who won't stop crying. Jude agrees to come over and help her figure it out. We are then shown two police evidence reels. The first is for the case of Mark Heathcliff's death, in which Mark's best friend Cesar Torres (in actuality an Alternate) is labeled as the perpetrator. Mark's notebook is also found, presenting his spiral into madness during his final days. The second evidence reel concerns Jude, Lynn, and their son, heavily implied to be a young Adam Murray. A recovered tape shows a TV broadcast likely shown to children, depicting a Limbo-esque puppet face named Stanley telling children how to create an "imaginary friend" that will appear somewhere in their house. Immediately afterward, a 911 call plays of Jude Murray frantically begging Thatcher to help him because somebody has broken into his house. Thatcher and his partner Ruth Weaver go to the house, where the "imaginary friend" kills Ruth off-screen. The creature (a different form of Alternate) then shows itself and attacks Thatcher, and the episode ends.
8"every day gets brighter"Alex KisterThorne Baker2:26June 6, 2022 (2022-06-06)
In a tape recording addressed to Weaver, Davis expresses his hidden fear and promises he will kill the alternate from Vol. 333 who has since impersonated him.

Act II (2022–present)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten bylengthOriginal release date
9"interlude"Alex KisterAlex Kister3:22September 5, 2022 (2022-09-05)

A population report for Mandela County shows the county population dropping from 15,000 in 1992 to barely 1,000 in 2009. A video from "BPS Productions 2007", sent by Sarah Heathcliff, Mark's younger sister, to Adam, contains a propaganda tape from the USDTP which congratulates the public and law enforcement for helping eliminate "an unforeseen threat". The tape cuts to a guide on the three types of alternate assimilations:

Flawed Assimilation: The alternate has taken on an appearance similar to its victim, but was unable to complete the transformation, resulting in a distorted appearance (missing facial features, long limbs, etc.);

Complete Assimilation: The alternate has fully taken on the appearance of its victim and is indistinguishable from the other;

Overdriven Assimilation: The alternate has taken on too many of the victims features and takes on an inhuman form as a result. The photos used to depict Overdriven Assimilation reveal that the alternate from Vol. 2 (dubbed "The Preacher" by Alex Kister) is an alternate of a nun.

The video cuts to an image of Mark's house and the church from Exhibition with screaming being heard.
10"The Mandela Catalogue Vol.4"Alex KisterAlex Kister40:53November 25, 2022 (2022-11-25)
The video begins with an altered retelling of the Book of Genesis, in which Gabriel gives Adam an apple from the Tree of Knowledge, who then confronts a frightened Eve. In 2009, Adam's ex-girlfriend, Evelin Miller, is working for Dave Lee at MandelaTECH. She finds a tape (the "Child Stress Assessment" video from Vol. 1) and watches it on Dave's hidden CRT TV. In July 2007, Adam takes Sarah Heathcliff to a supposedly abandoned house and lures out alternates on camera. Two years later, immediately following Vol. 2, Adam gets into an argument with Sarah on a messaging app about his response to Jonah's death. Thatcher Davis mourns Ruth Weaver, and sees the alternate from Vol. 333 watching and mocking him. Adam makes a memorial video for Jonah, but the video glitches to show Evelin discussing Adam's concerning behavior and dashcam footage from the end of Vol. 2. A promotional video for "Face Studio 2" explains how users can make a 3D head based on photos of their own face. The video glitches to show Lynn Murray's hanging corpse. Dave visits the local cathedral to find his friend O'Brien, who offered him a job at the church. The sky darkens and O'Brien reveals himself to be Gabriel, calling Dave a fool for "following the shepherd". He reveals that Dave "has already done all of his bidding" and then kills him. Evelin, fired by Dave for finding his TV, goes to the empty MCPD station to get a job there. She finds paperwork explaining that Adam, as a toddler, failed to respond to any stimuli in a Stress Assessment test. After finding this, the power in the station cuts. Alarms go off and a pair of hands appear above Evelin. Adam is contacted by an unknown user on his messaging app. The user reveals himself as the Intruder, as well as Stanley and the face on the TV. The Intruder reveals to Adam that he is an alternate. The video ends with text proclaiming the deception of "the Mandela prophet" and that "it begins today" as pictures of Adam's face (in the format of Face Studio 2) appear on the screen.
11"mandela catalyst"Alex KisterAlex Kister7:49April 16, 2023 (2023-04-16)
A news report on Dave's death glitches to reveal text reading "NO MORE RUNNING AW[AY]". Sarah and Evelin discuss Adam's behavior. A darkly lit bedroom is seen; a lamp is turned on to reveal the Preacher in the doorway. Audio from Dave's autopsy reveals both of his eyes are missing and his brain is behaving abnormally. Gabriel, standing atop Thatcher's home, asks him if he "hears the screaming" and that he should "go and see". Thatcher drives to Adam’s home and he finds the house to be in disarray. A radio turns on and some distorted audio plays before a masculine voice can be heard speaking; “the fate of the jester, chapter one: As the boy lay there dormant, all of his humanity drained into a murky puddle. Milky eyes cut through the thick blackness of the bedroom, a spectator; he was no longer the hero of this story, just a cog in the machine.” Thatcher walks into Adam’s bedroom and finds him leaning seemingly motionless against his bedside table. The camera zooms in and an image reading “suspect identified” begins to scroll, however is interrupted when Thatcher drops the camera as Adam begins screaming in pain and begging Thatcher to kill him. The video ends on a white screen with a pixelated smiley face in the corner while Adam’s muffled screaming is heard in the background.
12"The Mandela Catalogue - Presto"Alex KisterAlex Kister6:19August 12, 2023 (2023-08-12)
A television spot advertises MandelaTech's going-out-of business sale. Evelin and Sarah hack into the store's security cameras to try and find Dave. The two also discuss on the computer Evelin's interaction with the Preacher in mandela catalyst. During the discussion, Sarah is disconnected, and her computer connects to the security cameras at the police station. The security camera footage shows Thatcher and Adam talking at the station about Adam's experiences, in which Adam claims to have been told he’s “paying the price” for Jonah’s death. Thatcher asks who told him, and Adam says it was God.
13"2:38"Alex KisterAlex Kister5:57February 13, 2024 (2024-02-13)
A Vine (service) compilation of "The Funniest Vines of 2015" plays until the vines switch to black-and-white footage of somebody's house. The person roams around with a camera while a phone call is heard in the background. The footage cuts back to vines after a door is shown opening.

Cast

  • Alex Kister as Mark Heathcliff, Murray Household Alternate, and Dave Lee
  • Andrew Long as Cesar Torres and Murray Household Alternate
  • Nolan David as PSA Narrator
  • Izzsplash as MCPD Narrator and Nurse #1
  • Alex Kister as PSA Narrator (before Vol. 1 Restored Edition)
  • Michelle Strohwig as Cesar's Alternate and Radio Host
  • Ty Osbourne as Adam Murray
  • Gabriel Linan as Jonah Marshall
  • Faith Cunningham as "Woman"
  • Michael Vale/Voiceover Requiem as Jude Murray, TV Narrator, and Reporter #2
  • Bee "Fruitmasseuse" L. as Ruth Weaver and Reporter #1
  • L1ghth0use as Lynn Murray and Nurse #2
  • Emily Hannak as School Receptionist
  • Thorne Baker/Teenage Disaster as Thatcher Davis
  • Leon Rodriguez as Stanley, Genesis Narrator, and The Intruder (Vol. 4)
  • Aidan Elliott as Bythorne Operator
  • Kyle Denigris as O'Brien and Gabriel
  • Spidey as Evelin Miller
  • Rachel Ridley as Sarah Heathcliff
  • Christina Kister as Lola Adair

Reception

Audience

The Mandela Catalogue grew popular through reaction videos and analysis on YouTube and quickly gained a strong following. Some users criticized the overreliance on analog horror tropes.[1] Vol. 4 received particular criticism for its use of live-action segments filmed with green screens. Some viewers disliked the scenes' lack of realism, while Kister said the lack of realism was purposeful and an attempt to give the segments an uncanny valley quality.[9]

A TikTok trend based on The Mandela Catalogue became popular in 2023. In these videos, which have a similar VHS aesthetic, a person realizes they are being hunted by their Alternate when the soundbite plays, "If you see another person that looks identical to you, run away and hide".[14]

As of February 2024, Kister's YouTube channel had over 50 million views.[5]

In March 2024, Kister was the subject of a series of allegations of him showing predatory behavior towards fans. He has publicly acknowledged the allegations and called them "false and baseless".[13]

Critical reception

Dread Central praised The Mandela Catalogue as "the supreme [example] of what analog horror looks and sounds like", adding that "the sense of insecurity that comes from knowing you’ll be frightened is constantly visually manipulated".[3] Ohio University student newspaper The Post favorably compared its use of the uncanny valley as a horror technique to The Walten Files.[4] It was also praised by GQ.[1] While TLK Magazine praised the series' worldbuilding, it criticized its "monotone" voice acting as detracting from The Mandela Catalogue's tone.[2]

Adaptations

Indie games Maple County (2021), Alternate Watch, and Assessment Examination are based on the series.[15] Maple County was developed by one of the series' voice actors, Thorne Baker, in 2021, prior to his collaboration with the series.[7][15][16] The game is framed as an interactive training tape from the Maple County Police Department, in which players must determine which photos portray alternates and which portray actual people.[17] Mandela Invasion, created by Broken Arrow Games, uses the premise that alternates are attempting to break into the player's house.[15][18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Levesque, Eamon (October 29, 2021). "This Halloween's Scariest Horror Movie Is a YouTube Series By a Wisconsin 18 Year Old". GQ. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Dyer, Alex (March 30, 2022). "Manufactured Fear/Organic Dread: Mandela Catalogue and the Allure of Analog Horror". TLK Magazine. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Pfister, Elizabeth (October 3, 2022). "Analog Horror and Its Blueprints for Horror's Future". Dread Central. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Szczesniak, Alicia (January 13, 2022). "A look into analog horror". The Post. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Alex Kister". YouTube. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  6. ^ Kister, Alex (June 9, 2021). overthrone (Short film). YouTube. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e SHOW BOYS. "Ep. 74 - What's The Mandela Catalogue?". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  8. ^ a b Q&A #2 - Alex Kister, retrieved 2022-12-13
  9. ^ a b c d Wendigang (17 January 2023). "An Interview with the Creator of the Mandela Catalogue - Alex Kister". YouTube. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  10. ^ Kister, Alex (22 October 2021). "fun fact: the original name for mandela catalogue was timeshift archives". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  11. ^ Kok, Nestor (2022-01-16). "Ghosts in the Machine: The Fearful Symmetry of Alex Kister's "The Mandela Catalogue"". F Newsmagazine. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  12. ^ "Makeship Launches Vinyl Figures, Offering Content Creators a New Way to Express Themselves and Connect With Fans". nz.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  13. ^ a b Hargrave, Sam (2024-03-14). "Alex Kister & Mandela Catalogue Controversy Explained". The Direct. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  14. ^ Rushton, James (February 13, 2023). "Doppelgängers are TikTok's latest horrifying trend". Indy100. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  15. ^ a b c Wilds, Anastasia (July 15, 2022). "10 Best Found Footage Horror Games". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  16. ^ Seidlinger, Michael J (2022-01-17). "The Eerie World of Analog Horror". The Lineup. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  17. ^ Green, Meriel Kate Sedgwick (2022-09-30). "10 Best Analog Horror Games". TheGamer. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  18. ^ "Mandela Invasion by Broken Arrow Games". itch.io. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
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