Lost Tapes
| Lost Tapes | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 14 (as of February 18, 2009) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 22 minutes (without commercials) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Animal Planet |
| Release | October 30, 2008 (pilot) January 26, 2009 – present |
Lost Tapes is a half-hour American thriller documentary and docufiction television series that aired a sneak preview on October 30, 2008 on Animal Planet for Halloween; then, officially premiered January 26, 2009.[1] The program, a mix of documentary and docufiction, airs fictitious footage of traumatic stories that are "inspired by the possibility that hidden creatures exist" and is centered on cryptozoological creatures, including the Chupacabra and Bigfoot. Two episodes, each thirty minutes long, are aired back-to-back for a total running time of one hour. The show now airs at 10 and 10:30 PM E/P on Tuesdays.[2]
Overview
The series airs fictitious footage of cryptids attacking people in traumatic events. It usually ends with a character being killed by the creature in a cliffhanger ending, with the cliffhanger resolved during an epilogue. Using hand held cameras and camera phones, the creatures are often partially caught on tape.
The creatures themselves are rarely caught on tape. To give a mysterious atmosphere to the series, the viewer does not see the creature in full form, analogous to the shark from Jaws. Usually, only part of the creature is seen. The exception is Hellhound, in which the creature is in fact fully visible each time it appears because they use an actual Rottweiler to represent the Hellhound.
A recurring theme is that the characters shown are usually left, alone or in a small group, in a remote area of the world. They soon encounter the creature and several stressful things occur. One of the characters is killed or injured or captured by the creature. Interrupting the action, a factoid series, the Lost Tapes Revelations which reveals facts behind legend. Finally, It ends on a cliffhanger with this resolved at the epilogue.
While in most episodes the cryptid is the antagonist, in others it acts as a hero or anti-hero. For example, in Bigfoot, the main character is rescued from a poacher by the creature. In Megaconda the creature acts as an antihero as it kills Ken Tobar, an unscrupulous animal trader and the main antagonist of the episode. In some episodes, the encounter with the creature benefits the characters; this is seen in Swamp monster when the main character is skeptical of the creature's existence at first, but she becomes open to its existence when it attacks them. In the same episode, an encounter with the creature makes the guide more cautious about going into the bayou.
Episode summary
Note: "Glimpse of cryptid" describes a part of the creature that we see in the episode. "Fatalities caused" describes who and what the creature killed and how they killed it.
Chupacabra
After receiving a new camera and a letter from a relative on a young daughter's birthday, a Latino family of three leaves for America, attempting to illegally immigrate with the help of a people smuggler. After being ripped off and abandoned by the driver, they were stranded. After walking north for several hours, the family then gets stalked and suddenly chased by an unknown animal. Two border patrol officers are alerted to the illegal border breach, and arrive to find that both parents are dead, and the young girl, their now orphaned daughter, is hiding in terror behind a bush. While one officer takes care of the child, the other investigates the bodies, and realizes that, other than a trio of puncture wounds on the parents' necks and no blood splatter, no sign that can be linked to their deaths is visible. After investigating the surrounding brush for more survivors and only finding a trail of recently-killed animals (again, no blood), he is suddenly attacked by an unseen assassin, and he runs back to the truck. His partner returns with him to inspect the brush, but both flee when the monster lunges at them and open fire at it, returning to their truck just as backup arrives. The ending is a somewhat happy one, however; the girl soon lives with her grandmother back in Mexico, and the border patrol officers refuse to speak of their encounter again.
- Glimpse of cryptid: A snarling sound and a horrifying screeching can be heard during each attack. On a brief, distant view in heat vision, a seemingly canine creature is shown chasing the running family. A pair of green glowing eyes and the creature's forearm is briefly seen when the Border Guard inspects inside the bush.
- Fatalities caused: Two. The parents of the girl were drained of blood.
Bigfoot
A naturalist and forest ranger, Rachael H. Glen is doing reports on black bears, realizing that their numbers are depleting. She then investigates and discovers and disables several wire traps in the area (she herself got caught in one). What she dosen't know is that she is being watched by a poacher. When she finds that one of her survellence cameras is tampered with, it is 9 feet off the ground, she also finds that there is hair about 8 1/2 feet up. She then finds a den and in the den she finds hair. Assuming that it is that of a bear, she sends it to a friend to analyze it. He doesn't know exactly where it came from, but describes it as "primate like". She has a few run-ins with the poacher, and is concerned that he has something to do with the decline of the bears. When Rachael acquires the poacher's video camera, she realizes that he is stalking her. She starts writing about how she feels like "something" is also watching over her, with little indication of what "it" is. She is then ambushed by the poacher at her home, but he tries to run off, and is killed in a scuffle with something apparently large and strong. At the end, the naturalist abandons her work, declaring that there are more things in life yet to be discovered. (Note: This is the first episode where the protagonist emerges unhurt both physically and mentally. She is disgusted to see the dead poacher hanging from the tree though.) People still don't know if Bigfoot still walks the earth or not.
- Glimpse of cryptid: A dark figure or entity can be seen in the woods on several occasions by both the security camera as well as the ranger's camera; in addition, photos were taken as well. The creature's mournful wail can also be heard in the backround.
- Fatalities caused: One. The poacher was battered to death and found hanging from his own trap. Apperently, the creature was trying to protect Rachael.
Monster of Monterey
In the summer of 2007, pro sailor and magazine writer Sharon Novak is broadcasting her solo sailing trip around the world over the net, while chatting with her boyfriend and co-writer, Charles, back home. As Sharon begins her final approach home to Monterey Bay, she finds her boat struck several times, but, though shaken, she thinks little of it. Although her boyfriend suggests that she not go into the water, she dives to inspect her backup motor engine, finding it clogged with a chunk of what she assumes is whale flesh. She follows a distress call to an abandoned boat, with what appears to be blood all over one side. Panicked now, she decides that she definitely should not go into the water. One of her cameras is destroyed and she investigates, but she is struck thrice more and falls overboard. She is last seen struggling to get back in her boat as it drifts off and is never seen again.
- Glimpse of cryptid: The vague silhouette of an underwater Plesiosaur-like creature can be seen twice on the top of the screen from the camera views. In the first glimpse, the creature is passing by the boat while the woman is on board. In the next, it is heading for her after she fell overboard.
- Fatalities caused: Two. Sharon fails to make it back to the boat and either drowns or gets eaten by the creature. An unnamed, previous victim's blood is seen on an empty boat, indicating that the creature came and killed him/her.
Swamp Monster
Dr. Chapman and her nephew, Ethan, are surveying the Honey Island Swamp for gator population following Hurricane Katrina, unaware that the legendary Swamp Monster of Honey Island (also known as the Tainted Keitre) is in their area. After a gator eats/crushes their tracking gear, the duo try to exit the swamp but only get lost. There they meet a fisherman named Bud Ray, camping in the area. After showing them around the the area, he tells them to stay at his camp once it becomes dark, although at one point Ethan steps in a nest of large, hard-shelled eggs. Bud Ray later tells them stories about the legendary Swamp Monster that stalks the bayou at night to hunt. However, Dr. Chapman is skeptical of this, believing it to be the Bayou's equivalent of the Bogeyman. Around midnight, the creature appears and attacks the trio; the fisherman is found hurt outside the tent as they rush in. The monster soon swipes at them and destroys the tent entrance, but the trio make it through the night alive after firing at the monster. All that is left in the end are eggshells of an unknown species. The epilogue states that Dr. Chapman and her nephew continue to go back to the swamp to search for evidence of the creature's existence, while Bud Ray is still goes out to the bayou, but is fearful to go out at night.
- Glimpse of the cryptid: A hairy, bipedal creature can be seen through all the foliage when the two are walking through the swamp with Bud Ray. The hand and part of the upper body of the creature can be seen tearing through the tent.
- Fatalities caused: None.
Oklahoma Octopus
A group of teens decide to spend their time at a nearby lake, which is infamous for its high drowning rate, which is believed by some to be caused by a species of freshwater octopus. After swimming out to a raft, they are attacked by one or more of these creatures which attempt to pick them off one by one as part of their food source. By the end of the night, two of the five teens barely escape, while the bodies of the other three teens were never found.
- Glimpse of cryptid: Tentacles which are like those of an octopus can be seen coming out of the water several times.
- Fatalities caused: Three. Three of the teens are killed and presumably eaten by the "octopus"
Devil Dragon
Survivalist Tim Akron is filming a survival show in a remote island near Austrailia. The premise is to be dropped into a remote environment with no food, no crew, and no contact with the outside world for seven days, similar to Survivorman. During a demonstration on how to capture burrowing animals for food, he is bitten on the forearm by an unseen creature. Within a day the bite becomes badly infected, begining to harm the man as he constantly flees the creature, who is slowly giving chase after biting him, similar to the nature of komodo dragons. By the third night, Tim was running to a village about 5 miles away to get medical help and then the creature makes its move and attacks. Tim is dragged away into the bushes after dropping his camera. His body was never found. The following day, natives find his camera equipment covered in saliva; tests show that despite swarming with bacteria, it belonged to a "yet to be identified" reptilian species.
- Glimpse of the cryptid: The roars of the creature are constantly heard as the man runs from it. A brief piece is seen as the creature knocks over the camera.
- Fatalities caused: One. The creature devours the man.
Cave Demons
On January 25, 2002, United States Marine Forces in Afghanistan experience sonar interference coming from a cave near Tora Bora, which screws up their sonar cave-mapping system. Beliving it to be a jamming device built by the Taliban or Al-Queda, three U.S marines, corporals Sawyer and Wade, and sergeant Carlos Ramos, investigate the cave, using helmet cameras to record their mission, which is to find the source of the interference and destroy it. As they venture deeper into the cave they discover large amounts of bats and guano all over the cave. Corporal Wade falls into a booby trap and falls into a lower section of the cave, breaking his back. As he lies there, he spots something flying past. The others find him and he seems delirious, and mutters that what he saw looked "like a lady"(possibly a reference to how most batlike cryptids are known to have eerily feminine features). One of the remaining Marines shouts excitedly that a woman might be down there and can help them, but the other dismisses it as a hallucination. The remaining Marines quickly reach his position and decide to investigate the signal first which was close to their position. As they reach the signal, the signal disappears and reappears at Wade's position. Wade is then heard firing off his M4 carbine and screams of pain. The two Marines rush to his position only to find him dead. The two Marines leave Wade's body to find the interference. They come across "a whole nest of them", as described by one of the Marines and are attacked by an entire swarm of the creatures. It destroys their flashlights as they fire their weapons at the creatures. A rescue party is sent in after the booby trap causes the team to lose radio contact with the outside, and the rescue party only finds Ramos limping away from the cave and with a rare case of rabies. He is sent home and reunited with his wife and kids. It is theorized that the Marines' gunfire somehow killed or wounded the creatures as they left the sergeant to leave the cave alive. The bodies of Wade and Sawyer were never recovered.
- Glimpse of the cryptid: There are louder than average bat screams when the Marines are attacked. Wade's helmet camera also shows him from behind, held down by a giant brownish winged creature. The cryptid appears attacking the Marines again; this time, it seemed to be hanging from the ceiling.
- Fatalities caused: Two. Wade is attacked, killed, and even partially decapitated by an unknown flying creature. Sawyer's death is unknown. It's possible that the creatures themselves were killed as well.
Death Raptor
The episode shows a pair of paranormal investigators called to research reports of demonic activity near a church. Peter Grey, the leader, and his timid camerawoman, go into the church and are frightened by a mentally unstable old woman named Hazel from Cornwall. She starts a hysterical scream of a demon beast she saw, but the Archdeacon of the church appears and berates her. He describes the monster people had seen, a large flying monster, with giant wings, red glowing eyes, and pointed ears. Assuming the creature is an owl, they investigate in the belfry because "owls live in belfrys". They find large bird droppings, a dead and severely mutilated chicken, and (most disturbingly) an owl pellet (the size of Peter's head) containing a human mandible. They then interview a girl who saw the so-called "Demon". The girl, Sue Anne Mills, began to have mental problems after her encounter. She reveals that the monster is aware of their presence and wants to stop them. They leave for the forest where she saw the animal, and the camerawoman begins to feel ill. Suddenly, the bird attacks and swoops down on them. It knocks the camerawoman down, briefly causes Sue Anne to go missing, and trips Mrs. Mills, but all escape unharmed and run to the church... as the creature follows. The archdeacon and Hazel enter and Hazel reveals that the monster is after Sue Anne. The archdeacon spots the monster and calls for everyone to hide in the altar, the holiest room in the church, but the bird chases them in there as well. Everyone crouches behind seats except for Hazel, who stands where she was, while the archdeacon shouts at her to come back. In a shocking twist, Hazel shouts "It wants the girl because she's young and vulnerable...but so is an old woman!", and walks nonchalantly down the aisle. Everyone screams for her to come back, but she ignores them, and allows the monster to attack and presumably devour her. At the epilogue, it's revealed that the researchers were so frightened, they gave up their work indefinitely. Sue Anne recovered, and lived a normal existence. Hazel's disappearance was never explained, but her sacrifice caused sightings of the creature to diminish; however, since the incident, screams are still heard in the woods near the church giving indication the creature is still out there.
- Glimpse of cryptid: An owl-like shriek can be heard during the attacks. One can see its wings as it attacks Sue Anne and then Hazel. A large, human-like shadow with giant flapping wings is briefly seen on the walls of the church as well.
- Fatalities caused: One. Hazel sacrifices herself to the monster in order to protect Sue Anne.
Megaconda
This episode shows two animal activists Scott Summer and Evan Metcath gathering information on a textile company run by Ken Tobar, who also sells illegal animals. The scene is filmed via the camera the two are holding and security cameras dotted everywhere in a warehouse in San Jose, California. It begins with the two outside the gate of the warehouse. They are filming what they find, so they make an introduction to their findings. Scott then places a blanket over the barbed wire fence, and they both crawl over. They are unaware that security guard Larry Johnson and his dog Bishop are patrolling the area. Using a crowbar, the two break into the warehouse, and start investigating. The security guard hears them, and starts looking for the sounds from inside the warehouse. The two end up finding a large room full of illegal lizards, snakes, and even some sort of large animal, possibly a lion or tiger. The room is recorded on tape, and as they attempt to leave, Larry catches up with them and demands to know what is going on. As the two explain, he pulls out a gun and takes the tape out of the camera they are holding. He moves away from the two and tells them to get out. After the guard hurries away, Evan reveals that he has an extra tape, and they redo the scene. At the same time, Larry finds out that a huge crate with something in it, has been opened, and whatever was in it is not in it anymore. Suddenly, Bishop goes crazy when he sees something. The scene cuts back to Scott and Evan, who managed to find illegal animal parts being stocked. Then, the two hear a hissing sound that comes from behind them. They then decide to leave, and they think they find an exit. It goes back to Larry, and his dog breaks away from the guard and chases after something. The guard then goes after his dog. Larry then finds his dog, dead, by some crates. There is a large blood smear that leads to the dog, which makes the guard believe that whatever got him, dragged him there. He takes off running for the exit when he hears the same hissing sound. When it goes back to the other two, they find the large crate open and what they find inside is a snakeskin the size of a large rug. They later found a possible exit blocked by a crate. Scott then jumps on top of it, only to be grabbed by something from above. The man yells, but stops, dropping his crowbar. Evan panics. He rushes back the way he came and runs into the guard. They both dash for the exit, and escape the building. They hop the fence and run for their lives, leaving behind the camera with the tape inside. Later, Ken Tobar, the owner of the warehouse, shows up, and finds the camera. The camera shows his face, and he says, "Huh! This is my lucky day!" But then, he seems to be grabbed by something from behind. His scream is heard before the camera fades to static. Unfortunately, the security cameras do not show his fate. In the aftermath, Evan and Larry's testimony prompted the FBI to search the warehouse, and confiscate a large number of exotic animals and animal parts. However, they were unable to find the creature Evan and Larry described. It can be assumed that the creature escaped into the wild.
- Glimpse of cryptid: The security tapes catch the view of the snake slithering by the security guard and his dog. You also hear lots of hissing sounds from behind and above. After the cameraman drops his camera, a brief shot of the snake slithering past the camera is seen.
- Fatalities caused: Three. Larry's dog, Bishop, Scott, and Tobar.
Thunderbird
In November of 2007, three Chicago youths plan to go to a place called "the ditch" to skateboard, breaking into a restricted area of a national park to get there. At first it was one boy, Paxton Reed, and his best friend Kevin Weller, but his friend brings his little brother Cole, because he has "mad skills". Cole soon has to go to the bathroom, and the two are left alone during the hike. Something large suddenly swoops down on them, and they are frightened. The younger boy returns from his rest stop, and believes that the others are lying when they claim that they saw a huge bird. Later, however, they find a dead dog, hanging from (or impaled by) a branch. Disgusted at this sight (though naturally, being young boys, taking their time to poke it with a stick) they continue. They make it to "the ditch" but Paxton scares Cole, causing him to fall and break his leg. The two others leave to find help (though Paxton suggests that they leave him behind and go home) and they hear "the bird" from above. Kevin suddenly gets called on his cell by his little brother on which they hear him scream and a bird screach. They frantically head to his location, but all they find is his skateboard and his helmet on the ground and his shoe hanging in a tree. In the epilogue, it is revealed that Cole Weller was discovered, badly injured, but still alive, at the bottom of a freeway interpass. He had no recollection of what happened to him.
- Glimpse of cryptid: A large shadow can be seen above the boys, accompanied with a shrieking noise, reminiscent of a red-tailed hawk, as well as prehistoric sounding "crooooooo" noises, making it possible that the creature is of prehistoric origin (possibly Quetzalcoatlus). In this episode, the creature's behavior is also shown, as it is shown to impale its prey on branches, much like a shrike.
- Fatalities caused: One. A dog is found dead. The boys fear that their friend is killed too, but he is fortunately found alive.
Skinwalker
On a return visit home from college, Allen Miller plans to videotape the ranch life he was raised into for his girlfriend. Also, he saw this as a chance to reconnect with his father Sam, when Allen opted for college rather than take over the family business. That day, they decided to check on a mother sheep on the north edge of their property. Along the way, they encounter a strange native clad in wolf skin. They just shrugged it off however. When they get to the northern most part of the ranch, Sam found fresh coyote tracks in the area. Wanting to protect their sheep, Sam begins looking for it. During their search, strange things begin happening. The coyote tracks turn into human footprints, then they start hearing familiar voices from home although the trucks radio is turned off. They then hear the mother sheep cry out and a coyote in the background. Sam, already lost too many of his livestock, manages to find the coyote and shot it. However it seemed to have dissapeared. When they reach the pen holding the mother sheep, they found her dead and her baby missing. They then start hearing the howls of a whole pack of coyotes. Sensing that their family back home is in danger, they decide to head back home posthaste. Along the way back, they nearly hit someone with their truck. When they went out to check on him, all that was left of him was his wolf skin pelt and wrapped around it was their missing baby sheep. Just down the road they see a coyote fleeing the scene. Impacted by the strange events back home, Allen went back to school and later switched his major from political sciences to Native American mythology.
- Glimpse of cryptid: Footprints of the creature transitions from coyote to human; a quick shot of the beast is seen running across the road as the father and son flee in their truck.
- Fatalities caused: One. A mother sheep was killed supposedly by the creature.
Mothman
A few days after the Silver Bridge collapse, the FBI bring in Roy Kirby, a man who witnessed the collapse, as well as his home movie footage. He tells the two men who are interrogating him, Major Tom Williams and his partner Carl Montgomery, that he frequently saw a large strange creature in the two weeks before the collapse. He soon grew obsessed with the creature, straining his relationship with his disbelieving wife Nancy. As expected, the two agents don't believe him, even going as far as to accuse Roy of causing the collapse. But Roy then remembers what an old woman he was trying to save from the collapse said: she saw it too. The FBI release him, but take his footage. Roy resumes life with his wife, and promises never to speak of the creature again.
- Glimpse of cryptid: Several shots of the creature's glowing eyes as well as one shot of the creature flying off. Silhouettes of the creature appear too. Animated renderings of the Mothman, created by Sixus 1 Media, were also seen in-between the docufiction pieces. The Mothman model, as presented by Content Paradise
- Fatalities caused: Forty-six. Due to the bridge collapse supposedly caused by the monster
Death Worm
Two ATV racers (both placed at the last two spots) competing in a three day, 500 mile race across the Gobi Desert get lost. They rest in the desert for a while, but one of them is attacked by something. It strikes again later that night, this time leaving a corrosive venom on his leg, rendering him immobile. His partner leaves to find help (though the other seems to be aware that he won't live) and the other is dragged away by something large. The first one returns but can't find his partner; he takes his helmet off to deliver a message to anyone who finds it; only to reveal a swarm of creatures appearing then attacking him. In the epilogue, its revealed that the racers' bodies were never found, but their vehicles were. The authorities dismissed the burrows left at the site.
- Glimpse of cryptid: The creature is seen burrowing several times. One of the racer's camera sees a piece of the creature under the ATV. The helmet cam catches multiple creatures attacking the racer. It is hard to tell whether or not the quick shot of a large, red object attacking the camera was a "glimpse" as it took place during the intro and after the epilogue.
- Fatalities caused: Two. The first racer was apparently dragged into the sand. The second racer was surrounded and attacked by multiple creatures.
Hellhound
A group of four goth college students are ready to induct a new member to their group. Annabelle, the leader, doubts the worthiness of this girl, who's name is Nora, and plans to scare her. After picking "Nora" up, they all encounter a giant, rottweiler-like dog ("Nora" doesn't see it, as she is blindfolded) which promptly disappears. They head to a graveyard and "Nora" is given a test (she is still blindfolded so she can't see what's happening). They soon begin the initiation ritual. Suddenly, the dog returns, barks at them and vanishes. Everyone freaks out but Annabelle refuses to believe it is supernatural, and thinks it ran off, and calls it a "sign". It had left a patch of scorched earth behind. Continuing the ritual, Anabelle then forces "Nora" to drink what looks to be blood, but it is actually fake. Because "Nora" drank it with no fear or disgust, she is accepted. She begins bonding with Severence, the only boy of the group, but their walk is cut short when the dog appears. She tells Severence not to look at it. When it leaves, they find the others, with one of them having twisted her ankle after "running from that stupid dog". "Nora" reveals, with near expert perfection, that "if you see it three times, you will die". Anabelle thinks she's trying to scare them, but they decide to leave. As they leave, the engine nearly fails but starts up again. Anabelle and "Nora" get into an argument, and only Severence notices a car coming toward them. In a flash, the crash site is shown, and "Nora", bleeding heavily but otherwise unharmed, tries to wake Severence. It does not take her long to realize that he is dead and says, in a piteous tone,"You looked." She then leaves, petting the black dog as it trails beside her. It is revealed in the epilogue that there was no record that "Nora" was enrolled in the university or that she even existed. As a result, her true identity was unknown. As for the other teens, they were declared dead at the crash site.
- Glimpse of cryptid: A secuirity camera, as well as Severence, the cameraman, filmed the rottweiler-like creature jumping on the car. During the ceremony, the creature is seen at a distance barking at them. When the creature is chasing "Nora" and Servernce they both freeze, the camera catches the creature barking in their face while both of the teens eyes were closed. At the crash site, Severance's broken camera catches the creature following "Nora" as she leaves the crash site, but appears to have lost its supernatural abilities, as "Nora" is able to pet it without harm. To date, these are the clearest views of a creature yet.
- Fatalities caused: Four. Four of the Five teens were killed in a car crash with another veichle after seeing the creature three times. The fate of the people in the other car is uncertain.
"Lost Tapes: Revelations"
Throughout each episode, there is a factoid sequence called "Lost Tapes: Revelations." In it, the narrator (who has never been named) mentions speculations about the animals. This usually occurs before the second commercial break, and starts with a question that is answered after the break. Other factoids are sprinkled throughout the episodes between scenes, but these appear to be just helpful factoids rather than "revelations." These are the "revelations" revealed thus far:
- "Origins" (Chupacabara) - The segment talks about the multiple urban myths and conspiracy theories surrounding the chupacabra including the creature being an escape lab experiment; as well as being an extraterrestrial creature.
- "Sightings" (Bigfoot) - The segments talks about the history of Bigfoot sightings throughout all of North America as well as similar creatures that appear all over the world.
- "Identity" (Monster of Monterrey) - The segments talks about the various identities of Lake and Sea Monsters; while the most common is being a prehistoric sea animal like a plesiosaur; other identities include giant fishes and eels as described in stories like the Story of Jonah.
- "Footage" (Swamp Monster) - The segments talks about video footage caught of a large, hairy biped in the swamp. It was captured two, fully credible members of the swamp community.
- "Adaptations" (Oklahoma Octopus) - The segment talk about the adaptation shifts from saltwater to freshwater as well as the creation of freshwater lakes originating from prehistoric coastline.
- "Disappearance" (Devil Dragon) - The segment talks about how humans supposedly led Megalania to extinction, and the possibility that it could still be alive, including a comparison between the lizard and the coelacanth.
- "Encounters" (Cave Demon) - The segment talks about an incident in which Ivan T. Sanderson was attacked by a pair of gigantic bat-like creatures, with coal black fur, pointed white teeth, a wingspan of 12 feet, and blazing red eyes; and nicknamed them "The Granddaddy of All Bats."
- "Similarities (Owlman) - The segment talks about the Owlman's striking similarities to his North American counterpart, the Mothman; going into brief explanation of eyewitness descriptions of both creatures.
- "Feeding" (Megaconda) - The segment talks about the digestive system of an anaconda which is able to digest skin and bone, but his unable to digest hair and fur.
- "Abilities" (Thunderbird) - The segment talks about a 2002 discovery of a skull of a homosapien child who, based on forensic evidence, was killed by a giant eagle. This had quieted the skeptics who doubted that a raptor would be strong enough to lift a small boy.
- "Myth" (Skinwalker) - The segment talks about myths similar to the Native American culture's Skinwalker; particularly about Norse Mythology's Berzerker, which shares similar myth about individuals wearing animal skins to give them supernatural power.
- "Connections" (Mothman) - The segment talks about the historical connections regarding the Mothman. In the Fall of 1967, there were a rash of UFO sightings during the Mothman sightings along with Men in Black appearing at the TNT Factory, the supposed lair of the Mothman; as well as the curse of Shawnee Chief Cornstalk.
- "Creation" (Death Worm) - The segment explains the possible creation of the creature, where for many decades China used the western part of the Gobi Desert as a nuclear testing ground which possibily mutated some of its inhabitants.
- "Inspiration" (Hellhound) - The segment talks about the the "Black Schuck" folklore being the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes book, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Critical reception
Lost Tapes has received some negative criticism. Many viewers, expecting a series with real footage, were greatly disappointed. Numerous fansite message boards on the official website claimed that the show is poor quality, even one discussion petitioning to cancel the series. However, some people on the fansite forum enjoy and support the series as well.
Others express their dislike due to similiarities to films like Blair Witch and Cloverfield. The series is also criticized for its apparent cryptozoological similarities to History's Monster Quest.
Despite the negative criticism it received, an equal amount of people gave positive reviews; it has been praised for its frightening nature which keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, waiting for what may happen. Devil Dragon and Death Raptor were particularly praised; Devil Dragon for its apparent realism and Death Raptor for its twist ending.
Series Notes
- There were three episodes about prehistoric survivors: "Monster of Monterrey" (a surviving plesiosaur), "Devil Dragon" (a surviving megalania), and "Thunderbird" (a surviving pterosaur or teratorn).
- There were two episodes about creatures featured in UFO Conspiracy Theories: "Chupacabra" and "Mothman".
- There were two episodes about aquatic cryptids: "Monster of Monterrey" and "Oklahoma Octopus".
- There were three episodes featuring cryptid reptiles: "Monster of Monterrey", "Devil Dragon", and "Megaconda". It is unknown if "Thunderbird" was about a reptile (it is heavily implied that it is a pterosaur) because it is never actually shown.
- There were two episodes featuring cryptids originating from England: "Death Raptor" and "Hellhound"
- There are two episodes featuring creatures of the supernatural: "Skinwalker" and "Hellhound"
- There were three episodes featuring cryptids of Native American Myth: "Thunderbird", "Skinwalker" and "Bigfoot"; it is also noted that "Thunderbird" and "Skinwalker" were also episodes that only had animal fatalities rather than human fatalities. In addition to those three episodes, along with Swamp Monster, the protagonist(s) is not killed by the cryptid(s).
- In contrast, there are three episodes where there were no survivors: "Monster of Monterrey", "Devil Dragon" and "Death Worm"; thus far, no children were killed on-screen in the episodes, though one was injured by a cryptid. However, in "Mothman", it is possibile that children were probably killed by the bridge collapse making that episode have the highest number of fatalities.
See also
References
External links
- Lost Tapes official website
- Lost Tapes Site Map and Episode Guide
- The Lost Tapes Blog
- Lost Tapes at IMDb
