The Mothman Movie: Ten Years Later
Posted by: Loren Coleman on January 25th, 2012
Ten years ago, Mothman landed.
First, on January 1, 2002, Paraview Press published Mothman and Other Curious Encounters, in cooperation with Sony/Screen Gems, to give a new nonfiction insight into the real events behind the then forthcoming movie.
Eyewitness Linda Scarberry said the William Rebsamen-drawn depiction of the Mothman on the cover of my book was the one that looked the most like the Mothman she saw in 1966.
On January 14, 2002, a story rapidly circulated via the Internet communities that John A. Keel had just died. I, Loren Coleman, quickly put the rumor to rest by calling Keel, and confirming that Keel was, indeed, still alive, although Keel quipped that everyone should be told, “his funeral is on Saturday and he will be wearing black.” Keel noted that this happened to him at least once before, in 1967. (Keel would die on July 3, 2009, at the age of 79.)
January 23, 2002, saw the North America’s FX cable channel screening the documentary, Search for the Mothman.
Then on January 25, 2002, the film The Mothman Prophecies opened across America. The music soundtrack CD was released on the same date.
First eyewitnesses: Roger and Linda Scarberry (right) and Steve and Mary Mallette (left).
As the movie began screening on January 25, 2002, the half of the first four original witnesses, the Mallettes were attending a funeral in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Stephen Mallette, who was one of the first four, was mourning the passing of his brother, Charlie, due to a brain tumor. Charles Putnam “Charlie” Mallette, 43, of Point Pleasant, died on Thursday, January 22, 2002, at his home.
The last week in January 2002, during that same initial movie release time period, there were five fatalities in and near Point Pleasant, in two crashes involving four automobiles on January 26, and three other fatal wrecks in the next five days. For rural Mason County, the eight road deaths in six days was the most in 40 years, according to the State of West Virginia. In one major crash, two tractor-trailer rigs and a Volvo resulted in the death of truck driver Richard Clement, 61, of Mukwonga, Wisconsin.
The Mothman movie did result in a revitalized downtown Point Pleasant, West Virginia, with an annual festival, many businesses selling souvenirs, one storefront turned into a museum, and a permanent landmark, a sculpture added to the main riverside square. The dying downtown has made a bit of a recovery thanks to the Mothman film.
Needless to say, many people have passed away who were connected to the story, including John A. Keel, Linda Scarberry, Marcella Bennett, and several others.
Ten years later, Mothman lives on.
The first time I saw that movie I HATED it. After 10 years, it’s become one of my favorite Fortean movies.
Something of an acquired taste I guess.
The figurine still makes it look like an overgrown owl to me.
I always thought the “Mothman” was just possibly some sort of mutated giant owl anyway. The only problem with that is how agressive the darn thing was in chasing cars and landing on their hoods. That is a bit problematic to explain away.
Simple bad temper could explain that, William. I’ve seen birds get really aggressive over nothing obvious. Go to the Angry Birds website for further examples.