The Binge-Watch Chronicles dives into the deep end of what’s streaming. PII’s pick of the week? Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries.
We’re eager for new generations to watch Unsolved Mysteries. Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries is out now and is fascinating as ever. The original combination of compelling stories, eerie music, and reenactments (along with OG host Robert Stack) made it a staple in our home. Baffling cases that include shocking murders, puzzling missing persons, lost loves, conspiracy theories, UFO/paranormal encounters, and more all captured the nation.
I recently binge-watched the original series, so I was excited to compare the two with the original series being so fresh in my mind.
The revamp sees original show creators (Terry Meurer and John Cosgrove), not to mention the producers of Stranger Things, making the new season its 15th in the show’s history.
The new series features 12 new episodes; the first six episodes premiere on July 1st—inviting viewers to watch and help solve these new mysteries.
In a statement, Meurer and Cosgrove reflect, “we’ve seen how unanswered questions can haunt families and detectives for decades. People reach out to us because they appreciate the life-changing power of our show, and trust that we will present each case’s facts in an honest, balanced way. Thus far, UNSOLVED MYSTERIES has helped solve over 260 cases. Just this spring, our thorough research, and record-keeping aided in solving a 30-year old case. It’s gratifying to know we’ve had an impact on people’s lives”.
Without changing too much of the original formula, the changes are subtle (it still ends with a post-show call to action).
Case in point, the show is now hostless with no narration but stays captivating. Also, the memorable theme music is back, except it’s slowed down, making it creepier. The newly added layers to the series add an almost cinematic feel. It features old photographs, archival news footage, and timeline animations. Additionally, while the original didn’t veer outside of the US too often, the new Netflix series adjoins international cases.
• The first episode (Mystery on the Rooftop) features the 2006 death of Rey Rivera, a then-recent newlywed. Woefully, his lifeless body is found in an abandoned room in the second-story annex of the Belvedere Hotel in Baltimore. The investigation leaned toward his death being a suicide; however, several “unexplained” factors surround his death.
• Episode two (13 Minutes) details the 2004 mystery surrounding a beloved local hairdresser’s disappearance within just 13 minutes.
Patrice Endres abruptly vanished from the salon she owned within a 13-minute window, precisely 600 days after her disappearance.
• The third episode (House of Terror) centers around a spiderweb of a 2011 case in France that includes the bodies of a woman and four children being discovered buried under the family’s home porch. The aristocrat father of the family, Xavier DuPont De Ligonnès, is suspected to be the killer but has never been found.
• Episode four (No Ride Home) is an infuriatingly puzzling yet unsolved mystery. 23-year-old Alonzo Brooks never came home after a party he went to with his friends.
A month later, after previous searches, his body is found. Sadly, while many believe his unsolved death is a hate crime, no final decision is made.
• The fifth episode (Berkshires UFO) specifies a bizarre UFO experience in 1969.
Four different residents experience terrifying and perplexing encounters with extra-terrestrial forces.
• Episode six (Missing Witness) dives right into the mystery of Lena Chapin– a young woman who claims her mother possibly killed her father.
Several years later, after being issued a subpoena to testify in her mother’s court case, she mysteriously disappears. However, new evidence suggests something more.
Presently, with so many true crime podcasts, it goes without saying that the original series left an imprint on pop culture, making it truly ahead of its time. That crave for nostalgia brings absolute comfort into the current day’s art of engaging and chilling storytelling.
Also, did you manage to catch the easter egg? Watch the trailer, then become engrossed and stream the show.
“For every mystery, there is someone somewhere who knows the truth. Perhaps that someone is watching. Perhaps it’s you.” Unsolved Mysteries is available to stream now, only via Netflix. The original series is available for free via Tubi (with account).
UPDATE:
From the Unsolved Mysteries Twitter:
The body of Alonzo Brooks was exhumed this morning (7/21). His case was recently reopened by the
@FBI is offering a $100K reward for tips leading to an arrest. If you know something, please come forward. #unsolvedmysteries #Justiceforalonzobrooks
