Tales of the Unexplained (DVD)

You might have caught an episode of Mysteries, Magic and Miracles on television here and there over the years, but thanks to DVD you can see it anytime you like (the disc is out on June 28) — ably hosted by Patrick Macnee (of The Avengers fame), the show offered a glimpse into the mysteries and phenomena that baffle skeptics and delight horror fans, including ill-willed UFOs, insistent ghosts, bloodthirsty werewolves, serial murderers and cryonic suspension, to name just a few freaky topics.

The DVD is divided into four different sections, totaling nearly three hours:

The UFO Chronicles — covers everything from the Rosewell crash to ancient cultures that seemed to be trying to communicate with creatures who came from the sky. There’s also predictions of a major E.T. related that event that, The Galactic Federation promises, will take place in 1997. Guess I was out of town for that one.

Creatures of the Night — this segment features famous Hollywood ghosts, werewolves, vampires and, oddly enough, the prophet Nostradamus, plus magical mushrooms that can supposedly cure anything.

London Underworld — examines Jack the Ripper, the legend of Dracula and Bram Stoker, plus out of body experiences (is London a popular destination for this sort of travel?) and reincarnation.

The Mysteries of Life — explores spontaneous human combustion, fire walking, cryogenics, and more.

While the subject matter covered in the DVD is interesting and the stories are presented in an entertaining manner, it’s pretty dated and doesn’t shed new light on any of the topics it covers. Patrick Macnee is the best thing on the disk in my opinion, but those who don’t know much about “the unexplained” may find the documentaries fun and it might also be a good stepping stone for people who’d like to get a few tidbits of information here and learn more.

Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson