Mothman: America's Notorious Winged Monster | Monstrum

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In this special Halloween episode of Monstrum, I travel to the town of Point Pleasant, WV to research the complicated history of the flying creature. You'll learn how the town was forever changed by the myth of the Mothman. Newspapers gave the winged, red-eyed creature its name after it was spotted on November 15, 1966—an incident followed by almost a hundred other eyewitness accounts. Exactly 13 months later, the paranormal activity culminated in a very real tragedy--the collapse of Point Pleasant’s Silver Bridge. Some claimed Mothman was the cause of the accident, others say he was actually meant to forewarn the town of the catastrophe. The accident claimed 47 lives, so why does the town of Point Pleasant celebrate the monster with a festival every year and adorn their main street with a statue of his likeness?

You'll see how Mothman became a global phenomenon outside of West Virginia by the famous book The Mothman Prophecies and its later film adaptation. Monstrum looks at the lingering effects of the real events that made the Mothman notorious, interviewing local Point Pleasant experts and hunting for the Mothman at some of its most famous haunts. #mothman #cryptid #mothman_prophecies #MonstrumPBS

Host and Writer: Dr. Emily Zarka
Director: David Schulte
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Producer: Stephanie Noone
Director of Photography: Jason Harter
Illustrator: Samuel Allen
Editor: David Schulte
Animators: Derek Borsheim, Sara Roma

Produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.

Monstrum sincerely thanks the residents of Point Pleasant for being so welcoming and informative during our visit.

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[pbsstoried]

Apologies for the confusion. Faye says she saw feathered wings, and then I say that the Mothman has wings but no feathers. I meant to say its *body* is not described as feathered.

[kilianjuraschek]

"It seemed to shy away from the light" - I can definitely see nothing moth-like here

[paulcolbourne]

Townspeople: "Why did you come to us mothman, to teach us or tell us something?".
Mothman: "Hell no. I came because your lights were on".

[almost_harmless]

In Norway, and probably other places too, we have something called forest terror. I have experienced it myself. It's when you walk in a forest and you inexplicably feel something is out there and you just have to run away. With stories adding to that, it is no wonder you would feel terrified in a forest that is probably as lovely as any other. It also serves as a way to explain why people can get scared by imagination alone.

[SylviaDragon]

I love how upfront the townsfolk are. they are all like "i mean it was just an ongoing joke between us but if you are going to throw 2mil at us then hell yes im the mothman expert now."

[hairylarry]

I used to be a traveling repairman. I went to Point Pleasant 3 times. I met a couple who saw the Mothman. They were serious. They said the creature followed their car at high speeds. The one ladies dad was driving. Even he was scared. I later on talked to a preacher, who saw the Mothman perched on a fence. Ever since it sat there, no green growth will grow around where it was sitting. He showed me the spot.

[Fred_uyz]

In an alternative universe, there's a moth version of Emily doing a video on the Manmoth.

[CrankCrankCranky]

Damn Mothman's pretty smart, he only shows up infront of tired civilians in the dead of night because he knows people wouldnt be able to see him clearly.

[alariel]

I love this irregular format where you showed the actual research: going to the town, interviewing the locals and ransacking their library. Such an inspiration to those who aspire to do research for living.

[Lily_of_the_Forest]

Here’s my “Mini-Mothman Experience”

Around the time The Mothman Prophecies movie was released, I was walking my dog late at night. The area was dark w/ lots of trees. Lights were shining from houses in the distance, so not pitch black. I see a small, dull, red glow moving above me in the branches of an oak tree. Looked like red bioluminescence. I freeze. My brain jumped to the movie. “Is it the Mothman? For real? In Louisiana? Why? How? AHHH!” Thankfully, I had a flashlight for night, potty dog-walks. Switched it on and pointed the light upward. It was a giant moth the size of my hand or bigger. The back of his head reflected brighter red from my flashlight. Didn’t explain how he was glowing red in the darkness only seconds before. My heart started beating again and my dog & I continued our walk.
Still have not seen a similar looking moth 18 yrs later. Not even sure what species he was.
The End

Edit: Think it was Ascalapha odorata, commonly known as the black witch moth.

[Ttyl]

Dr Z’s “I LOVE FINDING NEW INFO” dance is adorable beyond words

[doctorsqueaks]

Emily walking up to the mothman statue and saying hi was just about the most adorable thing I’ve ever witnessed!!!

[thierryfux]

Historian here: very hyped to see a researcher doing real research in a library in a documentary. I truly respect that! Thanks Dr Z and Monstrum Team

[RayHuong]

The most incredible claim of the video: "Officers immediately set out to investigate."

[samthewizzy]

Moth man: * flying at car at ridiculous speed*
Also moth man:

[johnfstewart]

That’s very American
Person 1: hey guys I saw a weird creature with red eyes
The whole town: LETS GIT HIM YALL

[Fred_uyz]

The fact that Emiliy is actually a Dr. In the related field and not simply sone random host reading a script made by a guy who made some internet research simply adds to the show.

If this show was hosted by Greg and started "hey, i'm greg, welcone to monstrum" simply does not have the same effect (at least for me) than "I'm Doctor Emily Zarka, and this is monstrum"

[JRG_REDD]

I can imagine Bigfoot and mothman hanging out in the woods laughing at us cause we can never find them. Or prove they are real😂

[Kr-grxv]

Mothman: Chasin a car at 75 mph

Mothman to lamps: haha light go

[jocosesonata]

Jeez, guys. It's not even Christmas yet, and you're already giving us the gift of a 20 minute episode?