Files of the Unexplained is another attempt by Netflix to explore the world of the paranormal, which hasn’t gone well in the past. The investigative docuseries, due for release globally on April 3rd, 2024, will attempt to carve out a niche in an overcrowded genre by exploring various true tales of bizarre encounters and seemingly paranormal phenomena. Information on the show is scarce right now, so here’s everything we’ve managed to dig up to whet your appetite ahead of the show’s release.
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Netflix’s Files of the Unexplained Documentary Series Explained
The official synopsis states, “Eerie encounters, bizarre disappearances, haunting events, and more perplexing phenomena are explored in this chilling investigative docuseries.”
This new series is set to focus on true tales of the unexplained, and will also include spooky events and true crime cases. Netflix categorizes it under Mystery, Crime, Docuseries, and True Crime Documentaries, implying a mixture of grounded and more fanciful subjects. This kind of thing hasn’t been all that successful for the streamer in the past, most notably in several seasons of the ridiculous series Haunted, which drew a lot of criticism for presenting obviously made-up garbage as though it were factual.
Files of the Unexplained Release Date
Files of the Unexplained is due to release exclusively on Netflix on April 3rd, 2024. All episodes will debut at the same time, though at the time of writing it is unclear how many episodes there will be.
What rating does Files of the Unexplained have?
The maturity rating for the series is PG-13 — or 12A in the UK — on the basis of strong language. sexual violence references, abduction themes, and discrimination. The show is aiming for a slightly older audience, and there will be references to the supernatural involved too. However, this rating doesn’t suggest we’re going to see anything especially shocking here.
What will Files of the Unexplained be like?
Netflix is a forerunner when it comes to true crime documentary series, so the show will follow in the footsteps of other Netflix series like American Conspiracy, Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified, Unsolved Mysteries, and Catching Killers. As mentioned above, this is also not the first time that the streamer has tried to take the supernatural seriously, in the already-mentioned haunted and more unique projects like 28 Days Haunted, which was similarly controversial on the grounds of being totally fake.
28 Days Haunted, like Files of the Unexplained, explored paranormal occurrences | Image via Netflix
Files of the Unexplained is set to cover some strange and in some cases un-earthly situations, that may have baffled investigators and law enforcement agencies. The word “Files” in the title evokes The X-Files, which often presented FBI Agents Mulder and Scully with seemingly supernatural or extraterrestrial incidents that they would try to expose.
With little information on the show just now, we envisage that it may take this kind of approach.
Other shows like Files of the Unexplained
Files of the Unexplained may initially be confused with the William Shatner-hosted show The UnXplained, which first aired on The History Channel in 2019. The show examined curious and strange events from all over the globe and was a popular and well-watched show that currently has six seasons under its belt.
In a similar vein, you might also have heard of The Unexplained Files, another documentary series that focused on real-life footage and testimony from witnesses of unexplained phenomena. This show would feature renowned scientists and experts as they investigated exorcisms, aliens, ghosts, freak fires, The Mothman, and other strange occurrences.
You can expect elements of these shows, not to mention Netflix’s other forays into similar material cited above, to have influenced the presentation and content of Files of the Unexplained.
