Despite the extraterrestrial associations often encouraged by paranormal enthusiasts, the term UFO – as well as its modern-day equivalent “UAP” – in no way implies the involvement of alien beings in these phenomena. In fact, the scientific study of these incidents is only hindered by idle speculation surrounding little green men and their intentions. […]
![‘Lost Contact: UFOs After Wartime’ Is a Refreshingly Grounded Documentary [Review]](https://bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-08-19-at-10.15.24 AM-scaled.jpg)
This fascinating sequence of bizarre events is sure to keep both general audiences and die-hard Ufologists entertained throughout the majority of the flick’s 90-minute runtime. The information is presented in a clear and concise manner, and the story itself is filled with eerie little details suggesting a larger conspiracy (like how Mantell’s coffin was supposedly lined with lead as well as claims that the military showed up decades later to collect additional samples from the crash site).
The subject matter does a lot of the heavy lifting here, with the filmmaking itself feeling rather barebones, with the exception of a few stylish projections and the occasional interesting question. Aaron Deese’s narration even invokes a monotonous High-School history class at times, though that has more to do with bland writing than the actor himself.
Regardless, the biggest issue here is pacing. Mantell’s fateful crash may be the perfect subject for a spooky documentary, but it’s clear that Lost Contact could have told the exact same story as an hour-long TV special containing all of the same information in a more easily digestible form.
That being said, repetitive talking heads and familiar archival footage are par for the course when it comes to low-budget documentaries, though the same excuse can’t be applied to Breedlove’s regrettable (though admittedly brief) inclusion of AI-enhanced imagery in the film. I can understand the instinct to inject some visual variety into the feature by animating old photographs and diagrams, but this kind of cheap digital shortcut only hurts an otherwise credible experience without actually adding any value to it – and I really hope that we don’t see more of this in future Small Town Monsters projects.
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Thankfully, the rest of the film remains a decidedly human affair, and I especially appreciate the inclusion of interviews about Mantell’s family life and who he was as a person. After all, a 25-year-old human being perished because of dangerous orders from a superior officer, so it’s refreshing to see Breedlove and his team make an effort to remember the tragedy at the heart of the incident, regardless of the mystery surrounding it.
And while the documentary doesn’t present viewers with definitive evidence of the existence of aliens or even a solid theory about what exactly happened up there (though nearly everyone involved with the film rejects the balloon hypothesis), I think these answers are beside the point. Breedlove isn’t really trying to make up anyone’s mind regarding the incident, but instead attempting to tell a compelling true story that touches on everything from Cold War paranoia to government censorship, and that’s where he succeeds.
Ironically enough, Lost Contact is one of the most down-to-earth explorations of an alleged close encounter that I’ve seen in years, and this sober approach to the subject matter is precisely why I found it so refreshing. Sure, the film’s presentation could have used some polish, but the source material is captivating enough to carry the experience through to the finish line.
It’s unlikely that we’ll ever uncover the complete truth behind what happened to Mantell on that fateful afternoon back in 1948, but Breedlove’s latest documentary is a great place to start the investigation.
Lost Contact: UFOs After Wartime releases on VOD on October 7, 2025.
