Something Unknown Is Doing We Don't Know What…

The subject of paranormal phenomena is usually dealt with onscreen in a sensationalistic way, but Renée Scheltema's documentary is notable for the matter-of-fact tone it adopts while exploring five major topics of parapsychology—telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, psychokinesis, and psychic healing--from the perspective of researchers who are convinced that these occurrences can be scientifically verified and that human beings are endowed with psychic abilities that largely remain untapped. The film features some lighthearted moments—the practice of bending spoons through mental power alone leads the filmmaker to a so-called PK (psychokinesis) party where people try to accomplish this feat—and the scientists, authors, and believers interviewed often relate personal anecdotes with a humorous slant, but for the most part, this a fairly sober piece arguing that paranormal phenomena should be taken seriously. Among the interviewees are Dr. Charles Tart, who taught Scheltema at Berkeley and serves as a genial guide for her investigations; Dr. Dean Radin of the Institute of Noetic Sciences; Dr. Edgar Mitchell, whose experiences as an astronaut helped inform his views; and Dr. Hal Puthoff, whose recollections about the “remote viewers” the CIA employed during the Cold War are historically as well as scientifically intriguing. Although unlikely to sway skeptics, this is one of the better documentaries on psychic phenomena. Recommended. [Note: this is also being sold on home video for $24.95 from Amazon.com.] Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)