The Alien Autopsy Film

In 1995 a man approached a television show producer in Great Britain and said he had actual film footage of an alien autopsy that was photographed in the late 1940s. The man's name is Ray Santilli, and the film he was describing is referred to as the "Santilli film." Santilli said there were fifteen reels of 16mm film, each about ten minutes in length. Santilli said that he got the film from a former military cameraman by the name of Jack Barnett.

Fox Airs the Film

The film was eventually aired in the United States on a Fox Network special. It was so popular that Fox had to run it several times to satisfy the public's demand.

Photo of torso from 'Alien Autopsy' film 

But, Is It Real?

My opinion is, no! People have been looking into virtually every aspect of this film, and in many areas it just doesn't hold up. Here are some key points:

 The supposed cameraman cannot be found. There are no military records of anyone by the name of Jack Barnett in that position during that time period. Also, Santilli has changed his story several times and said the guy's name was really Barrett. Still, no match with any military records.

Although Kodak, after analyzing the film, said the raw film could have been manufactured during this time period (1947), it's not conclusive and it could have been manufactured much later. Research into items appearing in the background of the film such as the wall clock, surgical instruments, and the telephone have also proved inconclusive.

The actual filming technique is very poor. Instead of the camera being set up in a stationary position as would be expected, it is constantly moving, a technique in documenting that did not really come about until the development of video tape decades later.

 
Lastly, the alien itself has a remarkable resemblance to the dummy alien on display in a Roswell museum, in fact, they are almost identical. Not only that, but the alien body seems to lack an internal structure. There is virtually no evidence of stretched skin, tendons, bones, or muscle tissue.

 
Photo of head from 'Alien Autopsy' film

Disinformation

The Santilli film appears to be a classic case of disinformation. The whole Santilli episode could serve as a textbook example; I've never seen a better one. Disinformation is the practice of telling the absolute truth, but telling it in a way that can't be believed. You make it look so bogus that people dismiss the idea completely. The technique was used and refined during World War II. The Allies actually "leaked" to the Germans where the main American forces would be landing in France. But they made it so easy for Hitler to get the information and laid out the plan so simply that Hitler didn't believe the information. As a result the Allies landed right where they said they would and found the German troops out of position and undermanned.

 
'Alien Autopsy' full body still shot.

Such an autopsy as is depicted in the Santilli film almost certainly did take place. Several physicians have come forward to say it happened. But it's not on the Santilli film. The Santilli film is illustrating a real event that took place in a way that can't be believed, in hopes that the public will dismiss the whole idea as ridiculous.