The Mandela Catalogue is an analog horror web series created by American YouTuber Alex Kister in 2021. It is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin, which is invaded by "alternates", otherworldly beings that use various forms of psychological torture on their victims with the ultimate goal of assuming their identity as "doppelgängers". The series became popular online through analysis of its complex story and reaction videos from internet users.
Setting and genre
Primarily set during the early 1990s and late 2000s, The Mandela Catalogue takes place within the fictional Mandela County, located in Wisconsin, which is terrorized by the presence of "alternates", beings that aim to eradicate humanity by coercing their victims into killing themselves via psychological torture. Their main methods of doing so are by mentally scarring them to the point of suicide (such as by killing a victim's child), or by manipulating audiovisual media, such as televisions, personal computers, and even vehicle GPS systems. The alternates themselves are shown to be very hard, if not impossible, to kill. Other plot details include the archangel Gabriel, the presumed leader of the alternates, and "Metaphysical Awareness Disorder", dubbed "M.A.D.", which is an in-universe disorder caused by the alternates informing their victims about "information which is not desired to be known", information which has driven 97% of its victims to suicide.
The series contains many biblical allusions, including Noah's Ark, Adam and Eve, Mary and Joseph, and the birth of Jesus. It is heavily implied that the alternates are in actuality biblical demons, and that Gabriel is actually Satan in disguise.
The Mandela Catalogue is composed of 8 shorts and 4 volumes across two "Acts", the first short of which was released on June 9, 2021. It is a subgenre of horror dubbed analog horror. Its installments are usually presented as found footage material, or from the point of view of in-universe characters and/or their electronic devices. Nearly all of the Act I installments are rendered in a VHS aesthetic, whereas most Act II installments are made in the style of old digital videos, reflecting the shift in the time period depicted.
Development and production
The Mandela Catalogue was created by then eighteen-year-old student Alex Kister from Richfield, Wisconsin as a series of short videos he began in 2021, while in summer college. It was Kister's first filmmaking project. Kister originally created overthrone as a one-off video based on a high school writing project and planned to make a series where he edited children's cartoons to be creepy. However, due to the popularity of the video, Kister decided to continue making videos following the universe of overthrone in the modern day. The series' name came from the Mandela Effect.
Kister had little to no budget and used basic editing: scenes are shot in his home and characters are portrayed by his friends through still images and voiceover. Kister's mother once played an alternate. In an interview with GQ, Kister said he wanted to develop his horror from "jump-scares that [...] cause a physiological reaction rather than a psychological reaction."
Kister has said the series originally began as a creative outlet for the existential crisis he was dealing with, especially when it came to the subject of religion and Christianity. The series was also inspired by the isolation and loss of security Kister experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October 2022, Kister worked with Makeship to release merchandise for the series.
Episodes
Act I (2021–2022)
Act II (2022–present)
Cast
Alex Kister as Mark Heathcliff, Murray Household Alternate, and Dave Lee
Andrew Long as Cesar Torres and Murray Household Alternate
Nolan David as PSA Narrator
Izzsplash as MCPD Narrator and Nurse #1
Alex Kister as PSA Narrator (before Vol. 1 Restored Edition) Michelle Strohwig as Cesar's Alternate and Radio Host Ty Osbourne as Adam Murray Gabriel Linan as Jonah Marshall Faith Cunningham as "Woman" Michael Vale/Voiceover Requiem as Jude Murray, TV Narrator, and Reporter #2 Bee "Fruitmasseuse" L. as Ruth Weaver and Reporter #1 L1ghth0use as Lynn Murray and Nurse #2 Emily Hannak as School Receptionist Thorne Baker/Teenage Disaster as Thatcher Davis Leon Rodriguez as Stanley, Genesis Narrator, and The Intruder (Vol. 4) Aidan Elliott as Bythorne Operator Kyle Denigris as O'Brien and Gabriel Spidey as Evelin Miller Rachel Ridley as Sarah Heathcliff Christina Kister as Lola Adair