Johnny Truant's Notes

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The Navidson Record

Notes

Referenced Works

Chapter 1

"I saw a film today, oh boy… - The Beatles"

"The Navidson Record" is a point of argument with many people unsure if it's reality or a work of fiction. Many people regard it as a hoax, but the argument is still there. Regardless of if it is a hoax or not, the film is regarded by most as culturally important.

As for what happens in "The Navidson Record", it is split up into three different snippets, one being a full film. The first of which is titled "The Five and a Half Minute Hallway".

In "The Five and a Half Minute Hallway", Will Navidson shows the hallway in one continuous shot, for five and a half minutes. During this shot, he shows the Hallway Itself, as well as where it should extend outside of the house, only for no such extrusion to exist. This is claimed to be real footage, and not a doctored version, or illusion of any sort. Karen warns Will not to go any further into the hallway during this. It is noted as being "freezing in there".

The second of the snippets was "Exploration #4". This is much more jarringly shot, with many cuts that are amateur and rushed in style. The first shot finds Navidson mid conversation, talking about wanting to burn something down to the ground, likely the House.

The next shot is Karen and Tom arguing about whether they should go in after "him".

There are several shots that follow that are disconnected, trees in the winter, blood on the kitchen floor, Daisy crying…

And then back to Navidson, talking about a tape, and asking if someone was right or just out of his mind.

Then more shots that are seemingly random, dark hallways, Windowless Rooms, and stairs.

Before we are introduced to someone new, Holloway Roberts, who is lost, out of food, and informs us that it's been days… and that he's not alone. Which ends "Exploration #4".

Almost three years after "Exploration #4", Miramax would then quietly release "The Navidson Record", which is speculated to only ever reach cult status and, confusingly, despite being called a cultural phenomenon, is not expected to reach mainstream.

Notes

  • There is contradicting information on how influential "The Five and a Half Minute Hallway", "Exploration #4", and "The Navidson Record" actually are. My best guess is that it was meant to be similar to "Marble Hornets", where it had a great impact, but most people don't actually know much about it.
  • Holloway Roberts comments on how the thing that is in there with him is stalking him, toying with him, and seemingly not finishing him off yet.
  • "The Navidson Record" was released in April 1993.
  • There is a Note from The Editors that to avoid confusion, Zampanò's writings will be in Times New Roman, and Johnny Truant's will be in Courier New.
  • It is also noted that the editors never met Mr. Truant, and all correspondences about the publishing were made over mail or, in rare instances, short phone calls.
  • There is a slight ramble about the use of the House as a vessel of the Unlimited and Unknowable.
  • There is a reference to Hell, specifically with the quotes "Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace / and rest can never dwell, hope never comes / That comes to all," from "Paradise Lost" and a quote from "Dante's Inferno", Canto III, which translates to, at least in this text, "Before me nothing was created but eternal things and I endured eternally. Abandon every hope, ye that enter."

Sources Referenced

This section is for works referenced in the chapter and whether or not said work is fake, partially real, or completely real.

Sources That Are Nonexistant

  • David Bowler's "Resurrection on Ash Tree Lane: Elvis, Christmas Past, and Other Non-Entities" published in "The House" (New York: Little Brown, 1995>
  • Lee Sinclair's "Degenerate" published in "Twentieth Century Dub, Dub" edited by Tony Ross (New York: CCD Zeuxis Press, 1994)

Sources That Partially Exist

  • Harvey Weinstein is real, but never said "It is what it is," at least in "Interview Magazine", which is also a real Magazine.
  • Mirjana Gortchakova's "Home Front" is a fake article, while "Gentleman's Quarterly" is indeed a real magazine

Sources That Exist

  • Billy Meier's, misspelled here as Meyer, film on Flying Saucers, however, it may be better understood as footage and photographs rather than a full film.
  • The Simpsons
  • Melville's Behemoth is a reference to his book, "Moby Dick"
  • "Paradise Lost" by John Milton
  • "Dante's Inferno" by Dante Alighieri
  • Orson Welles' "The War Of The Worlds"
  • The quote at the start of the book is from the Beatles Song "A Day In The Life".

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