Project Blue Book “Curse of the Skinwalker” recap: 5 creepy moments

Project Blue Book gets spooky with this week’s episode, “Curse of the Skinwalker.” Hynek and Quinn travel to the Chapman Ranch in Utah to uncover why a young family is besieged by paranormal phenomenon.

Project Blue Book has done it again. This week’s episode, “Curse of the Skinwalker,” is a paranormal/horror lover’s dream. With some genuine jump scares and otherworldly phenomenon, it will definitely keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Hynek and Quinn are dispatched to the Chapman Ranch in Utah (stand-in for what is now known as Skinwalker Ranch) to see if they can help a young family who are besieged by UFOs and alien visitations. As they attempt to solve the mystery surrounding the ranch, they stumble upon a top-secret government project at Fort Duchesne that may provide some of the answers.

Here are 5 creepy moments from the show guaranteed to keep you awake at night. There will be spoilers ahead.

Alien Encounter or Ball Lightning?

In the very first scene, we are introduced to Billy Chapman who is sleepwalking in the forest near his ranch. His parents, Laura and Rex are following after him to ensure that he doesn’t hurt himself.

Suddenly, Billy starts breathing heavily. When his mother awakens him, he tells her that the alien is coming. At that exact moment, three blue orbs appear in the sky zigzagging in and out of the trees.

A very tall, humanoid shape starts approaching the trio from a distance. The Chapman family runs back to the safety of their home.

When Dr. Hynek and Captain Quinn show up the next day, Rex and Laura retrace their steps so that the duo can investigate the scene of the encounter with the extraterrestrial. Immediately, the men are struck by the burnt treetops and a black, greasy substance on the ground.

It is clear something odd has taken place. Hynek attributes the appearance of the blue spheres of light in the nighttime sky to the strange phenomenon of ball lighting. However, it isn’t as simple as that…

Weird Effigies

While Quinn is checking out another location in the Chapman’s woods, he runs into a clearing where eerie, animal skins and sticks are dangling from the trees. They look like macabre scarecrows.

Because he wasn’t expecting to witness this bizarre scene, the Captain is thrown off his game a bit. However, when they start taking on a life of their own, he finds himself surrounded by ghosts of Native Americans dressed in wolf pelts.

Panicked he tries to escape but ends up getting caught in a booby trap and hoisted upside down by a rope. As he dangles in mid-air, his vision somewhat blurred, he sees a shadowy figure walking toward him wearing the same garb as the weird effigies.

When he is cut down, he comes face to face with what he thinks is a Skinwalker but it turns out to be the Chapman’s neighbor, Edmund who warned him and Hynek about the strange creatures surrounding the ranch.

According to tribal legend in the particular area where the Chapman Ranch is located, the Navajos cursed the land to exact revenge upon the Utes who had enslaved them. As a result, Skinwalkers or evil Navajo witches roam the property looking to inflict harm upon anyone they encounter.

As Quinn and Hynek find out, they are adept at assuming the identities of animals or even people whose souls they have captured. You never know how they will appear.

Run, Allen, Run!

Hynek is also exploring the forest. In a clearing he finds himself face to face with a large, black wolf-like creature. It immediately bares its teeth and starts snarling at the Professor. Has he run into one of the many animals that Skinwalkers can embody?

Terrified, Allen starts running. He believes that he is being pursued by the entity. Out of breath, he stops and looks around him. The being is nowhere to be found. So, did Hynek see something or was this a figment of his imagination?

The Tectonic Strain Theory

Later that day, Hynek and Quinn are making their way back to the Chapman Ranch to check in on the family. Its night time. Their car is on a lonely stretch of road. It stalls out.

While the pair are trying to figure out what is going on, they hear a humming sound and feel the beginnings of an earthquake. Except this isn’t an ordinary shaking of the ground.

Instead, the entire road undulates underneath them. Shortly thereafter, the powerlines fail, sparks fly and before one of the poles can land on their vehicle, Quinn hits the gas and they speed off.

What is causing the seismic activity? Quinn and Hynek have a hunch that nearby Fort Duchesne Air Force Base might be able to yield some insight.

As the men find out, the site has been converted to a testing facility. They are experimenting with Tectonic Strain Theory.

The theory revolves around creating tectonic stress by drilling deep into the earth releasing water found in surrounding rocks. The H2O then becomes vaporized, ions are released and interact with the ions in the air above the fault which results in the appearance of glowing orbs. This is why there is an increase in UFO sightings right before earthquakes.

Fort Duchesne is creating a weapon of fear that could be used against our enemies in times of war. Unfortunately, the Chapmans are unwitting test subjects.

Skinwalkers Part 2

Once Hynek and Quinn return to the ranch, the Chapmans are gracious enough to let them stay the night. Billy is unnerved so he is playing with a defective Jack-in-the-Box in his room. Allen visits him and offers to fix his toy.

The youngster tells him that the alien is coming and this is the only way that he can fend him off. Hynek convinces Billy to hand over his Box so he can sleep. He returns to his room to bed down for the night when he hears a noise.

Curious, he follows it. Now, rain is pouring down and there is thunder and lightning. Shadows are all around. We get the shock of our lives along with the Professor when he runs into the Skinwalker. He tries to give chase but the thing disappears taking Billy with it.

Catch Project Blue Book every Tuesday at 10 p.m. on the History Channel.

Have you heard of Skinwalkers? Did you think this Project Blue Book episode was eerie? Let us know in the comments.