Sorry guys, it's not about zombies.
I've heard of the Toynbee Tiles for quite a while now, as one of the great unsolved mysteries of our time. Seen as far back as the early 1980's all over the East Coast and all the way to South America, these tiles all share the same text, seen above, with small variations in additional text. The thing is, no one knows why they were made or who made them.
The documentary Resurrect Dead: Mystery of The Toynbee Tiles tries to figure out the answer to this lingering mystery. Led by artist Justin Duerr, the film talks about his years-long search for the elusive tiler. Thanks to collaboration from multiple people, also interested in the tiles, he has three leads: a reclusive resident of Philadelphia, a former railroad worker whose trail corresponds with the placement of the tiles, and a play whose content eerily resembles the content of the tiles.
The film is compelling and grabs you from start to end. Eventually, after multiple dead ends, Duerr seemingly hits paydirt and presents evidence pointing towards one of his earlier leads. The evidence is quite convincing and fits the details of the mystery quite well.
Interspersed within the narrative are some segments that show a glimpse of Duerr's own life, somehow giving a reason for his obsession: he is a loner, yet a consummate artist, rejected by the mainstream in his youth, unable or unwilling to conform to society's pressures. In many ways I think he sees himself in the person who makes these tiles. These segments transform the narrative into a mirror comparing the tiler and Duerr himself rather than sticking to a straightforward story.
This is a very intriguing documentary and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery. Whether you agree with the evidence presented, the journey you take to get there is good enough for the price of admission.
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