Introduction
“Dark Days” refers to both a haunting documentary and a sprawling urban myth: the existence of secret societies, forgotten tunnels, and entire populations living beneath the streets of New York City. Tales of “mole people,” secret government bunkers, and occult rituals in the abandoned subway tunnels persist in conspiracy lore.
Origins
The 2000 film “Dark Days” documented the lives of homeless people in the city’s abandoned tunnels. But conspiracy theorists go much further, describing lost “catacombs,” covert military labs, and ancient cults operating below ground—hidden from the world above.
The Conspiracy Theory
Some claim these underground realms are sites for secret experiments, interdimensional gateways, or even monstrous beings. Others argue the “mole people” are descendants of old immigrant families or government projects gone rogue. Theories tie into missing persons, strange subway noises, and a rich tradition of urban legend.
Core Principles and Beliefs
- Vast, uncharted tunnels connect the city to elite or occult organizations.
- Underground societies are involved in crime, survival, and perhaps more sinister activities.
- The existence of the underground is deliberately ignored or suppressed by authorities.
Controversies and Criticism
Skeptics say the stories are exaggerated, but real-life discoveries of lost tunnels keep the myths alive.
Key Examples
- The documentary “Dark Days.”
- 1990s tabloid reports of “mole people.”
Critical Analysis
The “Dark Days” conspiracy is a modern fairy tale about class, power, and what the city hides beneath its glittering surface.
Influential Literature: Pro & Contra
- Marc Singer – “Dark Days” (film) – 2000.
- Jennifer Toth – “The Mole People” – Chicago Review Press, 1995.
- Harry Granick – “Underneath New York” – St. Martin’s, 1991.