In a small mountain village called Odd, located in West Virginia, about 800 people live.
In 2004, photographer and documentarian Mark Light, a seeker of unusual stories, arrived in this remote and hard-to-reach area to capture the lives of the locals. However, his arrival did not go unnoticed — during his first encounter, the locals greeted him with aggression.
But after a lengthy conversation, Light was able to explain his motives. He told them that his goal was not to intrude into their lives for sensational purposes, but to study the social aspects of the region.
When Light finally arrived at the Whittaker family’s home, he was met with a horrifying sight — a dilapidated house surrounded by trash and numerous restless dogs. The Whittaker family members themselves — the “twins” Betty, Lorraine, and Ray, their brother Freddy, and cousin Timmy — looked even more frightening. Their speech consisted of sounds resembling barking and grunting, and they had not been taught basic reading and writing skills.
While studying their lives, Light discovered that the cause of their condition was a family tradition of incest. In 1937, a cousin and cousin married, which led to the birth of many children, who also entered into close blood relations. This chain of events created the Whittaker family, whose physical and mental problems were the result of accumulated genetic effects.
Despite their repulsive appearance and behavior, Light found that the Whittakers were friendly and harmless.
