A filmmaker who shed light on what has been described as “America’s most inbred family” recently shared details of his initial encounter with them.
Mark Laita, known for his documentary about the Whittaker family from Odd, West Virginia, made his first contact with them five years ago. Since then, he has revisited them multiple times to provide updates through his YouTube channel.
The family’s inbreeding roots trace back to the marriage of children from identical twin brothers, Henry and John, leading to a lineage marked by inbreeding that resulted in severe disabilities among many descendants.
Laita revealed the initial challenges he faced in approaching the family due to their protective neighbors.
Eventually, he found a police officer who escorted him to their residence, as reported by the Mirror US.
In an interview on the Koncrete Klips podcast, the filmmaker recounted his journey to the family’s location: “We followed a road that transitioned into a rural path, eventually leading to a dirt road,” according to the Mirror US.
Describing his initial interaction with the family, Laita likened it to a scene from the movie Deliverance. He shared, “One man, upon any interaction, would scream, run away with his pants falling, and kick a trash bin repeatedly. It was chaotic – one of the most bizarre experiences I’ve witnessed.”
Initially hesitant to engage, the family gradually warmed up to Laita after he offered to take photos for a deceased family member’s funeral.
In 2020, Laita returned to film a documentary titled Inbred Family – The Whittakers, detailing their lives.
Although communication with the family posed challenges, Laita has since created videos for his YouTube channel, Soft White Underbelly, chronicling their daily lives.
These videos feature titles such as “Christmas season with the Whittakers,” “The Whittaker family cemetery,” and “The Whittakers go to the state fair.”
Laita acknowledged the mixed reactions his videos have received over time, ranging from labeling him as exploitative to praising the content as “remarkable.”
While admitting the exploitative nature of his work, Laita justified it as a reflection of reality, stating: “Despite feeling exploitative, it’s essential to acknowledge these realities. Just as hotels cater to our need for rest and restaurants exploit our hunger, photography and videography inherently involve an element of exploitation.”
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