The Fourth Kind (2009)

Director:

Olatunde Osunsanmi

Writers (WGA):

Olatunde Osunsanmi (screenplay)
Olatunde Osunsanmi (story) ...

Release Date:

6 November 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

There are four kinds of alien encounters. The fourth kind is abduction.

Plot:

Fact-based thriller involving an ongoing unsolved mystery in Alaska, where one town has seen an extraordinary number of unexplained disappearances during the past 40 years and there are accusations of a federal cover up.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Abduction | Alaska | Disappearance | UFO

Cast

Milla Jovovich	...	Abbey Tyler
Will Patton	...	Sheriff August
Hakeem Kae-Kazim	...	Awolowa Odusami
Corey Johnson	...	Tommy Fisher
Enzo Cilenti	...	Scott Stracinsky
Elias Koteas	...	Abel Campos
Eric Loren	...	Deputy Ryan
Mia McKenna-Bruce	...	Ashley Tyler
Raphaël Coleman	...	Ronnie Tyler
Daphne Alexander	...	Theresa
Alisha Seaton	...	Cindy Stracinski
Tyne Rafaeli	...	Sarah Fisher
Pavel Stefanov	...	Timothy Fisher
Kiera McMaster	...	Joe Fisher
Sarah Houghton	...	Jessica

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violent/disturbing images, some terror, thematic elements and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44661) | Japan:G | Ireland:15A | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Gold Circle Films

Trivia:

The movie's hoaxed interviews have angered the families of real missing persons in and around Nome, Alaska, for trivializing their loss. Melanie Edwards, Vice President of Kawerak Inc (an organization representing tribal peoples in Alaska) described the movie as "insensitive to family members of people who have gone missing in Nome over the years". Universal has refused to discuss the movie with that organization or with local journalists.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the film, there is a sheriff and deputies that provide police service to Tyler's home. This is wrong, as Nome has a police department, and there are no sheriffs in the state of Alaska.

Movie Connections:

References Communion (1989)

A Few Minor Niggles

I had the opportunity of seeing this film at an early screening, and though my reaction to this film's technical devices was quite mixed, the constant uncertainty as to whether or not the sometimes downright disturbing patient interviews are real is... well... frankly, I'm having a little trouble sleeping right now, which is why I'm up early in the AM writing this review. At points, things occur on the camera that would careen terribly close to cheesy if that niggling doubt weren't present... did this happen? Was this real? Suddenly, it's not funny alien movie shtick. It is horrifying. Point blank horrifying. Early research into the film's viral campaigns hasn't produced anything absolutely definitive of the like that illuminated The LOCH NESS SPACE CONNECTION as true, YET, and so long as that doubt remains, the film can be incredibly effective. There are a few technical hiccups, as I mentioned at the beginning, like chaotic amounts of split-screening between action, and merry-go-round shots that are a bit nauseating (when you see the opening, you will know what I mean here.) The film is also not above pandering to several alien-abduction, TV-special clichés, such as a brief "simulation" of an "alien experimenting forceps," and, of course, the wrap-up text (overlaid across mountain vistas) announcing where the characters are now and how insanely unsolvable the mystery is. The story is also a bit slow in building its setting before introducing the reason people are there: ALIENS. But, despite those obstacles, The Fourth Kind really can pull off creepy-as-hell when it counts, all without once indulging in CGI space monsters or artistic renditions of such - and that alone I give it kudos for. I would recommend going in expecting more of a Spielberg's E.T. production and not Disney's Muppets in Space, to be clear.

Bottom line: I could only wish that a war of the worlds type alien invasion would happen and suck the living flesh away from the consumers, skin them alive, all while they hold their dear flags and sing their anthems.