It was bound to happen--the faux documentary backlash, that is. The Blair Witch Project was hugely successful, Paranormal Activity less so, and now The Fourth Kind, which has potential but falls way short.
The story, supposedly true, is set in Nome, Alaska, and involves a local psychologist, Dr. Abigail Tyler (played by Milla Jovovich of the Resident Evil franchise), who treats several local patients suffering from sleep disturbances.
In an effort to find out what’s keeping her patients up at night, Dr. Tyler tapes audio sessions with her patients, and video tapes them as well while they are under hypnosis.
She quickly learns that not only are all of her patients describing the exact same experiences, but all of them have been abducted by aliens. (On the alien encounter scale, the first kind is called a "sighting", the second kind is called "evidence", the third kind is "contact" and the fourth kind is "abduction," thus, the film’s title.)
I have no issue with the plot—in fact, I find it intriguing. What I take issue with is the direction. Under the helm of the director, Olatunde Osunsanmi, who also co-wrote the film with Terry Robbins, all credibility is lost.
Osunsanmi starts the film by having Jovovich address the audience and explain that “all events are true and corroborated by archival footage and tapes, and that some of what viewers are about to see is very disturbing” (well, duh, that’s why we’re watching!) and these events are being reenacted by actors. Viewers are never able to forget that they are actors, as every time Jovovich is onscreen, a caption explains that “actor Milla Jovovich is playing Dr. Abigail Tyler” and so on.
Viewers are also told that names have been changed to protect the real victims’ privacy, including the real name of Dr. Tyler. Yet, in all archival footage, viewers clearly see her face and hear her voice (which doesn’t do much for her supposed anonymity).
Article comments
1 - Charles Del Campo
Was this a clever marketing Hollywood movie scheme? Perhaps..As an author of Secret Societies Exposed, Ufologist, Cult Investigator and former law enforcement, I conclude that this movie has profound merits as depicted with their representation of plausible events. Like so, there is no doubt that the film challenges our imagination with the premise of science VS fiction. Nonetheless, we are always fascinated with such mysteries of the paranormal and the universe! Like so, the acting was superb!! I have performed multiple field investigations of such paranormal anomalies and found Parapsychological evidence to support such claims even thought there are many unfounded cases that are classified as hoax.
Im also a Senior Paranormal Investigator with the Florida Paranormal Research Foundation and there are plenty of cases that exist that are beyond scientific and logical comprehension! Interestingly, the real AKA Dr. Tyler never received sufficient assistance in her case and was dismiss by officials since this type of conspiracy theory can never be ascertained by officials, FBI or government. Thus, can you Imagine the social crisis and religious pandemonium that would develop if the government was to confirm that Aliens are real! Subsequently, the Church will also lose its multibillion dollar a year franchises. In conclusion, the truth is out there....seek and thou shall find. I would like to find the real A.K.A. Dr. Abigail Tyler and re-open this cold case file in order for her to receive closure on her misfortune events! She deserves that much!
Charles Del Campo
Cult Investigator.
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