The Fourth Kind

The goosebump-raising moments are very effective, but the half-documentary concept was not a fortunate choice. Because of this, I didn’t believe that it was “based on real events”, as it looks like a B- movie based on jump scares in the packaging of a grade-A film. (07/02/2010)

A very attractive premise with an unfortunately tragic result. I don’t think there’s been anything in a film that has annoyed me so much as the “real footage” from this one. The director’s interview with the physician is so awfully unconvincing that it’s almost offensive that they expect us to believe it’s real. The actors aren’t very good, the script is all over the place; basically, this could have been a ten minute documentary, because all the chances for an interesting movie scene are squashed by the “real footage”, i.e. when something interesting starts to happen, the “real camera”, which for some unnatural reason had stopped shooting, returns and all you get are blurry images and screams. And that ending! It delivers an utterly pointless twist about something (perhaps the only thing) that didn’t need one at all! It made me facepalm in disbelief. I think I believe in the supernatural in some way, but that doesn’t mean I can like this film. PS: Owls are not what they seem… (15/01/2010)

Apparently, in horror today, besides massacring the youth, we also have the "based on true events" genre, where a few "documentary-like" shots are all it takes to get the box-office boxes clinking. I went into it with a clear head, but as soon as Milla walked into the frame, I had a hunch where the filmmakers would get their truth from. I admit that the experience wasn't that scary (in the filmmaking sense), but unfortunately, it wasn't emotional either. Paradoxically, it was the artificially induced atmosphere of unease that worked more for me than the hypnotic séances, but as it happens, horror is all about the characters. They don’t have a lot to do in the film, though you can't deny that they tried when they recite dialogue that seems to have taken place a decade earlier. I’m starting to yawn at this trend. 2 ½. (08/02/2010)

The beginning alone told me I was about to watch a total piece of crap. And the beginning didn't lie. I've liked Milla since the moment I saw her in The Fifth Element and even in Resident Evil, she's great... but I hated her here. The only thing less appealing was the director, the way he was sitting there with the "real" doctor, the way he talked, the faces he made... a disaster. What was it about? Why was it supposed to be so frightening? Do you believe in a close encounter of the fourth kind? Yeah, well, then maybe you would be scared. The son was a little shit from the looks of it, at least he had about three exits and two lines, all of which was him actually hating his mother the whole time. It's just so horribly scene-chewing. It doesn’t make sense. It's just a bad movie and I got nothing out of it. Except for a nauseated feeling. I apologize to all the fans, but this is a completely unnecessary movie. Would I recommend it? Not a chance. Could anyone like it? Yes, I know people who might. Are you one of them? If so, for God's sake, explain to me what you like about it! :-D (27/10/2010)

Personally, I’m a little worried. My mom told me how, when I was little, an owl landed and perched on my baby carriage, watching me. I wonder if that owl is still watching me. On the other hand, I live a pretty long way from Alaska, so I have nothing to fear. I’m sure of that. :) (07/03/2010)

It's like Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Die-hard naysayers will find this film laughable, and people who believe in UFOs or (in my case) are at least capable of thinking about them (because they're just not selfish enough to think the universe is dead except for us) will like it. As for The Fourth Kind, my only reservations are about the presence of the director himself in it - in my opinion, Dr. Tyler could have been interviewed by anyone else, but this Olatunde guy was obviously too eager to see himself on screen - and one scene from the final quarter of an hour (MAYBE SPOILER: It really wasn't necessary to show Milla on the deck of the ship and the alien "medical" instruments rotating around her). Otherwise, everything was OK. I liked the film, the scenes (hypnosis, the shooting, the final monologue of the real Tyler) gave me chills, the actors (Jovovich, Koteas, Patton) did a good job. Praise for the minimalistic but atmospheric music. And for the fact that we didn't see a single E.T. (25/07/2010)

A mediocre thriller-horror where probably the biggest flaw is the underdeveloped characters, because the viewer has no chance to form a relationship with any of them in 90 minutes, so all their "personal tragedies" for all practical purposes ring hollow. Milla's acting is quite decent, the soundtrack is passable, and the direction is commensurate with the quality of the film. 60% (18/01/2010)