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An unreal tale of alien life in 'The Fourth Kind'
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A scene from The Fourth Kind - Image courtesy of Universal Pictures
Ever since the success of the “The Blair Witch Project” Hollywood studios have been trying to bank in the same formula releasing thriller after thriller based on “real” events. Such is the case with “The Fourth Kind” directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi – marking his feature film debut – that re-enacts “actual case studies” on alien abduction events.
The story focuses on the findings of Dr. Abigail Tyler in the small town of Nome after a few of her patients reveal the same sleeping disturbances in therapy sessions. Osunsanmi includes the documented footage and the ambitious dramatization via split screen to validate the narrative that is all based on Tyler’s point of view. Whether or not the good doctor is real that is entirely up to the audience to decide. The only thing clear in “The Fourth Kind” is that actress Milla Jovovich is an upgrade from the actual doctor seen in the video footage.
Osunsanmi understands cinematic style and uses the camera angles, lighting and alluring owls to symbolize the aliens and the environment around the characters. However, he never reveals other evidence to support Tyler’s finding – which at best can be interpreted as fake. The dialogue itself is either over the top or dumb down and even becomes offensive when explaining the classifications of close encounter with aliens – because no one has ever heard of them before, right? And if that is not enough there is a disclaimer at the beginning and the end of film asking everyone to believe what you need to.
“The Fourth Kind” is not an exposition of alien abductions but more of a highly ambitious, over-styled production with persuasive performances – both fictional and real – that is not worth the ticket price and can easily be watched at home. And that is my truth.
For more info: Tickets and showtime at Fandango
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