The Fourth Kind Movie Review

Following the success of “Paranormal Activity”, Universal Pictures releases yet another thriller focusing on the concept of alien abduction coined “The Fourth Kind”. The pseudo-documentary style sci-fi horror film is the first major production for writer and director Olatunde Osunsanmi, a protegee of director Joe Carnahan. Shot in Bulgaria, the film claims that it is based on “actual case studies”. It depicts original footage and re-enactment by actors often side-by-side on screen as well as allegedly never-before-seen archival footage.

Opening the film is Milla Jovovich telling the audience she’s depicting a real person, psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler. Also she gives off a word of warning for the audience that it is up to them whether they would believe what they see or not. Set in modern-day Nome, Alaska, multiple FBI Investigations and locals attempt to discover the cause of numerous numbers of people gone missing. Dr. Tyler, the recently widowed psychiatrist believes there is something else going on. Utilizing hypnosis, she learns that her most disturbed patients are suffering from similar visions such as an owl that is not really an owl waking them up at 3:33 AM. She began videotaping sessions with traumatized patients as they run through patients’ recovered memories with violent reactions including levitation, speaking in demonic tongues, and freaky Exorcist-style scenes.

Director Olatunde Osunsanmi deserves much credit for creatively shooting and editing the movie with most of the scare and thrill coming from the documented footage. He also sneakily builds up thrill as when something off-the-wall happens the camera purposely provides viewers only a glimpse of the scene. This creates a build-up of excitement as the events are left to one’s imagination to continuously haunt them until they get home.

What amazes me, in the weird way though, is how it seems nobody in Nome, Alaska has ever heard of alien abductions. The Sheriff played by Will Patton even thinks Dr. Tyler is causing these to happen to her patients and attempts to arrest her.

High credits should be given to the amazing cast for their highly believable performances that would guarantee to creep even after credits roll. The real Dr. Tyler was scary as she looks heavily sedated and audience would be terrified of how she tortures patients by letting them relive the experience of the abduction. Her interview shows how she is turning more upset and begins to crack over grief from her husband’s death and fear of experiencing alien abduction as well.

No one could tell whether the film was real or not yet viewers don’t mind as long as they are provided with a thriller that would chill them for a long time.