This movie was genius.
I went in to this movie not understanding what I was signing up for. I knew it was "based on true events" but I mean come one. We all know what that means in the movie world. "Based on true events" horror films usually end up being less scary than completely made up because you sit there and you're like...that's dumb. They so obviously made 90% of that up. I mean they have potential, but most of them fail. Epically.
But...this movie was different. The opening was fabulous, having Milla Jovovich walk on screen and say "I'm actress Milla Jovovich and I will be portraying Dr. Abigail Tyler...*background info*...What you are about to see is extremely disturbing." (This is, by the way, the understatement of the year). It set up the premise of the film brilliantly. I think that if the film had been purely recreated footage it would have fallen down the same slippery slope to failure that so many before it has. But by mixing in interviews by the director with the real Abigail Tyler and actual (or fake actual...really it doesn't matter. The impact is the same) video and audio recordings the film makers scored big time. The recreations were creepy. The actual videos the placed next to and over top of the recreation? Those were deeply disturbing and downright terrifying. Someone earlier complained about the split screen and 'merry go round' shots, but I thought they were fabulous. I don't know, something about seeing several angles of things and seeing the real footage next to the recreated footage just made what was happening hit so much harder. And the sound!! The sound made this film. Using the real audio recordings, even when the only thing on the screen was reenactment, was just...inspired. Those sounds! I can't get them out of my head. There are just...no words.
I also just have to say that I loved the fact that they did not show the aliens. It made it infinitely more effective. In fact I think seeing aliens would have ruined the film. But not showing the aliens went back to the days of Hitchcock who showed us that the man with the ax is infinitely less terrifying than the idea of the man with the ax. This movie was very refreshing in a world where ridiculous amounts of gore and so one rule the horror scene. Gore and cheep scares can entertain us for a while but eventually just end up insulting our intelligence. But The Fourth Kind hits hard and is extremely disturbing, right to the core. Thank you film makers, for acknowledging our intelligence as viewers.
Honestly, I'd recommend this film to anyone who's looking for a truly terrifying horror film. But be warned. It's not for the faint of heart. But in all seriousness, the film was remarkably well done. Everyone in the theater sat for a good 5 minutes during the credits before we could speak or move. I adored this film, even if it looks like it is going to be leaving me without sleep for a while. Go. See it. Now.
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