Apparently based on actual case studies, THE FOURTH KIND is set in Nome, Alaska, where citizens have been mysteriously vanishing since the 1960s.
When young psychologist Dr Abigail Tyler (played by both MILLA JOVOVICH and CHARLOTTE MILCHARD) video tapes therapy sessions with deeply traumatised patients, she unwittingly discovers there is a terrifying connection between them. All tell of suddenly waking up at night to find an Owl at the window staring at them, then unknown figures entering the bedroom. Even under deep hypnosis the victims cannot describe these creatures, only that they are intent on terrible things . When one of her patients suffers a breakdown and subsequently murders his own family, Dr Tyler tangles with local policeman Sheriff August (WILL PATTON), a man who suspiciously believes she is a menace to everybody at Nome with her increasingly bizarre conspiracy theories. Are Aliens really abducting the local citizens and carrying out experimental research on them? Did Dr Tylers husband actually die as she claims, stabbed to death by an unknown intruder one night while he lay in bed next to her, despite the fact that she cannot describe the murderer?
While I found THE FOURTH KIND quite suspenseful at times, it was certainly not as scary as I had expected. The use of so-called actual footage is nothing new, either, having been used to greater effect in previous films such as THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and CLOVERFIELD, but at least the cast performances are good. Picture and sound quality are adequate but we have to remember that the archive footage is meant to look sub-standard so the film does not always do justice to the Blu-Ray format.
For a film of this type, potential for Special Features is very high yet the only bonus here is the Original Theatrical Trailer. The disc could have included so much more, such as documentaries on this controversial subject or at the very least a short Making Of, but it seems all the other features have been well and truly abducted by Aliens themselves!
This has got to be the best thriller I have seen in a long time. If you like the 6th sense and stir of echoes then you will love this film. The film is well scripted acted and the direction is second to none.The story is brilliant and has some genuinely chilling moments. The film has jumps, twists and dramatic licence that pulls you to the edge of your seat.
The Child actors are superb with a totally suger and brat free zone, The film is chilling and has all the great horror lines "get your family out of the house now!" in masses. I watched this film with my wife and she loved it too. The film will appeal to the thriller fans and horror buffs, all in all a great film on a great disc.
I've read elsewhere on the web that a lot of people have major problems with overall shoe string budget quality feel of director Rob Zombie's 2009 remake of Halloween 2. And also from that the overall picture failed in conveying a particular engaging story. I completely disagree or and in fact have to say that those low level aesthetics and shooting on the fly is what makes this film such a rich experience and a strong standout from the heard of remakes that we keep seeing year to year. I feel that Zombie has a very firm grasp on the release of dread and a control of the character development while still moving the story along in broad strokes. Most telling is the pizza dinner scene where Sheriff Brackett , Laurie, and Annie try to share a normal and calm makeshift family dinner before Laurie erupts into an ill timed emotional outburst that just drips with the looming dread that just lurks around the corner. But mainly the first 20 or so minutes with Laurie evading a grizzly murder via a now bearded almost more human Michel Myers in a dreary grey hospital just pumps with anxious momentum that thrives on a less is more approach. I wasn't going in to this a Rob Zombie fan but I left with the enjoyment of experiencing a hyper stylish, cool, blood drenched slasher epic. Plus the soundtrack and dream sequences work pretty well. I mean its cool so whatever....
This film has some very interesting elements. The actors aren't bad by any means and, although touched on before, the overall idea adds to the potential scare. The fact that the entity is attached to the woman rather than the house makes it more unnerving. The scares ramp up nicely but the footprints totally blew it for me. Had they been human.....yikes.....as it was....oh purlease! Although this kind of stuff obviously does not happen in real life, i found it easy to suspend by disbelief until this point. Worth a look but a bit of a missed opportunity in my opinion. Ending? Nicely done, yes a bit hollywood, but suitable for the film.