Screen
The Fourth Kind
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 (5:10 p.m.)
Milla Jovovich plays Dr. Abigail Tyler in alien abduction film “The Fourth Kind.”
The Details
- The Fourth Kind
- Milla Jovovich, Will Patton, Elias Koteas.
- Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi.
- Rated PG-13.
- Beyond the Weekly
- The Fourth Kind
- Rotten Tomatoes: The Fourth Kind
- IMDb: The Fourth Kind
Purporting to be based on actual case studies and recordings, the alien-abduction thriller The Fourth Kind is almost certainly a bunch of hooey. First-time writer-director Olatunde Osunsanmi goes out of his way to convince the audience that his movie is drawn from real life; star Milla Jovovich opens the movie by directly addressing the camera, explain that she’ll be portraying psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler, who in 2000 uncovered supposed evidence of widespread alien abductions in Nome, Alaska, and was the victim of alien abduction herself. We’re then shown the “real” Dr. Tyler, being interviewed by Osunsanmi and narrating the story as we watch it unfold.
This device doesn’t make things seem more real; if anything, it puts an immediate distance between the audience and the characters, as we’re constantly being reminded that the narrative bits are merely “dramatization,” and Osunsanmi uses frequent split-screens to play that dramatization alongside the “real” footage, with copious expository voice-over. The dramatizations are predictable and about on the level of a subpar X-Files episode, with Jovovich’s Dr. Tyler butting heads with both Angry Local Sheriff (Patton) and Skeptical But Supportive Colleague (Koteas) over the true nature of what’s happening.
The other Dr. Tyler appears no less fictional, with a long, gaunt, pale face and wide eyes that make her look like an alien herself. Were this movie actually what it says it is, it’d be a reprehensible piece of exploitation; instead it’s just another lame thriller with a few cheap scares.
1 Comment So Far
The Fourth Kind deserves more than 2 stars... Definitely a 4 1/2 in my book. Saw The Fourth Kind at a recent screening and I thought the movie was one of the best sci-fi horror films that's been released in a long time. There are certainly moments throughout the film that will freak you out, including the raw footage... but it was a very disturbing movie overall and it does its job in leaving you questioning in the end. I plan on seeing this movie again when it opens this weekend... the movie is totally worth watching.
Add your comments...
-
Friday
2009-11-20
Palms
3rd Annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas Art Auction & Reception
-
Friday
2009-11-20
Xania's Hot Spots
-
Friday
2009-11-20
Xania's Hot Spots
- More ›
-
Saturday
2009-11-21
Sports-Fighting
-
Saturday
2009-11-21
Xania's Hot Spots
-
Saturday
2009-11-21
Xania's Hot Spots
- More ›
-
Sunday
2009-11-22
The Strip
-
Sunday
2009-11-22
Xania's Hot Spots
-
Sunday
2009-11-22
Xania's Hot Spots
- More ›
-
Monday
2009-11-23
Central
-
Monday
2009-11-23
$1 Budweiser and Bud Light draft beer, $2 Bud bottles
Southwest
Monday Night Football specials at Feelgoods Rock Bar & Grill
-
Monday
2009-11-23
The Strip
- More ›
-
Tuesday
2009-11-24
Lake Las Vegas
-
Tuesday
2009-11-24
$2 well drinks and bottled beer
Xania's Hot Spots
-
Tuesday
2009-11-24
Rio
- More ›
-
Thursday
2009-11-26
Xania's Hot Spots
-
Thursday
2009-11-26
Comedy
-
Thursday
2009-11-26
Xania's Hot Spots
- More ›
Xania's Hot Spots - This Week's Special Events
- Adelita's Way at Cherry (Saturday, Nov. 21)
- Amir Sadollah hosts at Prive (Saturday, Nov. 21)
- Natasha Wicks hosts at Hawaiian Tropic Zone (Saturday, Nov. 21)
- Natasha Wicks hosts at Hawaiian Tropic Zone (Saturday, Nov. 21)
- Tito Ortiz hosts at Lavo (Saturday, Nov. 21)
- Markus Schulz at Rain for Perfecto (Saturday, Nov. 21)
- Amir Sadollah hosts at Prive (Saturday, Nov. 21)
Commenting requires registration.