The Fourth Kind (Olatunde Osunsanmi, 2009)

Yet again, another film that claims to be fact-based and in cooperation with true events.
This film in no way tries to hide this, as the opening dialogue is presented by Milla Jovovich, speaking straight into camera, directly to the members of the audience explaining the construction of the film and the role she will play (Dr. Abigail Tyler). It has been widely discussed on various websites and such, about the validity of such a person. I do believe her to be a fabricated for entertainment purpose (and not necessarily “good” entertainment).

Throughout the duration of the film “real” footage is shot alongside reconstructed events by well known (or recognisably professional) actors – Milla Jovovich, Will Patton, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Elias Koteas, for instance. I do not know if this juxtaposition of “real” events and reconstruction was supposed to strengthen their argument for ‘truth’, and if this is so, it was not successful. Although a lot of the images were impressive, the sheer force that was thrust upon the viewers into believing that these events did in fact take place was far too much.
The director, Olatunde Osunsanmi, interviews the “real” Dr. Abigail Tyler in a made-up studio setting, they drive the narrative forward by explaining the events and her subsequent reactions to them, this seemingly solidifies the legitimacy of truth. The absence of the actor’s real identity from websites such as IMDb is something that has been done before, with The Blair Witch Project (1999), were the actors from the film were claimed to be deceased, until, of course, it was confirmed that all footage was fictitious.
The subject matter, alien abduction, is left open and continuously questions the phenomenon that many thousands, if not millions, of people have claimed to have experienced. For those who have knowledge, or interest, in this topic may find this film slightly simplistic, as it in now way alludes to anything the public cannot have learnt from films such as, Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Spielberg, 1977), Fire in the Sky (Lieberman, 1993) or even TV Series, “Taken” (2002).

Like Paranormal Activity (and lets be honest, most films), the marketing and promotion of The Fourth Kind only sets you up for a fall, and leads your expectations awry. Disappointing.