The Fourth Kind [Blu-ray] at DVD Hills.com

The Fourth Kind [Blu-ray]

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Blu-ray details

Actor: Corey Johnson, Elias Koteas, Enzo Cilenti, Milla Jovovich, Will Patton
Brand: Universal Studios
Performer: Milla Jovovich
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 98 minutes
Published: 2010-03-01
Blu-ray Release Date: 2010-03-16
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios

Blu-ray Reviews of The Fourth Kind [Blu-ray]

Blu-ray Review: Based On Actual Case Studies Or Pure Marketing Gimmick?
Summary: 4 Stars

Hollywood has stooped to the `authentic" gimmick that uses the suggestion of truth to make the audience feel involved in the film. Movies such as "White Noise", "Blair Witch Project" and the more recent "Paranormal Activity" had their successes through the suggestion of an actual event. There is just nothing more strong than the power of suggestion, writer director Olatunde Osunsami's "The Fourth Kind" actually takes a more aggressive route in directly challenging its audience to make a decision whether or not this story is true. The film incorporates supposed actual archival footage while having scenes re-enacted from the original documentary footage.

The film begins with an introduction from actress Milla Jovovich challenging the viewer whether or not to believe what they are about to see. The fact is there have been a lot of disappearances in Nome but the investigations by the Anchorage Daily News found no specific events to back up the claims of the film. What we do know is the fact that there are a lot of unsolved disappearances and unsolved deaths in and around the town of Nome, Alaska. Authorities have placed the blame on the frequent disappearances because of alcoholism and its remote location. It is also questionable whether Abigail Tyler is a real person or not (since the film states that they changed the names of some of the persons involved) and findings does say that she isn't real.

The film suggests the idea that Olantunde Osunsami has assembled footage about the mysterious case studies of psychiatrist Abigail Tyler, who had become a witness to alien visitation through her patients. What began as a study on sleep disorder becomes something more frightening. The documented alien possessions and strange activities come in the form of video footage, the film fills in the gaps through dramatic recreations (or so it suggests) with Jovovich as Abigail Tyler. Mixing together the so-called "real" footage and the dramatization scenes. The film seeks to make a thorough portrait of the actual Nome incidents that places its questions on the viewer to decide what is real and what is not.

I had to look into the film's background before I wrote this review, and yes, the movie is a fictional tale and relies on the powers of suggestion to immerse the viewer into its premise. Fact sheets were handed out to viewers on screenings that state that the writer heard of an Abigail Tyler and the disappearances in Nome through a friend. Tyler had recorded footage that depicts terrifying scenes and the director uses them side by side with the re-enactments that features Jovovich and Will Patton. It read that during fall of 2000, sleep studies were conducted that showed extra normal activities to the therapist. The film is a sensory one, and I remained open-minded to the suggestion that it may be real but I do know that the movie was fun and rather scary on some key scenes. I guess I should just focus on the film itself rather than trying to deliberate whether the movie is in fact based on real truth or not.

"The Fourth Kind" may be a hoax or maybe it isn't...what is true and what isn't? This is the question that the filmmakers have to depend on to get its viewers invested in the film. Well, it is fictional but it is a fictional tale based on truth; I have seen enough documentaries that support this evidence. It may feel like a blatant stunt to pull off something like this, but the film does have several unnerving scenes and the way it suggests that some of the actual footages may be true does get the movie moving. The screenplay plays its cards right to give the film a noticeable distinctiveness, and the film is a clever attempt at originality. I somewhat wondered what it wanted to express at the 3-3:30 a.m. angle since most of the supposed 'invasion' happens during this time; is the movie also trying to convey a demonic possession?

The film is eager to play cerebral mind games with its viewer as it manages to sell the torment of psychiatrist Abigail Tyler as a woman devastated by the events in her life. Scientists have found no irrefutable evidence to the existence of extra-terrestrial life or are they just being covered up? I remain skeptical which probably why the movie was effective for me. Osunsami even follows some established scales of measurement in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". On this scale it states the first kind is "sighting", the second kind is "evidence", the third kind is "contact" and the fourth kind is "abduction".

The direction does feel a little overwhelmed with the manner that it juggles the so-called `actual footages' with the re-enactments. I felt a little bit of disconnection with some of the `shaky' camera movements and some scenes didn`t exactly feel like the movie was really occurring in Alaska. The film does have some very scary scenes of audio footages, video footages and the use of the ancient Sumerian language did send some chills down my neck. Of course, following the theories of alien presence, the actual footages gets fuzzy just before the scene's conclusion, leaving it up to the viewer to fill in the dots with the dramatization. There are several scenes of pure atmosphere but some of the suspense brought into the film is hampered by some of the performances we see onscreen. Will Patton was just so discordant as the town's sheriff. The film does emulate a small feeling of dread, the scenes with the supposed 'real' Abigail Tyler was interestingly well-conceived; she isn't as pretty as Jovovich and this makes her more accessible as to her supposed believability. Milla Jovovich was good in the alternate role of Tyler, this is a different Milla from the one we've seen in "Resident Evil" films; this is Milla in a dramatic role, no kicks and no snazzy action scenes. Elias Koteas is the character who was skeptical and still is despite what he has seen, I guess the direction wanted to pitch in a clever device that the viewer may connect with. For a gimmick such as this to succeed, it needs the performances to feel authentic.

So is "The Fourth Kind" a hoax or not? Well, I went into the movie with no knowledge about the film's production, and it is fairly convincing; it is clever enough to capitalize on the power of suggestion. Maybe the footages are real and maybe they aren't; but one thing I know for sure is that the film's marketing gimmick just goes straight on to ask the audience to try and buy into the story. I would go so far as to say that the film's marketing gimmick is a hoax; as for the film itself, it may indeed be a hoax but it is the manner by which it executes the scenes that gives the viewer the sensation of fear. I guess it all matters on what you think or believe; myself I've seen enough documentaries on TV to say that the possibilities of alien existence may be endless. This is fact: that there have been a very large number of disappearances and homicide in Nome, Alaska. FBI says that it is because of alcoholism and the harsh landscape is responsible. Fact 2: There has been sleep studies conducted in that area. Mumbo-jumbo or not, the film does provoke some thought, and provides a feeling of scary fun. The film can disturb on some levels especially if you're the kind who believes in alien abduction...

Recommended! [3 ½ Stars]

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Description of The Fourth Kind [Blu-ray]

In remote Alaska, citizens have been mysteriously vanishing since the 1960s. Despite multiple FBI investigations, the truth behind the phenomena had never been discovered?until now. While videotaping therapy sessions with traumatized patients, psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich) unwittingly exposes terrifying revelations of multiple victims whose claims of being visited by alien figures all share disturbingly identical details. Based on actual case studies, The Fourth Kind uses Dr. Tyler?s never-before-seen archival footage alongside dramatic reenactments to present the most disturbing evidence ever documented in this provocative thriller critics are calling ?terrifyingly real?The most shocking alien abduction movie to date.? ?Tim Anderson, BLOODY-DISGUSTING.COM

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The Fourth Kind [Blu-ray]