lathe-of-heaven I'm not really a big fan of Documentary style films, unless of course they are done well and the subject is interesting. Another similarly themed film that I liked was 'LAKE MUNGO' (2008). That one leaned a bit more toward the Paranormal, so it was more spooky. Whereas this one is more of a Sci Fi / Horror film, and has more of a Thriller / Suspense feel to it. I am most definitely NOT a fan of Found Footage films, but this one doesn't quite fall into that category (regardless of what some other clueless numbnuts have said here...) This is a DOCUMENTARY style film, not a Found Footage film...As a Documentary style film covering the activities of an investigative team who are looking into the disappearance of a boy at a ranch, it is fairly decent for the most part. I personally feel that what REALLY makes the film is most definitely the soundtrack; that is by FAR the strongest element of the movie. Very nice use of ambient sound, nighttime sounds, crickets, etc. There always seems to be some kind of ambient sound in the background which adds a great deal to the atmosphere; very similar to how David Lynch does in some of his films, particularly 'ERASERHEAD'.Also, what I like about this film as opposed to others that are similar, is the way the cameras are place around the ranch and the way those shots are nicely worked into the videographer's footage. So, you almost have the feeling of traditional establishment shots around the ranch, which especially at night, are quite effective. So, in other words, you don't have to suffer through shaky, hand-held camera shots throughout the ENTIRE film. The net effect is a bit more cohesive than usual for this type of movie.However... with that said... Unfortunately, what really detracts from the film is the acting. It is not ALWAYS bad; for the most part it is tolerable, considering the Documentary style. BUT... there are a few REALLY atrocious moments, particularly when people are getting upset (isn't that ALWAYS so hard to do...?) where the 'acting', such as it is, is pretty painful and amateurish, to say the least. IF the director(s) had been either a little more talented or experienced, they NEVER would have used the shots that they did in these scenes. They would have definitely gone back and used different takes. But... still... IF you can overlook those few moments, you are left with a pretty suspenseful and tense film that does indeed keep your interest all the way through.Now, one thing I really must add though... without giving anything important away, there ARE some rather imaginative elements that come into the film that may have SOME people rolling their eyes in disbelief. Thus the many blatantly negative Review Summaries here (such as 'Utter, utter, utter, utter, utter crap', etc... :) HOWEVER... IF you are the kind of person who likes a little 'Otherworldliness' in their films, and if you enjoy a nice X-Files-like vibe, then you should find this movie fairly entertaining.I REALLY wanted to give this film a '7', grading it on sort of a curve because it honestly is made quite well compared to a lot of other similar films, but the awful acting in a few places kind of brought it down to a strong '6'...But, there ARE indeed still plenty of good scares and some genuinely creepy moments to be enjoyed here...

ksgillihan Wanted to see this film for a while but heard average reviews about it so I put it off. The story is interesting as it does have some real life connection whether true or not it did make me curious to view it. Decent acting and writing and filmed in the found-footage style. It started off pretty effectively as the main characters settle into the setting and the plot moves along. Towards the middle and ultimately the end, it does start going in many different directions and seems a little jumbled. I understand that it is loosely based on "real events" and that there are supposedly different phenomenons happening around the same time line but it doesn't transfer well to film. In the end it was just attempting to exceed it's own grasp and fell short.

bowmanblue Is it a 'spoiler' to mention that a film is actually a 'found footage' film before you watch it? Personally, I'd say no. I think all 'found footage' films should come with a warning, mentioning that a film is 'found footage.' That way I can steer well clear. Sadly, for me, there was no warning and I ended up wasting an hour and a half of my time on this.I'm not a 'horror snob.' I actually really enjoyed The Blair Witch Project (and long before that Cannibal Holocaust, not to mention a very select few of more recent ones like REC). The 'found footage' genre CAN work. It's just 9/10 it doesn't. And it doesn't here. If you've seen one of the ten million horror B-movies made this way, i.e. filmed from the point of view of one of the characters all the way through with the other characters aware and reacting to the camera, then you've basically seen this. It's just typical of a found footage film. This time it's about aliens. But that doesn't matter. It could be about demons, witches or haunted houses – they're all exactly the same.The first half of the film, basically nothing happens. It's to do with 'character building.' Supposedly. Although it's probably less about introducing us to the characters' traits and more to do with filling the ninety minute runtime without having to pay for special effects or decent sets.Yes, the film has that credible 'documentary feel.' But that doesn't mean that it's either (a) scary (b) enjoyable or (c) memorable. All it is is yet another found footage film which you'll watch, not like and totally forget before wishing you hadn't wasted an hour and a half of your life on it.http://thewrongtreemoviereviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Jorge_Mota What I like most about this movie is that it cares little about movie-making and more about alerting viewers about the danger of chasing alien wolf-hyenas in the dark.It all starts with a statement about time slips that occur every day at 11:11 PM; that's really 23:11 but I think neither 23:11 nor 23:23 are as scary as 11:11. Thank God it all starts when the scientists first arrive at the ranch. Not that it's a first for the enterprise they are working for. But it's for them. So hell starts breaking loose as soon as they arrive with their cameras; hell loves an audience!One lesson I learned from this movie is that VHS tapes from the 60's are prone to electromagnetic interference pretty much like today's digital cameras. And the frames tend to slip too. Maybe that explain the 90's clothing and hairdo on the people filmed on the 60's tape.And, if you find boxes your bosses have buried in a closed barn 50 years previously, without telling you anything about it, stop digging after the second one, because the third is prone to have one of those dreadful 60's VHS tapes with electromagnetic interference and people dressing like it's the 90's.In the end, we all know what really happened in the Skywalker Ranch, and that if it ever happens at our house, all we have to do is to stand in the kitchen at 11:11PM to watch our loved ones running through. Mind the alien wolf-hyenas, though!I lived my entire life waiting to see a movie like this. KUdos to it's director, Ed Wood...