cricketbat The Fourth Kind just tries too hard. It tries too hard to be scary and it tries too hard to prove how "true" the story is. This movie has some creepy moments, but overall it's kind of a mess. I think the trailer is better than the movie itself. If you want to see a good alien abduction story, watch an X-files episode.

Cathex You've heard about those old 'snake oil' salesmen in the Old West right? Well it seems one of them decided to make a movie. And much like the garbage bottles of ointments and tonics those old con-men made a living from, this movie too is at best worthless and at worst harmful. The movie begins by vigorously stating that the whole thing is based on actual events and real archive footage. The only problem is that very quickly it appears that the so called 'real' footage is somehow not quite right. It kind of hits you in increments... First these poor alien victims seem to be acting up. Then there's all the make-up they seem to be wearing. Then there's the edited camera angles during their interviews. Then there's the over the top captioning to the effect of 'this footage is really real', even down to the point when someone is screaming it reads...'screams'. And then finally there's the police cam footage of some local lunatic killing his family and then blowing his brains out and suddenly it becomes painfully obvious... it's all lies.Frankly I was relieved that the efforts of the editor and director in faking all this footage had been so woefully poor. I was glad I didn't live in a world where hysterical and obviously disturbed individuals are further harmed by well meaning but totally incompetent therapists (I know, don't say it!). But after this came the anger at the realisation that once you glean, as you quickly will, that it's all a load of smoke and mirrors the movie is not good enough anymore to actually stand on its own feet. It seems it was solely dependent on the audience's believing in it for any of its appeal. Without that it's just all melodramatic screaming, nonsense scripting and cliché madness. But it's worse than that, it's irresponsible. Without getting personal, any rational individual will understand that alien abduction is about as likely as a duck quacking the complete works of Shakespeare in Morse code. (No really, there are statistical analyses of the probability of alien abduction and let's just say it's a number with so many zeros you can't fit them on a calculator). So it's safe to say that people who actually do believe that they've been abducted or visited by aliens are probably in need of emotional help or else suffering from the terrifying and unfortunate symptoms of sleep paralysis. So what effect is this kind of trickery going to have on them?Perhaps the director thought this would be a more radical version of the Blair Witch project? Only the problem is, whereas few people are traumatised by a real life belief in having been attacked by an undead witch in the forest, many people actually do believe in aliens and some of those people are clearly unstable. By consequence of its shameless fraudulence this movie thus has some explaining to do to the young and impressionable, those who don't have a firm grip on reality and those who are in need of therapy. And also to everyone else who watches it, because movies should be good enough to be entertaining without having to rely on manipulation and lies damn it!

Python Hyena The Fourth Kind (2009): Dir: Olatunde Osansanmi / Cast: Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, Corey Johnson, Charlotte Milchard: Supposedly based on actual ominous cases and disappearances in Alaska. What the fourth kind is isn't clear. Are the first three kinds male, female and animal? Just asking, that's all. Dr. Emily Tyler witnessed the murder of her husband by unseen forces. Director Olatunde Osansanmi presents this in documentary form mixed with shock moments of possession that viewers may not buy. Apparently when snowy owls perch just outside your window, it indicates an encounter with another life form. Milla Jovovich plays Dr. Tyler whose hypnosis open horrors and eventual separation from her children. Elias Koteas is flat as her psychiatrist. He does little more than reassure her sanity and assist her in dealing with accusations that point her as guilty. Will Patton plays Sheriff August who grows fearful and impatient particularly when cops watching the residents are found dead. Corey Johnson plays a patient under guidance by Tyler. He will allow himself to be hypnotized but eventually his trauma leads to murder suicide. Charlotte Milchard makes an appearance as the real version of the Jovovich character. Well made film that draws heavily on supposed unexplained events that go unanswered. It toys with claims that never convince yet it catches our imagination. Score: 6 / 10

allyatherton Starring Milla Jovovich, directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi and written by Olatunde Osunsanmi and Terry Robbins.This is a controversial film that claims to be based on true events and whether it is or not, it's a fantastic movie, Do me a favour. Watch this in the dark and close the curtains and enjoy it for what it is.It's creepy and gripping and haunting and terrifically acted by everyone, especially the lovely Milla Jovovich. I don't know if the events in the film actually happened or whether it's a big fat lie and part of me wants it to be a lie because otherwise some really messed up stuffed happened back in 2002!But true or untrue, it's well worth a watch. So go on get this and turn off that light. You won't be disappointed.10/10