In a small Alaskan town, where unexplained disappearances have occurred for 40 years, we are told the Alien encounters we are about to see, are real.
The Fourth Kind
I don’t like being treated like an idiot right off the bat, normally it takes a good 20 minutes to insult my intelligence. In the case of The Fourth Kind, I am instantly hit with the idiot stick by Milla Jovovich.
Jovovich immediately lets us know that she’ll be portraying Tyler and that the archival footage of her work and interviews is real. In case you can’t figure out which scenes are a reenactment, and which is out of the archives, the writers have instructed Jovovich to help us out by hitting you on the head with a tack hammer.
Apparently the 350 lb popcorn devouring Behemoth next to me was thankful for this piece of advice, as she bellowed out a ‘Oh No She Din’t’ at the screen. You see, when you take up 2 seats at the theater, and only have to pay for one, you have a right to argue with a fictional digital projection, and enlighten the rest of us along the way.
Back to the film. The Fourth Kind was rather entertaining, despite the fact I was surrounded by what was quite possible the studio audience from Jerry Springer.
The Fourth Kind sort of waddles along with Jovovich doing a decent job, and Will Patton over-acting almost every scene in the film. He plays the often overdone part of the Cop who when confronted with irrefutable or evidence, refuses to acknowledge the possibility of something “else,”. You know the character, he’s in every single paranormal movie.
The Fourth Kind is often entertaining, somewhat interesting and if anything was released at the wrong time. With Paranormal Activity still going strong at the box office, people aren’t dishing out dollars for two movies dealing with the paranormal, and clearly one film is better at it than the other.
That doesn’t make The Fourth Kind a bad movie though, just a victim of bad timing. I’m going to see it again, which is something I rarely do. This time around, I’m going to the latest showing possible, to avoid the crowds, so I can watch it in peace.
The Action
The Action is pretty good, pretty creepy and often bizarre.
The Frights
The Fourth Kind is frightening, because the thought of aliens frightens me.
The Effects
Pretty cool effects, the archival footage is great.
What’s good about it?
Milla Jovovich and the alien footage.
What’s bad about it?
Will Patton. If there was an award for over-actor of the year, Patton would get 7 nominations.
You’ll Like It If
Looking for a creepy, frightening movie? The Fourth Kind is for you.
What I learned
One garbage can of popcorn is just an appetizer for some people.
The Verdict
The Fourth Kind was a fun film, with more scares than I expected. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun night at the movies.
Related Resources
Tags: Alien Movie, Aliens, Horror 2009, Milla Jovovich, Movie Review, November 2009, Science Fiction 2009