THE FOURTH KIND
(director/writer: Olatunde Osunsanmi; screenwriters: story by Terry Lee Robbins & Osunsanmi; cinematographer: Lorenzo Senatore; editor: Paul J. Covington; music: Atli Örvarsson; cast: Milla Jovovich(Dr. Abigail Tyler/herself), Elias Koteas (Abel Campos), Will Patton (Sheriff August), Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Awolowa Odusami), Corey Johnson (Tommy Fisher); Runtime: 98; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producers: Paul Brooks/Joe Carnahan/Terry Lee Robbins; Universal Pictures; 2009-USA/UK-in English & Aboriginal, with subtitles when appropriate)
“Filmed with too many re-creations of the shrink’s videotaped sessions.“
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
An alien abduction movie, set in the fall of 2000, purportedly based on actual events (actually it checked out as a hoax, with the abductions made up stories). It’s clumsily written and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi (“The Cavern”/”Evidence”) from a story by the director and Terry Lee Robbins. It’s filmed with too many re-creations of the shrink’s videotaped sessions. With the real Milla Jovovich introducing herself as playing the psychotherapist.Since the 1960s there has been no logical reason given why so many Alaskans in Nome have disappeared. Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich) is a psychotherapist (her expertise is as a sleep specialist) based in Nome, Alaska, whose videotaped sessions with her patients offer the best evidence of alien abductions ever documented. Abbey uses hypnosis to learn why dozens of residents find themselves suffering from an irritable sleep and soon she also shows these affects in her sleep. Abbey believes her husband was murdered by an alien intruder who came into their bedroom one night. This incident compels her to continue his investigations into Nome nightlife – as well as to why so many people in town are vanishing or committing suicide. Police chief August (Will Patton) isn’t impressed with this (Yeah! he might be the film’s typical viewer). Abbey therefore needs allies to help her find the answers before she gets sent to an asylum. Now wouldn’t that be a kick in the head. Since Art Bell and his late-night radio show specializing in the paranormal went off the air with his passing many years ago, how can the restless nighttime listener get their alien abduction updates? I know I miss them. But as far as believing Osunsanmi’s tall tales, that’s unlikely. Though some might find such a trashy film entertaining if it were better made.
REVIEWED ON 4/1/2019 GRADE: C+ https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/