The Fourth Kind

Nov 2009, Olatunde Osunsanmi, 98 mins

The Fourth Kind is a spine-tingling experiment in horror which relies on the audience to buy into the ‘truths’ of the film. Directed by newcomer, Olatunde Osunsanmi the film plays as a handsome re-enactment of true events. The actors actually speak to the camera as themselves explaining the events their characters will be portraying? Confused? Well, it is a tough endeavor to hold an audience in suspense when you are continually telling them that what they are watching is a movie.

There are moments of true genius mixed in with the sometime faulty set ups. With scenes of “actual” footage of events being split screened with the fictional re-enactment of said scene. Again, a bit confusing. The genius is the way the filmmakers are able to blur the line and inter-cut the actors and the “real” subjects.

The acting is bland and the interviews contrived but never have I had so much fun watching a theatrical chiller. The movie is creepy as hell. You don’t know what was actually taped and what Hollywood brewed up on a sound stage. The idea of alien encounters is a classical cinematic genre and The Fourth Kind deserves to be seen.

The fundamental flaws of poor acting, the continuous explanation by all included that what you are watching is a film, and the dullness of the dialogue all play a part in holding it back from greatness. It is a little frustrating when a moment of great suspense is followed by an almost laughably taped interview segment. Osunsanmi , who uses himself as an interviewer periodically throughout the film, should have stayed behind the camera. He inadvertently distracts the viewer with his odd pauses and mannerisms that should have been left on the cutting room floor.

In the long, boring, sometimes idiotic array of sci-fi horror, The Fourth Kind is still a step above the field. Is it The Shining? ...no. But is it as good as The Ring? ...yes, easily so.