Well, I think a lot of people out there think the whole alien/ufo topic is just nonsense. So it doesn't help the movie or people's opinion about it. Unfortunately, there's a reason for this, and it's because this topic is lumped in with all sorts of other paranormal/fringe subjects that are entertained by the so-called "tinfoil hat" crowd. So, a lot of people's minds shut down to any discussion of the topic as they immediately draw association with buzzwords and phrases like "conspiracy theorist" or "conspiracy nut" which have extremely negative implications, and effect. It's quite a powerful "tool" if an active disinformation campaign is to be believed. If it's not to be believed, then this is just one of those unfortunate aspects of exploring unpopular theories.
I must say, it also doesn't help that people like to think of themselves as "rational skeptics", which they misinterpret to mean that being overly skeptical (even to a fault) is seen as the hallmark of a healthy mind. So, this self-image tends to reaffirm their egotistical view of being well-informed, especially above others, which in turn reinforces the conviction of their willful ignorance. There's also other problems that come into play (on both sides of the equation, actually), like the availability heuristic/illusory correlation, confirmation/cognitive bias, and plenty of other aspects of human perception I'm probably forgetting. That isn't to say I think aliens are real and are here among us as hybrids or something... but I am interested in what people see in the skies, and the explanation behind certain cases.
A few that come to mind: Cash-Landrum incident, Eupen/Belgium case (photo), Phoenix lights (the fact that there were TWO purported incidents, one highly televised that was caught-on-camera after 10PM which happened AFTER initial reports of a BOOMERANG from earlier in the evening---suggesting an attempted flair dropping cover-up by the local military installation), and cases like these.
Anyway, sorry to get so far off topic. Personally, I liked this film because I find the notion of aggressive ET abduction, sinister agendas and their overall malevolence entertaining... and quite frightening! My personal belief on the topic of UFO visitation is actually irrelevant to my enjoyment of this film as I can suspend disbelief, and/or entertain the possibility in my imagination. To me, the absence of actual alien bodies in the film was a brilliant choice. It made my mind wonder with terror of who they are what the hell they want. Also I thought the audio track of the aliens speaking in that distorted tone, as well as the execution of the "dead" or ancient Sumerian language, as a stroke of genius. It sounded demonic as anything I've ever heard.
Now, I'm not saying the movie was perfect. But there are some definite things it did right, and some scenes that just made my pulse race. I thought it was rather refreshing as it wasn't just your run-of-the-mill Hollywood kitsch affair. Instead it took on the psychological terror aspect of alien abduction, did fairly well in achieving that goal.
Could it have been better? Definitely. But... I don't think I've seen a film quite like it, so there's not much to compare it to. And considering the consensus of responses to the film, I doubt we'll have much in the future TO compare it with, unfortunately. :(
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abro16
11 years ago
i think similar movie is
GRAVE ENCOUNTERS (2011)
Before this, it was Grave Encounters who took my nerves.
even though my conscious knew it is not-real...
but i watch movie from realistic point of view, what if it were real real?
(that's the way you enjoy the movie most!)
(And if it is horror, then watch at mid-night, turn-off lights, and increase the volume :P)
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isolated_ions
11 years ago
That's cool, I'll check it out. Actually after reading through the forum I found another movie that came out fairly recently, that might be similar, called 'Dark Skies' (2013). Amusingly enough when searching for that film, I accidentally found ANOTHER movie with an almost identical title called 'Darkening Sky' (2010). So, there you have it! Two more movies (3 for me) to go and seek out to watch.
And yes, I agree... you let your imagination do the work, suspend disbelief, and put yourself into the shoes of the character. Imagine that it was really happening. Some people can't do that, or again that whole "rational skepticism" thing gets in the way and they find the whole thing silly. These are probably the same people who judge a movie's quality on the amount of explosions and car chases that happened on-screen. Of course I'm just being sardonic... but there maybe a little truth to that.
You're also right about watching these films alone, late a night when it's quiet, as it helps dramatically set the mood. IMO any type of psychological horror, particularly those with a supernatural element, can be great films. Exorcist comes to mind. Of course, I saw this when I was a young kid, when my imagination was extremely more vivid, and so it scared the daylights out of me (though things like Jason and Freddy Kruger were just laughable to me as a kid, even though you maybe thought were cool because you occasionally saw teenage girls topless and gory deaths).
Another movie that had me spooked as a youngster was 'Witchboard'... even though it was pretty campy and obviously low budget. Again, there was this aspect of psychological terror from a non-corporeal thing, unseen and yet it could manifest physically either through evil will or inhabiting and possessing a human body. For me, there was something always really evil about ancient, tormented "beings" that come from the places between worlds, or enslaved in crypts beyond the stars, older than time and slumbering until awoken or invoked.
Obviously having an appreciation for things like mythic demonic lore (or demonology in general), writers like Lovecraft, Barker, etc... helps frame the mindset. I mean, I remember being fascinated by these things as a child, movies like Hellraiser 1 & 2 or The Omen. Or just reading parts from the book of Revelation in the bible and thumbing through short stories from Lovecraft at night. So... that could also be why its easy for me to enjoy a film like this with the unseen presence, the demonic voice and ancient Sumerian language tie-in, claiming to be "THE FATHER", to be "ALL" and having a "TRUTH WHICH REMAINS HIDDEN". Very creepy.
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