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The Fourth Kind

Play trailer Poster for The Fourth Kind PG-13 Released Nov 6, 2009 1h 38m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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18% Tomatometer 114 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Since the 1960s, a disproportionate number of the population in and around Nome, Alaska, have gone missing. Despite FBI investigations, the disappearances remain a mystery. Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich), a psychologist, may be on the verge of blowing the unsolved cases wide open when, during the course of treating her patients, she finds evidence of alien abductions.
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Critics Consensus

While it boasts a handful of shocks, The Fourth Kind is hokey and clumsy and makes its close encounters seem eerily mundane.

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Critics Reviews

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Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness [The] ostensible archival footage proves so clunky and transparently phony that the entire gimmick collapses. Rated: C- Jan 5, 2011 Full Review Ian Buckwalter NPR When the director divides the screen into quadrants for his big finish, the effect is just laughable -- but then by that point, the movie is too. Rated: 3.9/10 Jul 4, 2010 Full Review Joshua Rothkopf Time Out Unfortunately, none of the subsequent noise is all that scary, and the striving for Paranormal Activity's buzz is shameless. Rated: 2/5 Nov 11, 2009 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review The Fourth Kind is nothing more than an elaborate hoax to draw UFO enthusiasts. Rated: 0.5/4 Mar 7, 2024 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com The 'Fifth Kind' is when you're stupid enough to spend your hard earned cash to view what is easily one of 2009's worst films and a surefire Razzie nominee for Worst Picture. Rated: 0/4.0 Sep 8, 2020 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Filmed with too many re-creations of the shrink's videotaped sessions. Rated: C+ Apr 29, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ian H Dark, alien abduction movie with some menace and a strong cast. Paced nicely and well acted Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/16/25 Full Review Wa T How anyone can call this magnificent movie anything but ?? Mila Jovovich is extremely talented in being able to give off an overall feeling of anxiety that the film absolutely needs to get the viewers where they need to be .The sumerian aspect I think is a pretty believable touch. I do not understand how these so called movie reviewers can give this movie such a low rating ! These reviewers obviously can't escape out of their minds somewhat and just let a movie flow through. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/25 Full Review Lyra S A Chilling Take on Alien Encounters! As an astronomical autodidact, I’ve spent countless hours studying the cosmos, contemplating the vastness of the universe, and considering the statistical likelihood of extraterrestrial life. Naturally, I was drawn to The Fourth Kind, a film that delves into the terrifying possibility of alien abduction. While the movie presents itself as a mix of dramatization and “real” archival footage (a claim that has been widely debated), it succeeds in delivering an eerie and unsettling experience that lingers long after the credits roll. Milla Jovovich delivers a gripping performance as Dr. Abigail Tyler, a psychologist in Nome, Alaska, whose patients experience disturbing sleep paralysis, mysterious disappearances, and eerie recollections of something beyond human comprehension. The film taps into one of the most chilling aspects of alleged alien encounters—the idea that these beings might not just observe us from afar, but interact with us in ways that fundamentally alter our perception of reality. From an astronomical perspective, The Fourth Kind raises fascinating questions. If intelligent extraterrestrials have indeed reached Earth, would they follow a pattern of gradual contact, much like the “Close Encounter” classifications suggested by J. Allen Hynek? Or would they operate beyond our understanding of physics, time, and consciousness? The film suggests the latter, portraying these beings as terrifyingly advanced—possibly even beyond our traditional notions of biological life. While the "real footage" angle is a clear storytelling device rather than genuine documentation, the psychological horror of the film is undeniably effective. It plays on the universal fear of the unknown and the possibility that humanity is not in control of its own fate. Though the film leans more into horror than hard science, it still resonates with those of us who ponder the implications of extraterrestrial intelligence and its potential impact on humanity. If you're fascinated by the mysteries of the universe and enjoy films that blend sci-fi with psychological terror, The Fourth Kind is worth watching. Just be prepared for a lingering sense of unease—you may never look at the night sky the same way again! Vincent Kleijn Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/25 Full Review James M So yes, some of the “real footage” doesn’t always work, and perhaps it would have been better without it, but this movie hits so many great notes and really scares me as a teen. Love rewatching it! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/25 Full Review B K In trying to be different, this film ends up pedestrian. Just when one thinks that the scare level is going to rise, the film fails to deliver. The archival footage does not help and what one is left with is a lack of thrill and belief. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/08/25 Full Review Alysha S The filmmaking falls short in a couple of ways, but the content itself -- including actual footage regarding the issue at hand -- is more important. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/08/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Since the 1960s, a disproportionate number of the population in and around Nome, Alaska, have gone missing. Despite FBI investigations, the disappearances remain a mystery. Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich), a psychologist, may be on the verge of blowing the unsolved cases wide open when, during the course of treating her patients, she finds evidence of alien abductions.
Director
Olatunde Osunsanmi
Producer
Paul Brooks, Joe Carnahan, Terry Lee Robbins
Screenwriter
Olatunde Osunsanmi
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Chambara Pictures, Gold Circle Films
Rating
PG-13 (Some Terror|Brief Sexuality|Thematic Elements|Violent and Disturbing Images)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 6, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.5M
Runtime
1h 38m
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