 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Fourth Kind
- Review Date: November 1, 2009
- PG-13
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Realistic alien abduction tale too violent/chilling for kids
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this sci-fi thriller from director Olatunde Osunsanmi mixes supposedly real footage of alien abductees with re-creations played out by actors (including Milla Jovovich and Will Patton). That mix makes it hard to know what to believe, and it could confuse or mislead overly trusting kids (be ready to talk about telling the difference between fact and fiction). Plus, in addition to an overall sense of dread, there are a couple of shockingly violent moments -- including a bloody stabbing and a blurry scene in which a man kills his wife and children and then himself -- that could scare the daylights out of some viewers.
What's the story?
Milla Jovovich appears as herself in THE FOURTH KIND, explaining that the events in the film are based on real events. She informs viewers that she'll be portraying Dr. Abigail Tyler, a sleep specialist in Nome, Alaska, who begins experiencing disturbing phenomena during her interviews with patients. Filmed re-creations of these sessions use actors as well as video footage of the allegedly real sessions. Director Olatunde Osunsanmi also appears as himself, interviewing a haggard, wasted-looking woman who's identified as the real Dr. Abigail Tyler, who also tells her own story. Through both the "real" and re-created footage, viewers follow Tyler's story as she discovers the truth about alien abductions and begins to suffer terrible experiences of her own.
Is it any good?
A good deal of time will be spent trying to determine just how real everything is in The Fourth Kind. Skeptics will have a good time tearing the film apart, while believers will be swayed by the film's presentation. Frankly, without the "based on true events" framing and the video footage of the supposedly real incidents, there's not much here; in other words, if this had been presented as a straight fiction film about a doctor and some alien abductions, it would have been a yawner.
None of the characters really comes to life, and the film spends too much time dangling and withdrawing its details, unable or unwilling to prove or disprove anything. As a result, there's very little mystery and no sequence of events that leads to anything; the horror is ultimately too intangible and indefinite to be very terrifying. Still, the movie sometimes manages some briefly effective scares and some moody atmosphere, and it may be an effective "check your brain at the door" kind of chiller for some audiences.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether or not they think the events in the film really happened. Are the things presented in the movie necessarily factual? How could they have been faked? How can you tell what's fact and fiction in situations like this?
If the movie is a put-on, what is the effect? And what are the consequences?
Why are some characters ready to believe that aliens exist, while others deny it?
Why would aliens be interested in abducting and experimenting onhumans? Are there any similar circumstances in which humans behave thesame way toward other species?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
This movie is so good! I love how they put in actual footage! And you have to love Milla Jovovich.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Very good, and VERY scary! I had to sleep in my sister's room!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
This was an alright movie. It was jumpy in some parts. There is one part were Dr. Abigal Tyler is in bed with her husband and the husband gets stabbed (when there in bed). And there were some creepy close ups of owls and people in my theatre were startaled. 9+
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Good role model, but intense disturbances and violence.
I personally love this movie but it has a part where a man shoots his entire family then himself, an abduction scene where it shows the person getting abducted, during it the camera breaks and blurs up. Though it is violent and unatural the actual footage is mostly blured up or covered with boxes. I have to say this is definetly a very chilling and disturbing movie. But the role model in this movie is Dr. Abagail Tyler who does what she can to save her kids befoe herself and she tries to help people to get through the strange occurances. In the end she is in the hospital and ashley, her daughter, has never been found.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
what i thought about the fourth kind.
I really liked this movie. I recommend this movie for people who really like to get scared and maybe even disturbed. Some of the scenes in the movie are very shocking and really disturbing. But I enjoyed it because I like being scared.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
To all of you other reviewers:
Guys watch the spoilers you're putting in your reviews, jeez.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
December 19, 2010
AGE
Lame
Stupid.....if you want to see a real scary movie watch the Texas chainsaw masacure, Where ppl are getting sliced in half by chainsaws and gore every 5 min.
Embarasment to Scary movies
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Not the best 'alien' movie ever
I did not like this movie at all. Obviously, its just a facetious take on aliens to make money from teens who don't know any better. If you actually Google Dr. Abigail Tyler, many would find that she isn't a real psychologist. As for the footage, the scenery is unrealistic. I've been to Nome, Alaska while visiting a close family friend and there are no trees or forests, but perhaps a little shrub here or there. The movie, however, is mostly taking place in a forest.
However, for young children, I suggest not letting them watch this movie. There were several 'jumpy' scenes that even I screamed at (and I'm not the kind of person that usually does that) and it could also cause nightmares, what with the owls looking at you and waking up at a certain time every night.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Olatunde Osunsanmi |
| Cast: | Elias Koteas, Milla Jovovich, Will Patton |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 98 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 6, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | March 16, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violent/disturbing images, some terror, thematic elements and brief sexuality |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
