Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Realistic alien abduction tale too violent/chilling for kids
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Fourth Kind
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 27 kid reviews
Kids say the movie has mixed reviews, with some finding it scary and creepy, while others criticize it as boring or cheesy. Most agree it is not suitable for younger viewers, as it contains intense themes and violence, although older teens found it enjoyable and thrilling.
- scary and creepy
- not for kids
- mixed reviews
- intense themes
- good for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 6, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : March 16, 2010
- Cast : Elias Koteas , Milla Jovovich , Will Patton
- Director : Olatunde Osunsanmi
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violent/disturbing images, some terror, thematic elements and brief sexuality
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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