Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind was the first film to give the world a glimpse into the alien abduction phenomena. In it, there is a young boy who is taken away by some bug-eyed aliens but is returned unharmed. He appears happy about getting the opportunity to fly the friendly skies with some little bald people.

The Fourth Kind opens with the scene from the start of the theatrical trailer where actress Milla Jovovich says, “The film is a dramatization of events that took place in October 2000, and every scene is supported by archived footage. Some of what your about to see is truly disturbing.” I couldn’t of said it better Milla.

Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich) witnessed the stabbing death of her husband in the bedroom of their home by a invisible assailant. Crushed by the events, she investigates to find out who or what killed him.

Residents of the sleepy little town of Nome, Alaska has been setting records in the missing persons department. Folks say that a “White Owl” has been peering through their windows and they don’t know why. Dr. Abigail decides to videotape her sessions where she puts them under hypnosis, hoping they can recall the vague memories of what has been stalking them.

Writer/Director Olatunde Osunsanmi has crafted an excellent piece of art that proves quiet horror is far from dead. Much like with The Sixth Sense, the film relies on moments of silence and calm, so when were are slammed with the scenes where the abductees howl in pain recalling their experience, it’s highly effective. Seeing them with their mouths stretched open or levitatating off the bed is the stuff you would find in nightmares. Peppered throught the movie are shots where the screen is split into 2, or sometimes even 4 frames. One on side is the “actual” footage of a patient, then the other is the actor potraying the part. It is a technique that was perfected by Brian DePalma early in his career – and at times it does work here, but after a while it become a nuisance.

Milla Jovovich is best know for blowing away zombies in the Resident Evil franchise, and now has to fight an unseen force that never show its visage. She might not be Oscar caliber material, but she does show a wide array of emotions that are needed to bring the story together.

The last thing I thought I’d say after viewing The Fourth Kind is that it’s the scariest film of 2009. Well, it is, and not only did it scare me, it got under my skin like a rabid case of scabies and stayed there.

The Fourth Kind has found a nice home alongside other alien visitation thrillers like Communion, Fire in the Sky, The Mothman Prophecies, and Altered.

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Tags: Elias Koteas, Milla Jovovich, Olatunde Osunsanmi, The Fourth Kind, Will Patton