Do you believe in alien abductions? If you don't, perhaps the upcoming movie "The Fourth Kind" will change your mind - or make you an even bigger skeptic.
"The Fourth Kind," which is reportedly based on true events, takes place in the small town of Nome, Alaska. Apparently, people have gone missing from this town every year and FBI investigations have been unable to reveal the cause of the disappearances. In the movie, Dr. Abigail Tyler is a psychologist who began videotaping sessions with patients who have claimed to be abducted by aliens. "The Fourth Kind" focuses on the experiences that these patients have claimed to have.
The movie is called "The Fourth Kind" because there are certain classifications that are used to describe an alien encounter. A UFO sighting is considered a "first kind" encounter. As you can probably guess, the "fourth kind" of encounter is an actual alien abduction.
So, what exactly is sparking the controversy with "The Fourth Kind?" Well, let's start with the obvious. The movie is claiming that alien abductions are really happening. However, little information on alien abductions in Nome, Alaska, can be found on the internet prior to 2009. The Anchorage Daily News reports that there is no evidence that a psychologist named Abigail Tyler even exists. Various sources have also reported that Nome residents have not even heard of these alleged abductions. It seems more likely that the reason people are disappearing in Alaska is due to the cold weather conditions.
This isn't the first time that a recent movie has gotten a lot of popularity for being based on real events. "Paranormal Activity," which has been rumored to be loosely based on the director's experiences at a haunted house, is now considered one of the scariest thrillers of all time.
Is the non-fiction element of "The Fourth Kind" just a ploy to sell movie tickets, or have these so-called alien abductions really been happening in Alaska? You can decide for yourself. "The Fourth Kind" will be released in theaters on Nov. 6, 2009.
e-mail Jody at: jlm5653@esu.edu
Be the first to comment on this article!