Alien Movie Facts and Trivia: “The Fourth Kind” (2009)

Ever since 1972, identification for encounters with extraterrestrial life has been measured by a collection of categories, including the ‘Third Kind’ and ‘Fourth Kind.’ Sighting a UFO is referred to as an encounter of the first kind. Evidence left behind by the supposed presence of a UFO is called an encounter of the second kind. The third kind involves direct contact with extraterrestrials, while the fourth kind is the final level, which involves abduction.

The Plot

“The Fourth Kind” deals with a modern-day Alaskan setting, where many missing person cases are reported every year. The numbers are shocking and the trend has been escalating since the 1960s. While the FBI have conducted several investigations, connections and answers have been elusive. The plot focuses on psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler, who lives in the remote region of Nome, where she become involved in videotaping sessions with patients who show signs of trauma. In the process, she discovers disturbing details linked to alien abduction. Actors and actresses featured in ‘The Fourth Kind’ include Milla Jovovich (as Abbey Tyler) and Elias Koteas (as Abel Campos).

Facts and Trivia: “The Fourth Kind”

·    Just like the movie, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” the “Fourth Kind” is meant to reference one of the infamous categories used to describe UFO sightings, which was established by scientist J. Allen Hynek.

·    Don’t believe everything you read in promotional materials from movie companies. The film is marketing as being framed around a psychologist named Abigail Tyler who conducted interviews on traumatized patients in Nome, Alaska. However, no records exist of an Abigail Tyler being licensed in any line of work in Alaska. According to Ron Adler (CEO and director of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute) and Denise Dillard (president of the Alaska Psychological Association) , they’ve never come across an Abigail Tyler. Unfortunately, Universal has been accused of creating websites called “Alaska Psychiatry Journal” and “Alaska News Archive” where references to Tyler have been found. The word is”¦film producers had registered the sites one month before the release of the movie.

·    Filming locations for the movie took place in Los Angeles, California; New Boyana Film Studios, Sofia, Bulgaria; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and Vitosha, Bulgaria.

·    This UFO-related film is rated PG-13 for violent/disturbing images, some terror, thematic elements, and brief sexuality.

·    Fake interviews associated with the movie have caused an uproar amongst the families of real missing persons in and around the Nome, Alaska region. Universal, which has received criticism and a lot of slack on the movie from groups including Kawerak Inc (organization representing tribal peoples in Alaska) described), the movie company has yet to discuss this aspect of the film with local journalists or groups.

·    While Nome, Alaska accommodates a 51% Native American population, there are no indigenous characters in the film stated in the film.

·    Taglines used to market the movie include: “There are four kinds of alien encounters. The fourth kind is abduction;” “Based on the actual case studies;” and “They’re coming November 6th.”

·    The director of the movie is also the screenwriter for the film, Olatunde Osunsanmi, who worked on the film ‘Smokin Aces’ (2006) as an assistant.

·    “The Fourth Kind’ is listed as a Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, and Thriller production.