UFO: The Truth About Flying Saucers (1956)

This weather here in Virginia Beach has been miserable with it feeling more like I live in Florida than Virginia. But,  even with the weather,  it has not been a terrible week. I did get to see both The Empire Strikes Back and Asteroid City at the NARO and catch some other movie.  Something weird did happen on my last selection though,  I chose a 2018 movie called UFO and what strange was a 1956 documentary/movie called UFO: The Truth About Flying Saucers.

Plot: Interviews and documentary footage combine with the fictional story of an air-force pilot who encounters aliens.

Considering the age of this docudrama, this is an amazingly informative movie. Using actual Military documents and footage with a somewhat fictional story to help navigate the material was a great way to put forth the matter-of-fact approach to the material is refreshing.  This is especially true when comparing it to the documentaries that have overtaken every streaming service on the subject matter. As a researcher, it is really interesting that there are still many similarities between the different decades when it comes to the subject matter. In fact, in many ways, it may be a more accurate capsule of the UFO topic. Yes, is does move slowly and doesnt have the flair of the modern UFO documentary, but it is likely more realistic acting as a real news piece unlike the feeling and interpretation driven approach that litters every  documentary today. This one definitely presented the material and presented the material in a way that allows the viewer to make their own decision on what they believe instead of attempting to steer a narrative. This may not be for everyone, but any serious UFO buff should love it. I did and totally recommend it.

The Exorcism of God (2021)

For some reason,  exorcism or religious horror has become somewhat of a staple on my television lately,  Although, that may be changing as I finally picked up a copy of Diablo IV. I am a huge Diablo fan and am excited to venture back into Sanctuary. But, before I start that journey,  I wanted to hit on the latest movie I watched 2021s The Exorcism of God.

Plot: Peter Williams is an American priest in Mexico who's considered a saint by many local parishioners. However, due to a botched exorcism, he carries a dark secret that's eating him alive until he gets an opportunity to face his own demon one last time.

This one was a lot better than I expected it to be when I pulled it up. For a lower budgeted exorcism flick,  this one offered a somewhat original take featuring some dark n and heavy atmosphere, an intriguing storyline,  solid performances,  and some outstanding cinematography. It even threw in some jump scares and surprises, which was a nice change of pace. Unfortunately, the editing was kind of choppy and the effects were somewhat uneven. But, because of the lower budget, those factors are easily overlooked. If you are like me, and love exorcism themed films, then this is one that you should definitely check out.

Consecration (2023)

After spending a large portion of the day doing hardworking yesterday,  I decided that it was time to take a break and catch up on some movie watching.  While searching the different streaming services,  I settled on this 2023 entry,  Consecration.

Plot: After the suspicious death of her brother, a priest, Grace travels to the Mount Saviour Convent in Scotland to find out what really happened. Once there, she uncovers murder, sacrilege and a disturbing truth about her own past.

Not knowing anything about this,  I took the chance because of the religious look.  For some reason,  I have been caught up in that genre for a few days.  This one was definitely better that i would have expected. The cinematography creates a tremendously dark and brooding atmosphere. That matches the heavy themes in the storyline.  This is backed by some outstanding performances and solid production qualities.  This one won't be for everyone though,  especially those looking for a quick jump scare.  There are some pacing elements (especially in the first portion of the film) and there really isn't anything that hasn't been seen before,  but those aspects don't destroy the movie in any way.  Yes,  if isn't perfect,  but if you are looking for an atmospheric film with some intriguing scenery give this one a shot.  

Kecksburg: The Untold Story (2004)

While the news (or hoax) coming out of Las Vegas has been interesting, the recent event that struck a cord with me was the recent meeting of intelligence officials at Wright Patterson airfield in Ohio. This facility has always been interesting to UFO enthusiast and this meeting stirred up even more interested.  For me,  it reminded me of a scene from the documentary Kecksburg: The Untold Story. Growing up near Kecksburg, this story had always fascinated me and this documentary is a great resource for researchers. 

Plot: Many people believe the government is not telling the truth about it's involvement in the retrieval of a crashed UFO in Kecksburg, Pennsylvania in 1965. Was there an object that fell from the sky? Was it man made, or a visitor from another world?

This lower budgeted documentary by researcher Stan Gordon is full of great information coming from eyewitness testimony, reenactments, and of course, research. To the people of Kecksburg, something definitely landed in the woods of Meteor Road (an ironic name), and the government swooped in and shipped up all the debris.  The orange acorn shaped craft (it does look similar to the Nazi Bell) has become the towns calling card,  and it should be.  With the Boehner silence,  no one knows what took place,  but it's clear something did. This documentary does lack the flair and expensive looking quality of many documentaries,  but it packs a punch.  This one is clearly for the viewer that is interested in the story and the facts as portrayed by the witnesses and not for those who are looking for some blockbuster production. If you are like me and are there for the research value,  check it out.

Synchronic (2019)

After a few busy days with the yard and watching social media for updates on the UFO thing in Las Vegas and the real-lide scene from Night of the Comet taking place in New York, I decided to relax and catch up on some movie watching.  The first flick I watched today was the 2019 Sci-Fi film,  Synchronic.

Plot: Two New Orleans paramedics' lives are ripped apart after they encounter a series of horrific deaths linked to a designer drug with bizarre, otherworldly effects.

I had never heard of this one before it popped up on my Amazon page and the premise sounded different so i gave it a shot. What i fiund was an interesting storyline, that while a touch confusing at times, kept me engaged. There was some pretty good cinematography, decent performances, and some intriguing moments. Yes, there were some pacing issues and there were some major plot holes to navigate, but those did not totally ruin the experience for me. Of course, with those elements, i am sure some casual viewers will be totally turned off. In the end, this may not be groundbreaking or a movie that you should knock diwn the door to see, but if the air quality has you secluded, it will definitely be an interesting film to help you pass the time. 

Darkness (2002)

It was another day day outside, but it was not a total loss as I was able to make some good progress in the toy building.  I can actually see my desk again. When I finished that,  I decided to kick back and watch the 2002 entry Darkness.

Plot: A teenage girl moves into a remote country house with her family, only to discover that their gloomy new home has a horrifying past that threatens to destroy the family.

I didn't know what to expect from this one,  but came away rather intrigued.  While,  it did have some of the typical supernatural elements,  it was armor to maintain  a suspenseful tone throughout. The scripting was awesome,  the performances outstanding, and the cinematography and direction created some tremendous atmosphere. Now, Iam sure there will be parts that turn viewers off with the slower pace and the lack of typical horror tropes, but those are only benefits in my eyes. In the end,  this one is an excellent independent film and one that should be watched.