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It definitely carries one of the genre's more creative film titles, that's for sure. 😆 Here are all my inevitable recommends: As Above, So Below (2014) Mr. Jones (2013) Underworld series (2003-2017) Soulmate (2013) Spike (2008)
I’ve actually met Travis Walton a few times, he was a friend of my Grandma’s boyfriend, though I didn’t realize he was the guy from the abduction case the first time meeting him. He’s a nice enough fellow and clearly still is haunted by his experience, but (no pun intended) very down to earth.
I've got to sit and talk to Travis about this more than once and he is definitely haunted by it. Sadly what made it worse was the way Hollywood changed his account, it hasn't helped him with trying to process things. But he very much is sweet and down to earth guy.
I can’t even imagine what Travis went through. I’ve seen some videos about him, and an interview he did once about the abduction, and it’s no wonder the guy is still haunted by his experience. I hope as time goes by, the memories become easier to cope with.
My Mom just wanted to watch DB Sweeney and Robert Patrick be lumberjacks. So I dragged to it when I was 10 years old. It was a Horrifying movie theater experience. Nightmares for weeks.
I saw Fire in the Sky when it came out. Though I was already an adult, the alien abduction scene gave me the screaming horrors for weeks. I still sometimes flash back to some of those images and they're still scary. The movie's presentation of not being believed and then ostracized for it when you don't know what happen in the first place fills me with a kind of frustrated helplessnes when I think about it. The filmmakers and actors deserve a lot more acclaim than they received.
imo it's one of the best alien films in general simply for virtue of how clearly and concisely it communicates that helplessness. our witnessing of the experiments Travis went through only compounds the already established betrayal and impotence communicated by Mike Rogers's experience comes full circle with Travis, showing us what it's like, and the fact that it wasnt a fun, or even a particularly enlightening experience renders the whole thing such a savage kick in the teeth that it really speaks clearly. This scene sticks with people because it's a perfectly coherent and believable iteration of the "what if something happened to you that nobody could stop and that nobody could really believe actually happened?" anxiety a lot of us face, and it gives it an underwhelming face and one of the greatest and most uncomfortable alien scenes in any film. alien narratives are often about human helplessness, whether that's being a tiny speck in a vast uncaring universe a la Lovecraft*, or if that's about being helpless to defend yourself against an alien threat (War of the Worlds, Alien(s)), and Fire in the Sky is the king of the interpersonal alien story. It doesnt have scope. it isnt some lore-filled exercise in worldbuilding. it's a simple, effective, and HUMAN story, about being abducted and tormented and not being able to actually tell anyone about it in a way that brings relief. not a fun journey, but definitely a tremendous film that deserved more attention. Robert Patrick definitely deserves more recognition for his performance in this, which absolutely carries the emotional force of this very emotionally-driven film. nailed the casting, nailed the performance, nailed the script. chef's kiss. put this on the shelf next to Blade Runner.
The Fourth Kind was probably the most terrifying for me, along with this one and one called maybe Night Skies I think the name was? Night Skies and Fourth Kind are the only two movies I've ever screamed in as an adult lol fail. Apparently I peed myself when I first saw E.T as a kid, lay behind the couch screaming and crying. Alien visitation and abduction have always one it for me for some reason.
It is a creepy scene, but it's kinda ironic, since although the "on the ground" elements of FitS are broadly accurate (by Hollywood standards, at least) to real events described by Walton and other witnesses, the "abduction" scenes 100% scrapped Walton's real account (saying it was too stereotypical, and they wanted to "show people something new"), and wrote a completely fictional version. Walton's been complaining how it mis-represents his story, since the movie dropped. And he has a point; Whether you think Walton made it up or not, they marketed the movie as "the TRUE STORY of the Travis Walton abduction!!" ... and then, for the actual 'abduction' scenes, they totally disregard Walton's claims, and swap in a scene 100% created by a Hollywood writer. (and personally, knowing that it's unambiguously fiction takes a lot of the teeth out the scene). For me, the bizarro, surreal 'alien abduction' scenes in Communion are the most disturbing- They're so strange, they get close to comical at times- But that just makes them more creepy; They don't feel like something made up to be "scary"- They feel like a real, truly 'alien' experience, that doesn't fit neatly our pre-conceptions (even tho Streiber is cuckoo-bananas crazy, and it probably all happened in his mind)
Absolutely a cult classic. Im glad to see that people can appreciate the movie for what it is. A hidden gem if an alien abduction movie and imo the best. The scenes where he is getting experimented on is truly horrifying. He seems so genuinely scared and shocked as it is happening. And the rest of the movie is really good too
Your insight on horror movies makes me literally crave horror media. I get something out of all of your videos. U always do a great job. Hope you conquer those issues with ease, u got this.
I feel the same. I probably watched more horror movies since I know Ryan's channel than in rest of my entire life ;) I was never horrors fan, now I feel like they are much, much deeper than I thought before, thank to Ryan ;)
Oh man, the alien experimentation scene in this movie is absolutely *brutal*. It doesn't help that Travis Walton's case is generally considered to be one of the most believable accounts of alien abduction out there. Regardless of what you personally think, the fact of the matter is that Travis himself genuinely seems to believe his story and it's taken a toll on him. He was even on a game show called Moment of Truth where he claimed that the abduction ruined his life. Poor guy.
Travis Walton's story is very strange, I think. There are a lot of inconsistencies between tellings, but in old interviews he's so clearly dealing with some serious PTSD over whatever happened to him that night, at a time when the very concept of PTSD wasn't very widely accepted among the public. I'm a sceptic, but I'm also convinced that *something* strange happened to him that night. As a mental health worker, I find recovered memories to be largely unreliable, but it's clear that Travis Walton went missing for a week, and was severely traumatised by whatever he experienced at that time. And Fire In The Sky is one of the best pieces of media about alien abduction ever made. Great acting, great script, and damn, THAT SCENE!
@@neuralmute I think with anything traumatizing stories will not remain consistent . Our brain doesn't want to remember those things. Regardless if it was aliens something definitely happened. Even non traumatic stories can be hard to keep 100% straight because memory is weird
@@CyclingUrchin It is true that the human mind *will* sometimes block or alter memories that are simply too traumatic, and we don't have much idea of how that works yet. Some victims of severe abuse I've worked with don't remember anything of their own childhoods up to a certain age, and I suspect that not remembering those years might be better for them. Or as an example closer to home, when I caught a bad case of Covid that nearly killed me back in 2020, my mind retained only foggy memories of the first, terrible, months of illness. From what I DO remember, I'm fine without those memories too. I've got no doubt that something very strange and traumatic happened to Travis Walton that night, and that his friends witnessed something weird as well. I wish there was some sort of hard evidence one way or another, but I guess those cops were so single minded that they never even searched the scene of the disappearance properly. At least we got a damn good movie out of it.
Well, we all know it's NOT alien abduction, so I wonder what the poor guy went through to be so haunted and traumatized by it. Mind you, I'm not saying aliens don't exist, I'm just saying alien abductions don't happen, they have never visited Earth, and we or they will probably be extinct before we can have contact with any alien civilization, unless (and that's A FUCKING BIG IF) VERY faster than light traveling is possible, though even so I don't know why they should take an interest in us in particular.
My only real familiarity with "Fire in the Sky" would have to be through the deceased Chiller channel (RIP), when they featured a special about exploring the "real locations/stories" behind famous horror & thriller films, and Fire was one of them. I also remember them visiting Centralia, Pennsylvania, to discuss Silent Hill (2006). 👽🔥
Speaking of Silent Hill, I’ve always hated the fact the developers decided to put the town in Maine despite nothing about it making sense (for one thing Maine’s never had any coal mines, or much of any mining industry at all beyond rock quarries). Relocating it to West Virginia was one of the only changes the movie made that I agreed with.
Robert Patrick is so damn good in this. A terrifying final 20min that gave me nightmares about losing my sanity. Please cover The Empty Man in one of your fine uploads, Hoyever Man!
It has been years since I saw Fire In The Sky, but that abduction sequence has always stuck with me as absolutely terrifying. The film up to that point had been a very effective exploration of small town attitudes and bias in the face of something frankly difficult to believe(let alone prove). I suppose that was what made the sequence so effective. I also seem to recall the film taking a critical beating at the time it was released. Discovering the film has a growing following is honestly surprising. Mister Hollinger continues to create quality content, and I hope he understands that his audience does very much appreciate it.
Other than the abduction scene utterly traumatizing me as a child, the only other "part" of this movie that I remember was having the realization that whatever the hell that experience is (nightmares, hallucinations, or god forbid it actually be real) it would absolutely ruin a person's life. Nothing would ever be okay again. It made me a lot more kind toward people who have unusual experiences/perceptions. Nothing good ever comes of it, and the world must be absolutely awful to live in if you genuinely believed you'd been sucked up and tortured by aliens.
Would love to see your interpretation of The Empty Man (2020), really screwed over by the Fox/Disney takeover but it’s so ambitious and well-made, one of my favourite horrors of the last 20 years!
The Empty Man was on HBO Max, I had never heard of it, but I watched it because it’s a horror film and James Badge Dale is in it. I was pleasantly surprised. Really good show.
My anxiety had been pulverizing as of late. It broke my heart to hear that you may understand what that is like. Your uploads are, as always, of fantastic quality. I hope you haven't become too harsh of a self critic, it's one of the darkest tricks our minds can play. I appreciate the reprieve your channel allows all of us & am sending so much support your way 🖤
This movie was pretty awesome. Most Arizonans know the story of Travis Walton and his story led to a real fervor for all things extraterrestrial in my state. And of course the infamous Arizona Lights are our second claim to fame. What I really liked was how good the cast was. D.B. Sweeney never really got a chance as an actor, but at least we have one of the the creepiest end sequences in modern horror history.
The real Travis Walton has hated Fire in the Sky, ever since it was released, because the movie 100% scrapped his own account of the actual 'abduction' scenario, and replaced it with the one that ended in the movie, that was entirely written by Hollywood writer Tracy Torme, and bears zero resemblance to Walton's claims (whether you believe those claims, or not). Walton actually wrote a book refuting the movie account, and "setting the record straight", about a year or two after Fire in the Sky came out.
I went in blind, twelve years old, seeing this at the movies with my dad and to this day, no other alien story has ever hit me as hard. Yes, "that" scene and the abduction scene itself with the ship in the dark sky and the tractor beam are unforgettable....but it's also the acting and the mostly absent alien element are so impactful. And hell yeah, Robert Patrick is seriously amazing in the movie .
I've always envied people who can write mystery in such a way as not to take sides. I love stories where you can make up your own mind which side is right or wrong or if it's real or not without it feeling forced or letting too much bias show. Reading a story or watching a film like this is a real joy for me. Thanks, as always, for the video! Take care of yourself
Mr. Hollinger. You are perhaps THE BEST person doing analyses on horror movies out there. Anxiety sucks and as a therapist I know how debilitating it can be
This film and Jacob's Ladder is the kind of films that have such intense scenes that will stick around in your mind for a very long time. You nailed this review, brilliant choice 👏🏽
@@donnamurphy8551 Is that the film with Vatican investigators? I Googled it and came across Final Prayer and I am wondering if it is the same film as you have made me curious to watch it now 😁
The trailer for this used to scare me so bad as a little kid and so I didn’t see the movie until much later but it’s absolutely worth it. I think it’s interesting too that you shift the conversation to a character study/mystery angle, because I feel like when it came out, people were fixated on a) the ending and b) the truth of the matter and I think that hurt the movie at the time.
one of the reasons I love your reviews so much is because you tend to talk about things noone else does about the films. Instead of focusing on just the plot/average elements of the film, and that is just so refreshing to listen to. I love how you bring up your personal connection to the film (whether you liked it or not) and how that connects to the horror it shows. And for me, that's what horror is; how the movie affects us all. Thanks for all the work you put into each video and just wanted to let you know it is indeed much appreciated!
Ryan: "I want to talk again about alien abduction." Wikipedia: "HOYEVER, let us abduct this essay in order to promote ourselves alongside ExpressVPN." 👾
Such a good movie, Im already a sucker for calm character studies *cough cough Netflix's Creep* and the whole detailed abduction genuinely haunts me since I saw it for the first time a few years back. Good stuff. Side note: Its impressive how I have by now managed to absorb so much of Ryan´s voice that my brain reads the automatic captions by itself and manages to decipher what the computer generated subtitles are trying to tell me this time. Hoyever Im gonna watch it again just to hear that voice again later.
Definitely the alien sequence was too disturbing for me….. still gives me goosebumps. I am glad you are doing better and trying to manage and coexist with your anxiety. It’s not easy, but it gets better once you learn to recognize your triggers and signs. Don’t ever apologize for it, just take care of yourself and the rest will follow.
Truthfully I feel really bad for Travis Walton. Even with so many skeptics hounding him for years, it still seems like he went through something traumatic that night. When he was on the game show Moment of Truth he even said honestly that it has traumatized him for life. It’s a really confusing episode though (and game show to begin with…) from how it ends, I don’t think we will ever know for sure if his story is true or not. Even if aliens are confirmed to exist one day, his story will still have skepticism. Also great video Ryan!
I saw this with my brother in elementary school and he couldn’t sleep for 2 weeks, let alone close his eyes without seeing those aliens. Another exceptional video, dude. Keep doing what you’re doing. I love your work and look forward to it every time a new one comes out. You got this
@@austintrousdale2397 Those teacher choose violence and showed them the movie damn no way i was 10 when i saw this movie and it traumatized the hell out of me imagine being 8 or 9 yrs old!? Poor kid
I remember when this was released that it hit my country like a storm. So many people thought that it was related to The X-Files in someway and debated it on so many levels. I have always thought that the movie displayed the disastrous outcome of not believing others and the fallacy of memory and bias, similar to Rashomon (Akira Kurosawa). How it could lead well intended people with the greatest of hearts into outcasts for standing for what they believe in against the majority's opinion.
Rashomon is such a classic. Saw it in film school and later discovered that Kurosawa was also responsible for the story that inspired the anime Samurai 7. Originally, Seven Samurai. Kurosawa slaps and deserves a lot of love and attention. his movies are crunchy and exciting and they really shaped a lot of modern media so watching his work is kinda like discovering a secret language all your favorite directors and game designers speak. references to Kurosawa and his films extend everywhere from pop music (Barenaked Ladies' One Week mentions his films offhandedly), to video games including Dark Souls, and even extending to the point that Kurosawa is often credited for Rashomon's style storytelling, where one presents multiple iterations of a story from various perspectives. KING OF THE HILL has a Rashomon episode called "A Fire Fighting We Will Go" which inspired a pop cultural term "The Rashomon Effect". Look him up.
I actually saw this in theatres in the nineties and I can say that my teenage self immersed in X-Files lore was pretty seriously disturbed by the film. The build up to the abduction scene sets up Walton’s torment brilliantly (and I’m saying this as someone who is pretty sceptical of Walton’s real life account which wildly differs from what we see here)
Same here! I was also a massive teenage X-Phile, and I remember going to see this movie with a group of friends, and having the living hell scared out of us. Especially since we had to drive for an hour through the middle of nowhere to get home! I'd also grown up on a few family tales of strange things in the sky, (they seem fairly common in remote, rural areas...), and had read "Communion" by Whitley Strieber before I discovered Carl Sagan and the art of critical thinking. I agree that there's far too many inconsistencies in Travis Walton's story, and it changed too much over the years to be believable, but I still wonder what really *did* happen that night. And I fucking love this movie.
@@neuralmute Totally. I think the Walton story is interesting, but when I actually read up on the controversies around it, I actually found myself thinking that the film version of what happened was actually more compelling than what was claimed to have happened IRL. I also think the strength of the film lies on the fact that they focus a lot on Walton's friends, emphasizing that they're just ordinary working people
@@30secondsflat Exactly. I think some of the best parts of the movie are well before "that scene", where we're seeing things from the perspective of Walton's friends. We know that something strange happened, since people just don't disappear for a week and then reappear naked and traumatised for no reason, but the story is more effective while the question of what happened is unanswered. And yes, the emphasis that they're just a bunch or regular, working people who don't seem to have any idea of what's going on themselves is a huge part of why this movie works. They're just as scared and confused as everybody else, and the actors play it perfectly.
My recommendation for you is “Dark Skies” - it’s very much a spiritual successor to this film as it plays up a family’s alienation from the community around them: compounding their financial problems and strange encounters with beings not of this world at night - everything around them driving them to madness as no one believes them…
Saw this movie when I was maybe 5yrs old. Has given me nightmares my entire life....and none of my friends know anything about it. Amazing. Glad to see a video on it.
i really love this film. It had a crazy "twist" that i thought was not going to happen. The movie made it seem like the abduction was not true and they were lying.
It’s so easy to convince yourself that the doubt you feel about yourself is something that other people feel as well, and that just isn’t how it is. Your videos have done so much for me and it’s not just the videos- it’s your creative yet pensive mind and thought provoking dialogue. Thanks for the vids
I saw this movie in the theaters when it came out, and we all walked out a bit speechless and dazed from the alien abduction scene. It's just like you said - we were all used to the Spielberg-esque aliens. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, ET, The Abyss, etc. And this is the exact opposite, to say the least, lol. In those movies, humans were the jackasses while the aliens recognized our higher cognition and had empathy for us. In this, humans were treated exactly how we treat lab rats - no empathy, no dignity. And they were SO brutal. You're doing great Ryan. I deal with internalized anxiety too, and that can make it hard for me to measure what I'm putting out there. It's like I'm both oversensitive and undersensitive as the same time. My compass goes all screwy. So I need other people to be my mirrors sometimes, just to let me know how I'm doing. We don't know each other, but I just wanted to hold up the mirror for you. You gave the same quality analysis you always give, with your trademark thoughtfulness and humor.
Strangest thing about this very well made and documented film is that almost every detail is based on the true story *EXCEPT for the actual abduction itself!* The real abduction was a lot less scary but also a lot stranger with Nordic blonde aliens working along side the Greys and a holographic navigation room. A weird 'twist' ending in the case comes from Travis himself, who explained that he believed that the only reason the aliens took him for those missing days was to HEAL HIM and not to hurt him. That his contact with the ships 'shield' or tractor beam or whatever it was that had hit him and knocked him out would have been FATAL to him. So they did the right thing to take care of him. Pretty cool huh.
The fact that you’re covering this hidden/forgotten gem of a film is worth a like all by itself. You knocking it out of the park like always is why I’m subscribed. Love your videos, Ryan. This movie has stuck with me ever since I saw it at about age 13. The drama is great and engaging and the horror is absolutely traumatizing!
As always, another great review/breakdown/commentary from you. i remember watching Fire in the Sky the first time when it was on television one night in my mid teens. Being fairly sheltered from horror and sci-if films it blew me away. There was the added tension of getting caught watching it as well, which heightened the experience even further. Wishing you well Ryan.
I recall watching this movie at 13 years old, perfect time, if you ask me. Attentive enough not to feel “duped” by the lack of sci-fi in a sci-fi movie but old enough to appreciate the awesome performances, especially Robert Patrick. Fun fact: Peter Berg, who played the “churchy” member of the group, would find fame as a director, helming Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon, Patriots’ Day, and Hancock, among others.
i read this book and then found out about the movie. i loved both of them! i'm so glad you gave Robert Patrick that kind of praise, he really didn't get the recognition he earned on that one
Man this film freaked the hell out of me as a kid, and I only like it more every time I see it. Whether the story is real or not- it's creepy as hell in how well done it is on film!
I actually remembered when Travis Walton tried to sue the studio because he was angry they turned his story into a sci Fi horror. He's story was very trippy
I don't blame the studio for changing the story. They weren't there to retell Walton's story exactly as he thought it went, they are there to tell a good story.
As a person who just recently binged most of your content, your quality has done nothing but increase, this year included. I hope you keep doing what it takes to stay well, and thank you for posting your content for us!
Nobody seems to talk about the existence of aliens or such anymore. The 90's I recall was full of speculation & media related to the topic. I guess most people have grown out of the idea of believing in little green men abducting people in the night & the always grainy/unclear videos/photographic evidence of their supposed existence. This is a great film though.
@@crod9905 I mean, everyone knows that UFOs exist, because all a UFO is is a flying object that hasn't been clearly identified. If a bird flies past my window but all I saw was a blur, that's a UFO. If I see an airliner flying overhead but it's too far away for me to clearly tell what it is, that's a UFO. Basically, all it means is that their videos are way too low quality to clearly tell what they're recording.
I think most people would agree we're not the only lifeforms in the universe , and honestly don't care if they've been to Earth. Most people are concerned about what's happening on our planet to worry about others
@@leetri What I meant is that the U.S. government confirmed that these unidentified objects were more than just birds or airliners, seeing as how extraterrestrials weren't even ruled out. That's practically unheard of considering how the government has always denied their existence or downplayed them. It's their response to the UFOs that makes it unprecedented.
I saw this movie back when it first came out, I was shocked, perplexed, scared, terrified out of my mind of what Travis went through. As if the story isn’t scary enough, one of the many things that make this story so believable & scary is the fact that Travis, Mike & all the guys NEVER changed their story through time. These guys lost their jobs, families, friends, the trust they had in their small town with town’s folks, they were made fun of, personally & socially, but the one thing they kept true to, IS THEIR STORY. I wish Travis never had never gone through this horrible experience, but it also teaches a moral, DON’T GET OUT OF THE TRUCK, DRIVE AWAY FAST & DON’T LOOK BACK. May everyone who has passed on, now be at PEACE.
So I was 15 when this came out - maybe rented it when I was 16 - still can't shake this movie from my head. I watched it again years later with my son, after he begged me. He was so intrigued by how I told him the effect it had on me - and it put the zap on his mind too. Hands down the most intense alien spaceship sequence ever put to film - still. At 16 and in High School, I was absolutely mortified I was going to be abducted. And the rest of the movie is great too. Top notch acting all around. This is a certified classic in our home.
No need for anxiety. You're one of the few youtubers I consistently watch every video of and later, after multiple rewatches, I play them in the background to just listen to something familiar and comforting. You suggested so many films to me, you have no idea :)
I loved this movie. I remember watching this in a double feature with Session 9 last year during my Halloween binge, and watching them together sort of made sense. Both are movies where a group of working class men have a paranormal encounter that changes their dynamic, and forever warps the psyche of one of them. Of course one of them end ups more positvely than the other. Plus the dichotomy of one being a ghost story and the other being an alien movie makes for a nice pb&j sandwich. Good video Ryan!
I hope you never stop making these videos mate. You’re one of the best channels on RUclips. I can’t listen to many people break down movies but I’ve always held you in high regard when it comes to horror films. Hell, I’d even like to see you break down non horror films of that were ever the case.
The abduction sequence is entirely 'fictional'. Travis's 'real' account was much more peaceful and far less horrifying than the very memorable sequence in the film
Sorry to hear about your anxiety issues. I (and many people I think) have been dealing with similar issues the last few years. Be well, and take care of yourself.
I am old and this movie came out when I was a teenager. I have also been interested in alien phenomena my entire life. In 7th grade I actually did a History Fair project and presentation on aliens abductions and UFOS. The idea of someone not being familiar with this movie and the greater Travis Walton story is completely crazy to me. I also just want to comment on how extremely patronizing and infuriating that RUclips feels like they have the need or authority to recontextualize reality for me or anyone else. It is even more absurd that RUclips implies that wikipedia is an authority or even honest for that point. I really hate this platform and can't wait for something better and more prolific. With all that being said ALWAYS excited to see new content Mr Hollinger!!
Seen this on TV when I was pretty young. I never understood the grown up themes, being so young, but something about it stuck in my head. I used to think it wasn't because nobody i knew ever heard or seen it. For that it holds a special place in my heart
Watched this at a Center Parcs with my mate and his older brother when I was about 9 (and my parents would have never let me watch it at home), and the eye piercing scene haunted me for years. Haven't actually seen it since! Your comments like 'in my eye' and 'go in blind' are making me wince thinking about it!
I said it in the community section the other day, but I'd attribute this movie to my love of horror or any based on a true story movie. This movie REALLY shook me even now it's incredible. I remember the first time I watched it at 10 years old and every time I'd pull it out to share with someone who hasnt seen it since. So happy you've covered it 💞
I went on an alien binge around 2014 or so, and watched this movie for the first time. By then I was no longer scared of aliens, but that abduction scene made me shudder. If I was say 10 or younger when watching it, I would have been scared of aliens to this day. Regardless, it's such a powerful scene and the movie itself is pretty good at playing up suspicion on the gang before Travis comes back, then suddenly shifts from "You killed him" to " ahh okay, you did it for money" without the gang or Travis ever saying a word to make people believe so.
This movie was both a childhood joy and trauma for me, always loved it. Best of luck working through all the mental stuff, things have been really rough for the world in general and that makes dealing with everything else that much more difficult. Great video, thanks for covering such an underrated classic!
As one of the first movies I ever saw as a unsupervised child of the eighties this film absolutely hit me in so many ways. First I had no idea what I was seeing. I didn’t remember most of it but when I rewatched it years later I had immediate feelings I could not put words to
This film is what many classic alien films lack, like I’m honestly blown away but how this film explains so much of what we enjoy of the classic mysteries of aliens It gives so much depth yall
Always click on your videos right away when I see them pop up and haven't missed any for two years. You're a stellar creator and your quality never fails Ryan. Keep killing the game in whatever way you feel called to
I remember first hearing about this movie from an ad on the back of a comic book. I wouldn’t have given it a second thought, as despite the pretty cool looking visual of the abduction, it seemed like it would have just been another random sci-if flick. However, the “based on a true story” tagline is what really caught my interest.
i grew up in the white mountains of AZ and know some members of the Walton family. we’d watch this as kids as like a cautionary tale not to stay in the woods alone too long. some people thought Travis was one way (a liar) but my aunt told us about this since she knew Travis well and believed it 100% so we did too. it’s why i have an eye to the skyline walking through my hometown, watching for any freaky lights. now as an adult i can appreciate how well this film did with what could have been a throwaway alien flick.
I only saw this a couple of years ago and thought it was pretty good. You're right about Robert Patrick, he did amazing in this. I think he gets typecast a lot in some sinister roles but this and his role as the dad in Bridge To Terebithia are amazing.
I watched this movie when I was WAY too young and it definitely traumatized me and gave me super weird dreams for decades but after I rewatched it as an adult it’s a fantastic film! There was a lot I missed as a child obviously and it spurred my passion for horror/thriller movies as an adult. GREAT film! So glad it’s being talked about again!
I remember one of my first nights alone as a kid I watched this and got so freaked out I changed into my pajamas with my back against the wall so nothing could sneak up on me while my shirt was over my head. Great times.
I saw this as a child in a town 30 minutes away from where he was abducted and it traumatized me so much! Since my family knows his we have been able to sit down and talk to him in real life more than once and his story is much different and heartbreaking. Definitely recommend the movie now and then go and look up the real account and interviews with Travis.
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I’ve always been interested in this, but never enough to track it down and watch. I’ll use your video to make a decision.
I think it's a more unique and different alien movie. Better than a few other alien horror movies.
It definitely carries one of the genre's more creative film titles, that's for sure. 😆 Here are all my inevitable recommends:
As Above, So Below (2014)
Mr. Jones (2013)
Underworld series (2003-2017)
Soulmate (2013)
Spike (2008)
Review The Mcpherson Tapes.
Review
Pi
Dark City
Mr Brooks
The Mothman Prophecies
This movie traumatized me as a kid. I can never see that *ONE* scene without remembering how scared I was of space and the sky.
Yes. This shit is unforgetable for me.
I’ve actually met Travis Walton a few times, he was a friend of my Grandma’s boyfriend, though I didn’t realize he was the guy from the abduction case the first time meeting him. He’s a nice enough fellow and clearly still is haunted by his experience, but (no pun intended) very down to earth.
I've got to sit and talk to Travis about this more than once and he is definitely haunted by it. Sadly what made it worse was the way Hollywood changed his account, it hasn't helped him with trying to process things. But he very much is sweet and down to earth guy.
I can’t even imagine what Travis went through. I’ve seen some videos about him, and an interview he did once about the abduction, and it’s no wonder the guy is still haunted by his experience. I hope as time goes by, the memories become easier to cope with.
I new travis walton . He was my granpa friends cousin uncle...lol . He not down to earth.....lol . No pun intended!!
@@boohound24 Yeah my dad who works for Nintendo knows him and we've had him over a few times. Nice bloke.
Grandma's boyfriend 😏
This is one of those movies that is only really known for having "that scene" in it
@Something Something
A underrated classic.
Fair, but that scene still gives me the willies with evey rewatch.
Similar to how The Borderlands/Final Prayer (2013) is remembered for *its* harrowing third-act sequence.
I saw this film as a child. I don't remember anything except for "that scene". That is the only reason I remember the film at all.
Like Psycho shower scene and 1978 Body Snatchers' point and wail scene 😆
Horrifying film, one of the most unsettling Alien Abduction scenes ever put to screen. Love this film. Great work Ryan!
None of that stuff happened to him though. He was injured, they patched him up and dropped him off.
Way way better than The ForthKind.
Leave him here if he's gonna be an azzhole!
What makes it horrifying? Existential indifference 😟
I watched some clips and was like FUCK THAT
I first saw “Fire in the Sky” when I was 8 and it scared the hell out of me. Now that I’m older it’s become one of my favorite sci-if films.
I Just remebered watching that film at the same Age !
But i was so traumatize by the Alien scene that i totaly eresed it from my Memory 😳
same, i saw it at a young age when it came out and it almost scarred me for life. amazing movie tho.
@@97Corvi I tried to but I wasn’t so lucky.
@@GermsOilCotten it’s a great movie. I know that abduction scene is nightmare fuel.
My Mom just wanted to watch DB Sweeney and Robert Patrick be lumberjacks. So I dragged to it when I was 10 years old. It was a Horrifying movie theater experience. Nightmares for weeks.
I saw Fire in the Sky when it came out. Though I was already an adult, the alien abduction scene gave me the screaming horrors for weeks. I still sometimes flash back to some of those images and they're still scary. The movie's presentation of not being believed and then ostracized for it when you don't know what happen in the first place fills me with a kind of frustrated helplessnes when I think about it. The filmmakers and actors deserve a lot more acclaim than they received.
same here. I was 19 when it came out and it was traumatic!
imo it's one of the best alien films in general simply for virtue of how clearly and concisely it communicates that helplessness. our witnessing of the experiments Travis went through only compounds the already established betrayal and impotence communicated by Mike Rogers's experience comes full circle with Travis, showing us what it's like, and the fact that it wasnt a fun, or even a particularly enlightening experience renders the whole thing such a savage kick in the teeth that it really speaks clearly. This scene sticks with people because it's a perfectly coherent and believable iteration of the "what if something happened to you that nobody could stop and that nobody could really believe actually happened?" anxiety a lot of us face, and it gives it an underwhelming face and one of the greatest and most uncomfortable alien scenes in any film.
alien narratives are often about human helplessness, whether that's being a tiny speck in a vast uncaring universe a la Lovecraft*, or if that's about being helpless to defend yourself against an alien threat (War of the Worlds, Alien(s)), and Fire in the Sky is the king of the interpersonal alien story. It doesnt have scope. it isnt some lore-filled exercise in worldbuilding. it's a simple, effective, and HUMAN story, about being abducted and tormented and not being able to actually tell anyone about it in a way that brings relief.
not a fun journey, but definitely a tremendous film that deserved more attention. Robert Patrick definitely deserves more recognition for his performance in this, which absolutely carries the emotional force of this very emotionally-driven film. nailed the casting, nailed the performance, nailed the script. chef's kiss. put this on the shelf next to Blade Runner.
Wut…? Everyone raves about this movie
O
Still one of the most terrifying portrayals of alien abduction.
The Fourth Kind was probably the most terrifying for me, along with this one and one called maybe Night Skies I think the name was? Night Skies and Fourth Kind are the only two movies I've ever screamed in as an adult lol fail. Apparently I peed myself when I first saw E.T as a kid, lay behind the couch screaming and crying. Alien visitation and abduction have always one it for me for some reason.
It is a creepy scene, but it's kinda ironic, since although the "on the ground" elements of FitS are broadly accurate (by Hollywood standards, at least) to real events described by Walton and other witnesses, the "abduction" scenes 100% scrapped Walton's real account (saying it was too stereotypical, and they wanted to "show people something new"), and wrote a completely fictional version. Walton's been complaining how it mis-represents his story, since the movie dropped. And he has a point; Whether you think Walton made it up or not, they marketed the movie as "the TRUE STORY of the Travis Walton abduction!!" ... and then, for the actual 'abduction' scenes, they totally disregard Walton's claims, and swap in a scene 100% created by a Hollywood writer. (and personally, knowing that it's unambiguously fiction takes a lot of the teeth out the scene).
For me, the bizarro, surreal 'alien abduction' scenes in Communion are the most disturbing- They're so strange, they get close to comical at times- But that just makes them more creepy; They don't feel like something made up to be "scary"- They feel like a real, truly 'alien' experience, that doesn't fit neatly our pre-conceptions (even tho Streiber is cuckoo-bananas crazy, and it probably all happened in his mind)
Absolutely a cult classic. Im glad to see that people can appreciate the movie for what it is. A hidden gem if an alien abduction movie and imo the best. The scenes where he is getting experimented on is truly horrifying. He seems so genuinely scared and shocked as it is happening. And the rest of the movie is really good too
Your insight on horror movies makes me literally crave horror media. I get something out of all of your videos. U always do a great job. Hope you conquer those issues with ease, u got this.
I second this. :)
I feel the same. I probably watched more horror movies since I know Ryan's channel than in rest of my entire life ;) I was never horrors fan, now I feel like they are much, much deeper than I thought before, thank to Ryan ;)
Oh man, the alien experimentation scene in this movie is absolutely *brutal*. It doesn't help that Travis Walton's case is generally considered to be one of the most believable accounts of alien abduction out there. Regardless of what you personally think, the fact of the matter is that Travis himself genuinely seems to believe his story and it's taken a toll on him. He was even on a game show called Moment of Truth where he claimed that the abduction ruined his life. Poor guy.
Travis Walton's story is very strange, I think. There are a lot of inconsistencies between tellings, but in old interviews he's so clearly dealing with some serious PTSD over whatever happened to him that night, at a time when the very concept of PTSD wasn't very widely accepted among the public. I'm a sceptic, but I'm also convinced that *something* strange happened to him that night. As a mental health worker, I find recovered memories to be largely unreliable, but it's clear that Travis Walton went missing for a week, and was severely traumatised by whatever he experienced at that time.
And Fire In The Sky is one of the best pieces of media about alien abduction ever made. Great acting, great script, and damn, THAT SCENE!
@@neuralmute I think with anything traumatizing stories will not remain consistent . Our brain doesn't want to remember those things. Regardless if it was aliens something definitely happened. Even non traumatic stories can be hard to keep 100% straight because memory is weird
@@CyclingUrchin It is true that the human mind *will* sometimes block or alter memories that are simply too traumatic, and we don't have much idea of how that works yet. Some victims of severe abuse I've worked with don't remember anything of their own childhoods up to a certain age, and I suspect that not remembering those years might be better for them. Or as an example closer to home, when I caught a bad case of Covid that nearly killed me back in 2020, my mind retained only foggy memories of the first, terrible, months of illness. From what I DO remember, I'm fine without those memories too.
I've got no doubt that something very strange and traumatic happened to Travis Walton that night, and that his friends witnessed something weird as well. I wish there was some sort of hard evidence one way or another, but I guess those cops were so single minded that they never even searched the scene of the disappearance properly. At least we got a damn good movie out of it.
Well, we all know it's NOT alien abduction, so I wonder what the poor guy went through to be so haunted and traumatized by it. Mind you, I'm not saying aliens don't exist, I'm just saying alien abductions don't happen, they have never visited Earth, and we or they will probably be extinct before we can have contact with any alien civilization, unless (and that's A FUCKING BIG IF) VERY faster than light traveling is possible, though even so I don't know why they should take an interest in us in particular.
I mean the gov just told us aliens exist
My only real familiarity with "Fire in the Sky" would have to be through the deceased Chiller channel (RIP), when they featured a special about exploring the "real locations/stories" behind famous horror & thriller films, and Fire was one of them. I also remember them visiting Centralia, Pennsylvania, to discuss Silent Hill (2006). 👽🔥
Speaking of Silent Hill, I’ve always hated the fact the developers decided to put the town in Maine despite nothing about it making sense (for one thing Maine’s never had any coal mines, or much of any mining industry at all beyond rock quarries). Relocating it to West Virginia was one of the only changes the movie made that I agreed with.
Robert Patrick is so damn good in this.
A terrifying final 20min that gave me nightmares about losing my sanity.
Please cover The Empty Man in one of your fine uploads, Hoyever Man!
It has been years since I saw Fire In The Sky, but that abduction sequence has always stuck with me as absolutely terrifying. The film up to that point had been a very effective exploration of small town attitudes and bias in the face of something frankly difficult to believe(let alone prove). I suppose that was what made the sequence so effective. I also seem to recall the film taking a critical beating at the time it was released. Discovering the film has a growing following is honestly surprising. Mister Hollinger continues to create quality content, and I hope he understands that his audience does very much appreciate it.
Other than the abduction scene utterly traumatizing me as a child, the only other "part" of this movie that I remember was having the realization that whatever the hell that experience is (nightmares, hallucinations, or god forbid it actually be real) it would absolutely ruin a person's life. Nothing would ever be okay again. It made me a lot more kind toward people who have unusual experiences/perceptions. Nothing good ever comes of it, and the world must be absolutely awful to live in if you genuinely believed you'd been sucked up and tortured by aliens.
Would love to see your interpretation of The Empty Man (2020), really screwed over by the Fox/Disney takeover but it’s so ambitious and well-made, one of my favourite horrors of the last 20 years!
ill have to check that one out I've heard great things about it
I second this recommendation. That film deserves all the recognition it can get!
I have also heard great things about it but haven't seen it yet.
Absolutely! I've been suggesting Empty Man since it came out. Hoyever, it seems that he hasn't seen it yet...
The Empty Man was on HBO Max, I had never heard of it, but I watched it because it’s a horror film and James Badge Dale is in it. I was pleasantly surprised. Really good show.
My anxiety had been pulverizing as of late. It broke my heart to hear that you may understand what that is like. Your uploads are, as always, of fantastic quality. I hope you haven't become too harsh of a self critic, it's one of the darkest tricks our minds can play.
I appreciate the reprieve your channel allows all of us & am sending so much support your way 🖤
I wish you the same, anxiety is such an unfounded bitch but our brains seem to love it
This movie was pretty awesome. Most Arizonans know the story of Travis Walton and his story led to a real fervor for all things extraterrestrial in my state. And of course the infamous Arizona Lights are our second claim to fame.
What I really liked was how good the cast was. D.B. Sweeney never really got a chance as an actor, but at least we have one of the the creepiest end sequences in modern horror history.
The real Travis Walton has hated Fire in the Sky, ever since it was released, because the movie 100% scrapped his own account of the actual 'abduction' scenario, and replaced it with the one that ended in the movie, that was entirely written by Hollywood writer Tracy Torme, and bears zero resemblance to Walton's claims (whether you believe those claims, or not). Walton actually wrote a book refuting the movie account, and "setting the record straight", about a year or two after Fire in the Sky came out.
I went in blind, twelve years old, seeing this at the movies with my dad and to this day, no other alien story has ever hit me as hard. Yes, "that" scene and the abduction scene itself with the ship in the dark sky and the tractor beam are unforgettable....but it's also the acting and the mostly absent alien element are so impactful. And hell yeah, Robert Patrick is seriously amazing in the movie .
I've always envied people who can write mystery in such a way as not to take sides. I love stories where you can make up your own mind which side is right or wrong or if it's real or not without it feeling forced or letting too much bias show. Reading a story or watching a film like this is a real joy for me.
Thanks, as always, for the video! Take care of yourself
Mr. Hollinger. You are perhaps THE BEST person doing analyses on horror movies out there. Anxiety sucks and as a therapist I know how debilitating it can be
This film and Jacob's Ladder is the kind of films that have such intense scenes that will stick around in your mind for a very long time. You nailed this review, brilliant choice 👏🏽
For me it was The Borderlands. I could’ve very happily lived the rest of my life without seeing the final scene.
@@donnamurphy8551 Is that the film with Vatican investigators? I Googled it and came across Final Prayer and I am wondering if it is the same film as you have made me curious to watch it now 😁
@@Estorium Yeah. I guess maybe the title it depends on where you live. Have fun with that!😱
The trailer for this used to scare me so bad as a little kid and so I didn’t see the movie until much later but it’s absolutely worth it. I think it’s interesting too that you shift the conversation to a character study/mystery angle, because I feel like when it came out, people were fixated on a) the ending and b) the truth of the matter and I think that hurt the movie at the time.
one of the reasons I love your reviews so much is because you tend to talk about things noone else does about the films. Instead of focusing on just the plot/average elements of the film, and that is just so refreshing to listen to. I love how you bring up your personal connection to the film (whether you liked it or not) and how that connects to the horror it shows. And for me, that's what horror is; how the movie affects us all. Thanks for all the work you put into each video and just wanted to let you know it is indeed much appreciated!
Ryan: "I want to talk again about alien abduction."
Wikipedia: "HOYEVER, let us abduct this essay in order to promote ourselves alongside ExpressVPN." 👾
I was scrolling through the comments waiting for the obligatory HOYEVER comment, didn't have to scroll that much.
@@kichex Lmao you never do with Ryan's uploads, I can speak from experience. 😆😉
Such a good movie, Im already a sucker for calm character studies *cough cough Netflix's Creep* and the whole detailed abduction genuinely haunts me since I saw it for the first time a few years back. Good stuff.
Side note: Its impressive how I have by now managed to absorb so much of Ryan´s voice that my brain reads the automatic captions by itself and manages to decipher what the computer generated subtitles are trying to tell me this time. Hoyever Im gonna watch it again just to hear that voice again later.
Definitely the alien sequence was too disturbing for me….. still gives me goosebumps. I am glad you are doing better and trying to manage and coexist with your anxiety. It’s not easy, but it gets better once you learn to recognize your triggers and signs. Don’t ever apologize for it, just take care of yourself and the rest will follow.
Truthfully I feel really bad for Travis Walton. Even with so many skeptics hounding him for years, it still seems like he went through something traumatic that night. When he was on the game show Moment of Truth he even said honestly that it has traumatized him for life. It’s a really confusing episode though (and game show to begin with…) from how it ends, I don’t think we will ever know for sure if his story is true or not. Even if aliens are confirmed to exist one day, his story will still have skepticism. Also great video Ryan!
I saw this with my brother in elementary school and he couldn’t sleep for 2 weeks, let alone close his eyes without seeing those aliens. Another exceptional video, dude. Keep doing what you’re doing. I love your work and look forward to it every time a new one comes out. You got this
Elementary school?! 😰
@@austintrousdale2397 Those teacher choose violence and showed them the movie damn no way i was 10 when i saw this movie and it traumatized the hell out of me imagine being 8 or 9 yrs old!? Poor kid
I remember when this was released that it hit my country like a storm. So many people thought that it was related to The X-Files in someway and debated it on so many levels. I have always thought that the movie displayed the disastrous outcome of not believing others and the fallacy of memory and bias, similar to Rashomon (Akira Kurosawa). How it could lead well intended people with the greatest of hearts into outcasts for standing for what they believe in against the majority's opinion.
Rashomon is such a classic. Saw it in film school and later discovered that Kurosawa was also responsible for the story that inspired the anime Samurai 7. Originally, Seven Samurai.
Kurosawa slaps and deserves a lot of love and attention. his movies are crunchy and exciting and they really shaped a lot of modern media so watching his work is kinda like discovering a secret language all your favorite directors and game designers speak. references to Kurosawa and his films extend everywhere from pop music (Barenaked Ladies' One Week mentions his films offhandedly), to video games including Dark Souls, and even extending to the point that Kurosawa is often credited for Rashomon's style storytelling, where one presents multiple iterations of a story from various perspectives. KING OF THE HILL has a Rashomon episode called "A Fire Fighting We Will Go" which inspired a pop cultural term "The Rashomon Effect".
Look him up.
I actually saw this in theatres in the nineties and I can say that my teenage self immersed in X-Files lore was pretty seriously disturbed by the film. The build up to the abduction scene sets up Walton’s torment brilliantly (and I’m saying this as someone who is pretty sceptical of Walton’s real life account which wildly differs from what we see here)
Same here! I was also a massive teenage X-Phile, and I remember going to see this movie with a group of friends, and having the living hell scared out of us. Especially since we had to drive for an hour through the middle of nowhere to get home!
I'd also grown up on a few family tales of strange things in the sky, (they seem fairly common in remote, rural areas...), and had read "Communion" by Whitley Strieber before I discovered Carl Sagan and the art of critical thinking. I agree that there's far too many inconsistencies in Travis Walton's story, and it changed too much over the years to be believable, but I still wonder what really *did* happen that night. And I fucking love this movie.
@@neuralmute Totally. I think the Walton story is interesting, but when I actually read up on the controversies around it, I actually found myself thinking that the film version of what happened was actually more compelling than what was claimed to have happened IRL. I also think the strength of the film lies on the fact that they focus a lot on Walton's friends, emphasizing that they're just ordinary working people
@@30secondsflat Exactly. I think some of the best parts of the movie are well before "that scene", where we're seeing things from the perspective of Walton's friends. We know that something strange happened, since people just don't disappear for a week and then reappear naked and traumatised for no reason, but the story is more effective while the question of what happened is unanswered. And yes, the emphasis that they're just a bunch or regular, working people who don't seem to have any idea of what's going on themselves is a huge part of why this movie works. They're just as scared and confused as everybody else, and the actors play it perfectly.
My recommendation for you is “Dark Skies” - it’s very much a spiritual successor to this film as it plays up a family’s alienation from the community around them: compounding their financial problems and strange encounters with beings not of this world at night - everything around them driving them to madness as no one believes them…
When you've never seen the actual movie but that scene haunts your dreams 👀
Saw this movie when I was maybe 5yrs old. Has given me nightmares my entire life....and none of my friends know anything about it. Amazing. Glad to see a video on it.
Fire in the Sky deserves to be more highly regarded. It's absolutely up there with films like Close Encounters.
i really love this film. It had a crazy "twist" that i thought was not going to happen. The movie made it seem like the abduction was not true and they were lying.
I never felt the movie was trying to make it seem that way, given that you actually see the abduction.
It’s so easy to convince yourself that the doubt you feel about yourself is something that other people feel as well, and that just isn’t how it is. Your videos have done so much for me and it’s not just the videos- it’s your creative yet pensive mind and thought provoking dialogue. Thanks for the vids
I saw this movie in the theaters when it came out, and we all walked out a bit speechless and dazed from the alien abduction scene. It's just like you said - we were all used to the Spielberg-esque aliens. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, ET, The Abyss, etc. And this is the exact opposite, to say the least, lol.
In those movies, humans were the jackasses while the aliens recognized our higher cognition and had empathy for us. In this, humans were treated exactly how we treat lab rats - no empathy, no dignity. And they were SO brutal.
You're doing great Ryan. I deal with internalized anxiety too, and that can make it hard for me to measure what I'm putting out there. It's like I'm both oversensitive and undersensitive as the same time. My compass goes all screwy. So I need other people to be my mirrors sometimes, just to let me know how I'm doing.
We don't know each other, but I just wanted to hold up the mirror for you. You gave the same quality analysis you always give, with your trademark thoughtfulness and humor.
Robert Patrick doesn't get enough credit, man. Everybody sees him as the T-1000, but he's a fucking phenomenal actor. Always loved his work.
Strangest thing about this very well made and documented film is that almost every detail is based on the true story *EXCEPT for the actual abduction itself!* The real abduction was a lot less scary but also a lot stranger with Nordic blonde aliens working along side the Greys and a holographic navigation room. A weird 'twist' ending in the case comes from Travis himself, who explained that he believed that the only reason the aliens took him for those missing days was to HEAL HIM and not to hurt him. That his contact with the ships 'shield' or tractor beam or whatever it was that had hit him and knocked him out would have been FATAL to him. So they did the right thing to take care of him. Pretty cool huh.
The fact that you’re covering this hidden/forgotten gem of a film is worth a like all by itself. You knocking it out of the park like always is why I’m subscribed. Love your videos, Ryan. This movie has stuck with me ever since I saw it at about age 13. The drama is great and engaging and the horror is absolutely traumatizing!
Anxiety sucks and I hope you find your way through it all. Your videos are incredible and this was one of my favourites!
As always, another great review/breakdown/commentary from you.
i remember watching Fire in the Sky the first time when it was on television one night in my mid teens. Being fairly sheltered from horror and sci-if films it blew me away. There was the added tension of getting caught watching it as well, which heightened the experience even further.
Wishing you well Ryan.
This movie was brilliant and terrified me as a kid. Mostly due to the real story behind it
Me too but after seeing Travis Walton on Joe Rogan I no longer believe his story. Look into it and you'll see why.
I don't think it was a real story. Walton seems like a very unreliable source.
I recall watching this movie at 13 years old, perfect time, if you ask me. Attentive enough not to feel “duped” by the lack of sci-fi in a sci-fi movie but old enough to appreciate the awesome performances, especially Robert Patrick. Fun fact: Peter Berg, who played the “churchy” member of the group, would find fame as a director, helming Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon, Patriots’ Day, and Hancock, among others.
i read this book and then found out about the movie. i loved both of them! i'm so glad you gave Robert Patrick that kind of praise, he really didn't get the recognition he earned on that one
Man this film freaked the hell out of me as a kid, and I only like it more every time I see it. Whether the story is real or not- it's creepy as hell in how well done it is on film!
I actually remembered when Travis Walton tried to sue the studio because he was angry they turned his story into a sci Fi horror. He's story was very trippy
I don't blame the studio for changing the story. They weren't there to retell Walton's story exactly as he thought it went, they are there to tell a good story.
No dip in quality. You’re still in top form, my good sir.
YES I love this movie the abduction scene scared the piss out of me, great stuff Ryan!
Thanks bud, always enjoy your videos
Also, those aliens in the flashback were way deep in the uncanny valley.
As a person who just recently binged most of your content, your quality has done nothing but increase, this year included. I hope you keep doing what it takes to stay well, and thank you for posting your content for us!
Nobody seems to talk about the existence of aliens or such anymore. The 90's I recall was full of speculation & media related to the topic. I guess most people have grown out of the idea of believing in little green men abducting people in the night & the always grainy/unclear videos/photographic evidence of their supposed existence. This is a great film though.
I agree. Shows like The X-Files and Roswell. And films like Men In Black and ID4 were alien content i loved.
What makes that even more interesting is how the U.S. government acknowledged the existence of UFOs and their many appearances just last year.
@@crod9905 I mean, everyone knows that UFOs exist, because all a UFO is is a flying object that hasn't been clearly identified. If a bird flies past my window but all I saw was a blur, that's a UFO. If I see an airliner flying overhead but it's too far away for me to clearly tell what it is, that's a UFO.
Basically, all it means is that their videos are way too low quality to clearly tell what they're recording.
I think most people would agree we're not the only lifeforms in the universe , and honestly don't care if they've been to Earth. Most people are concerned about what's happening on our planet to worry about others
@@leetri What I meant is that the U.S. government confirmed that these unidentified objects were more than just birds or airliners, seeing as how extraterrestrials weren't even ruled out. That's practically unheard of considering how the government has always denied their existence or downplayed them. It's their response to the UFOs that makes it unprecedented.
Bro you just unlocked a hidden memory of mine. That scene literally traumatized me as a child. Must have been 8 when I saw this
My grandmother had me watch this when I was 4. I was terrified of being abducted by aliens till I was 7 or 8
I saw this movie back when it first came out, I was shocked, perplexed, scared, terrified out of my mind of what Travis went through. As if the story isn’t scary enough, one of the many things that make this story so believable & scary is the fact that Travis, Mike & all the guys NEVER changed their story through time. These guys lost their jobs, families, friends, the trust they had in their small town with town’s folks, they were made fun of, personally & socially, but the one thing they kept true to, IS THEIR STORY. I wish Travis never had never gone through this horrible experience, but it also teaches a moral, DON’T GET OUT OF THE TRUCK, DRIVE AWAY FAST & DON’T LOOK BACK. May everyone who has passed on, now be at PEACE.
This movie absolutely traumatized me as kid! I went back as an adult and watched it and it was far less terrifying.
Robert Patrick and Peter Berg are both in Copland too! Both this and that are great films, great performances!
They're friends in real life.
I saw the alien operation scene when I was like 5 and it gave me nightmares of which still scare me to this day lol
So I was 15 when this came out - maybe rented it when I was 16 - still can't shake this movie from my head. I watched it again years later with my son, after he begged me. He was so intrigued by how I told him the effect it had on me - and it put the zap on his mind too. Hands down the most intense alien spaceship sequence ever put to film - still. At 16 and in High School, I was absolutely mortified I was going to be abducted. And the rest of the movie is great too. Top notch acting all around. This is a certified classic in our home.
I remember this movie! :D The alien design still freaks me out! And when he gets that thing shoved in him...I still shudder. :(
No need for anxiety. You're one of the few youtubers I consistently watch every video of and later, after multiple rewatches, I play them in the background to just listen to something familiar and comforting. You suggested so many films to me, you have no idea :)
I loved this movie. I remember watching this in a double feature with Session 9 last year during my Halloween binge, and watching them together sort of made sense. Both are movies where a group of working class men have a paranormal encounter that changes their dynamic, and forever warps the psyche of one of them. Of course one of them end ups more positvely than the other. Plus the dichotomy of one being a ghost story and the other being an alien movie makes for a nice pb&j sandwich. Good video Ryan!
Wait, has Ryan done Session 9 yet?
@@jadegecko No, but I've seen it recommended to him in the past so maybe he will one day!
@@DJtheBlack-RibbonedRose Man, how's he missed it for this long? It's a classic!
@@jadegecko *shrugs* In the same way he considers himself a Found Footage fan but has never reviewed As Above, So Below.
I met Robert Patrick at a TFW convention. Super nice dude! I'd love to see him get more roles that use all his acting chops.
Lol at the Wikipedia disclaimer, what can you do though. Keep doing you Ryan! Love your work
I remember being impressed again by Rob Patrick’s performance after being impressed and disturbed by his performance as the T1000
FUCK YES
This movie is so shockingly good, I can't believe more people don't talk about it. It's so damn good.
I never knew Robert Patrick had this amount of depth in talent
Finding out about this via Chris Stuckmann was a shock to say the least.
Link?
Where the hell did he talk about this?
ruclips.net/video/TqREGRu7MYA/видео.html here you go! it was his childhood trauma video
I hope you never stop making these videos mate. You’re one of the best channels on RUclips. I can’t listen to many people break down movies but I’ve always held you in high regard when it comes to horror films. Hell, I’d even like to see you break down non horror films of that were ever the case.
Ah yes, the movie that genuinely terrified me of aliens
Saw it when I was like around 10 years old and it stuck with me.. ill never forget it
The abduction sequence is entirely 'fictional'. Travis's 'real' account was much more peaceful and far less horrifying than the very memorable sequence in the film
Well thats nice to know
That is one of my favorite movie of all times. The last 20 minutes were exactly what was needed!!!!
Travis Walton has been trying to raise money to remake the film so that he can make it more factual to his experience. I hope he succeeds.
Sorry to hear about your anxiety issues. I (and many people I think) have been dealing with similar issues the last few years. Be well, and take care of yourself.
Ryan.
I am old and this movie came out when I was a teenager. I have also been interested in alien phenomena my entire life. In 7th grade I actually did a History Fair project and presentation on aliens abductions and UFOS. The idea of someone not being familiar with this movie and the greater Travis Walton story is completely crazy to me. I also just want to comment on how extremely patronizing and infuriating that RUclips feels like they have the need or authority to recontextualize reality for me or anyone else. It is even more absurd that RUclips implies that wikipedia is an authority or even honest for that point. I really hate this platform and can't wait for something better and more prolific. With all that being said ALWAYS excited to see new content Mr Hollinger!!
Seen this on TV when I was pretty young. I never understood the grown up themes, being so young, but something about it stuck in my head. I used to think it wasn't because nobody i knew ever heard or seen it. For that it holds a special place in my heart
Not many of the X-Files episodes RP were in were that memorable but I think the episode "Via Negativa" really showed his acting chops
Yes he was superb in that episode. There were several others though were his acting was excellent.
Watched this at a Center Parcs with my mate and his older brother when I was about 9 (and my parents would have never let me watch it at home), and the eye piercing scene haunted me for years. Haven't actually seen it since! Your comments like 'in my eye' and 'go in blind' are making me wince thinking about it!
You are doing fine Ryan. Best content that helps my own anxiety is yours. Thank you for helping me.
I said it in the community section the other day, but I'd attribute this movie to my love of horror or any based on a true story movie. This movie REALLY shook me even now it's incredible. I remember the first time I watched it at 10 years old and every time I'd pull it out to share with someone who hasnt seen it since. So happy you've covered it 💞
I went on an alien binge around 2014 or so, and watched this movie for the first time. By then I was no longer scared of aliens, but that abduction scene made me shudder. If I was say 10 or younger when watching it, I would have been scared of aliens to this day. Regardless, it's such a powerful scene and the movie itself is pretty good at playing up suspicion on the gang before Travis comes back, then suddenly shifts from "You killed him" to " ahh okay, you did it for money" without the gang or Travis ever saying a word to make people believe so.
This movie was both a childhood joy and trauma for me, always loved it. Best of luck working through all the mental stuff, things have been really rough for the world in general and that makes dealing with everything else that much more difficult. Great video, thanks for covering such an underrated classic!
As one of the first movies I ever saw as a unsupervised child of the eighties this film absolutely hit me in so many ways. First I had no idea what I was seeing. I didn’t remember most of it but when I rewatched it years later I had immediate feelings I could not put words to
This film is what many classic alien films lack, like I’m honestly blown away but how this film explains so much of what we enjoy of the classic mysteries of aliens
It gives so much depth yall
Always click on your videos right away when I see them pop up and haven't missed any for two years. You're a stellar creator and your quality never fails Ryan. Keep killing the game in whatever way you feel called to
I remember first hearing about this movie from an ad on the back of a comic book. I wouldn’t have given it a second thought, as despite the pretty cool looking visual of the abduction, it seemed like it would have just been another random sci-if flick. However, the “based on a true story” tagline is what really caught my interest.
i grew up in the white mountains of AZ and know some members of the Walton family. we’d watch this as kids as like a cautionary tale not to stay in the woods alone too long. some people thought Travis was one way (a liar) but my aunt told us about this since she knew Travis well and believed it 100% so we did too. it’s why i have an eye to the skyline walking through my hometown, watching for any freaky lights.
now as an adult i can appreciate how well this film did with what could have been a throwaway alien flick.
Thank you for giving us the highest quality film analyses!
Influenced by your review, I gave this a watch. I was not disappointed - thoroughly entertained.
I only saw this a couple of years ago and thought it was pretty good. You're right about Robert Patrick, he did amazing in this. I think he gets typecast a lot in some sinister roles but this and his role as the dad in Bridge To Terebithia are amazing.
He's excellent in this but average in Bridge to Terabithia. He's been in lots films and tv shows were he's really shown his range as an actor.
I watched this movie when I was WAY too young and it definitely traumatized me and gave me super weird dreams for decades but after I rewatched it as an adult it’s a fantastic film! There was a lot I missed as a child obviously and it spurred my passion for horror/thriller movies as an adult. GREAT film! So glad it’s being talked about again!
I remember this movie. The Trailer alone gave me nightmares.
Years later, when I was able to handle scary movies, I found it quite enjoyable.
I remember one of my first nights alone as a kid I watched this and got so freaked out I changed into my pajamas with my back against the wall so nothing could sneak up on me while my shirt was over my head. Great times.
I'd love to see you give a really in-depth analysis of the pure ambiance and claustrophobia of the original day of the dead
Robert Patrick was such an underrated actor, especially during his prime in the 90s.
I saw this as a child in a town 30 minutes away from where he was abducted and it traumatized me so much! Since my family knows his we have been able to sit down and talk to him in real life more than once and his story is much different and heartbreaking. Definitely recommend the movie now and then go and look up the real account and interviews with Travis.