Inside the Devil's Oak: March 2010

Monday, March 29, 2010

Review; The Fourth Kind, By Kayden McLeod

The Fourth Kind

Science Fiction/Thiller

Length: 98 minutes

Cast: Milla Jovovich

Rating: (Out Of Ten) 8

Review:

This is a movie with a half-documentary feel (I.E. Paranormal Activity, Blair Witch Project). It begins with Milla Jovovich, as herself, explaining that the following is combination of actual footage on what happened, and filmed dramatization of actual events. It is sometimes just one or the other, and at times split-screen to show both.

Doctor Abigail Emily Tyler is a psychologist who is working with “delusional” trauma victims. The strangest part is, her patients are all having the same hallucinations; dreams of a white owl outside their window at night, strange beings in their rooms with them, but they cannot remember enough to help themselves, let alone her.

Seeing the pattern, she begins to put them under hypnosis, where the severity of the problem is not only suggested, but indisputably confirmed. Her first patient has an adverse reaction, ending up in seizures from the treatment. That night he mentally breaks, surrounded by the doctor and a fleet of police, to kill his family before he finally turns the gun on himself, and commits suicide.

She strives to figure out the problems unravelling faster than she can possibly keep track of. All the while her own mental-health continuously comes into question, having to avoid being arrested while she attempts to figure out just what is going on in Nome, Alaska.

I am not a huge fan of alien movies, but this one was subtle enough that I bypassed my typical dislike of the “genre”. It short of screwed with my head, which is quite honestly a good thing. I hate movies that are predictable. Interviews with the “real” Dr. Tyler were included in the real footage, and a nice touch. Delving a little into the research after I’d watched the movie that was supposed to be based on “real events”, there was much speculation and controversy, some articles even going as far to say Dr. Tyler was never a licensed psychologist, nor had they ever heard of her.

Random Trivia: The meaning of the “fourth kind” is actual abduction. There are four levels of encounters with aliens, and I have to agree with Dr. Tyler, the fourth is the most terrifying…

http://kaydenmcleod.com/
http://kaydenmcleod.blogspot.com/
http://www.kaydenmcleodparanormal.blogspot.com/

Cheers

Kayden

More about the authors

Trent Kinsey - trentkinsey.com
Born in southern Louisiana, Trent graduated from Pearl River High School, May 1996.

Two week after graduation he shipped to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, where he underwent 12 weeks of Marine Corps Basic Training. After graduation, he was assigned to the 4th Marine Division, New Orleans.

During his eleven-year career as a U.S. Marine, Trent acted as a combat correspondent, public affairs chief, marketing and public affairs chief and community relations coordinator.

Trent left the Marine Corps January 6, 2008 and began working for Apogen Technologies as the Web Content Manger for Marine Forces Reserves.

During his spare time, Trent writes horror stories and novels.

He currently lives in southern Louisiana with his wife and two children.
Return to top

Kayden McLeod - kaydenmcleod.blogspot.com
I live in Vancouver, British Columbia with my house-full of animals and a computer I might as well be shackled to. I've been writing about this figurative creation since the age of seventeen, and it has grown beyond my own imaginings.

Having a weakness for vampire folklore, movies and books for more years than I can count, it shaped my paranormal realm in so many ways, but it has since expanded into a lush, complex world that baffles even me.
Return to top

Robin Renee Ray - robinreneeray.webs.com
I’m not what you call your ‘normal’ novelist by any means of the word. I never had any dreams of becoming a writer when I was growing up, but always had a fascination with the paranormal. I began watching scary movies from the time that I can even remember watching movies, and found myself playing in cemeteries ever since I was big enough to be out at night on my own. My life story goes like this… I dropped out of school before the tenth grade got started good, married, had two little girls, losing one in her sleep when she was four months old, divorced, and all before I hit twenty. I remarried a few years later, raising my daughter and living happily with a very special person for the next twenty-two years of my life. I now live alone, renting from my folks, writing full time and spending all the time that I can with my two beautiful granddaughters.

I began writing three years ago, six months after the birth of my first grandbaby. I was there holding my daughter's hand when that tiny little girl was born. I bent down when they laid her on her mommy’s belly and kissed her little mouth, knowing that she had just changed my life in more ways than can ever be explained in words. I took a few tablets to my stomping grounds in Burkett, Texas, and began scribbling out my first novel. I had no clue how to type, spell, and had very little knowledge of proper grammar, but four months later, I had a complete novel; the beginning of a five book series, that is now one book away from being complete. I have since learned a bit about the skills of a writer and now have nine books under my belt. Dark Knight of the Skye is my first book in print, but the seventh novel that I wrote. I had the best time studying the way of the Scottish world, and an even better time writing the words of the main character, Danny Gilmore. Many of my reads are from the paranormal world, flowing from vampires to werewolves, right into the strange world of the doppleganger. Dark Knight not only has my love of vampires and werewolves, but shows my twisted and warped love of blood, gut, and gore.

I think since I have become a writer that one of my main goals is to become the next female version of the late, great Alfred Hitchcock. I wrote a book of short horror stories thinking of him, because to me, there will never be anyone that thought anywhere near the way he did when it came to true horror. I just think he was a little loopy, but who am I to talk? I’m just a long haired tree hugger, who plays in haunted houses and the oldest, scariest cemeteries that I can find..lol. Hope you all enjoy my site and come back often. I will be having contests, not only with my books, but the books of my author friends that want to have some fun. The website will keep growing and soon I will be blogging every other day. Hope you all have a wonderful day, and even better night… and by all means… Rock On!!!
Return to top

D.M. Slate - dm-slate.com
Although Day 94 is her first publication, Danyelle aka D.M. Slate has been writing since she was a young child. She attended college at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She’s works as the Chief Financial Officer for a local water district. Danyelle is married to her high school sweet-heart, and together they have a daughter and a son. A dog, cat and turtle complete the family. The publication of Day 94 culminates the author’s long term dream.
Return to top