Phoenix Forgotten

Ridley Scott takes production duties on another science fiction movie of UFO’s and extra-terrestrial life. This time, events take a much more grounded approach to the little green men than his more famous work with the ALIEN franchise as PHOENIX FORGOTTEN bases itself on the true events that haunted Arizona in the late nineties.

 

Set amidst the most famous UFO sighting in recent times, PHOENIX FORGOTTEN, tells the story of three teens who go in search of the truth after mysterious lights overlap the city. Taking a camera, the trio film the unfolding events but soon after their investigation begins, the three go missing. It isn’t until their tapes are discovered that the truth is finally revealed.

 

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a found footage film set around the events of Phoenix and it really harms this incarnation. Despite bracing Scott as a producer, PHOENIX FORGOTTEN feels like a carbon copy of THE PHOENIX INCIDENT which was released 2 years prior. Minus the government conspiracy storyline, nearly everything else about this film feels like it came straight from Tom Green’s film but with such credentials attached, it’s hard to see that this was on purpose. Director Justin Barber and writer T.S. Nowlin produce an effective science fiction horror film that blends found footage fiction with real life drama and while it takes some time to get to grips with what is really happening, the relationship between the trio is enough to keep the film going until the climactic last moments.

 

If you’ve not seen THE PHOENIX INCIDENT, then here lies a decent interpretation albeit one with little else to add to the saga for those who have. Barber’s directorial debut is an effective horror film that has its boots grounded in reality despite its out of the world setting. On its own merits, PHOENIX FORGOTTEN is a great movie that is only damaged from a seen-it-all before ethos.

Director: Justin Barber

Released:  September 2017

Running Time: 97 minutes

Age Rating: 15

 

Reviewer: Martyn Wakefield