The UFO Incident (1975) - Tell, don't show

During the nineties when 'The X-Files' was at its peak, I remember reading about the actual case 'The UFO Incident' was based on.  It's about Betty and Barney Hill who were driving home through the American countryside who later claimed to have been abducted by aliens back in the sixties. On the plus side, the movie has a very capable lead, i.e. James Earl Jones (not to forget Estelle Parsons as his on-screen wife) who both do their best to elevate the material. Their chemistry sure does bring an emotional weight which keeps the story from falling completely flat.

Unfortunately, the script is hampered by how it's been made (unlike the far superior 'Fire in the Sky' which came prior to 'The X-files,' but only slightly).  Much of the runtime is devoted to hypnotic regression sessions and lengthy dialogue recounting what supposedly happened.  While this may reflect the 'true' case, cinematically it creates awful pacing problems. The result is a movie that feels like it’s “all tell” with very little “show.” Suspense and atmosphere are sacrificed for endless explanation, making the film drag despite its intriguing subject matter and excellent performances.

There are a few eerie moments sprinkled throughout, but they’re too little too late to sustain the tension or deliver on the promise of the premise. The film ultimately plays more like a docudrama reenactment rather than a gripping sci-fi thriller, leaving viewers wishing the film-makers had leaned harder into the cinematic possibilities of the story.

5/10