Skinwalker Ranch

if you are reading this now, you probably read these often. i feel that's an indicator of a person with a high interest in watching movies and appreciating them in general more than others. this leads me to point out that you may by iffy about what goes on in Skinwalker Ranch because the description sounds like a million movies you've seen before.

especially with common(aka: lazy) buzzwords such as:

"scientific research, supernatural phenomena, disappearance of, Inspired by true events..."

throw in the generic 'found footage' motif, and you have a carbon copy of another unoriginal bubblegum flick.

but there's something about these types of films that keep you coming back. because you KNOW they have potential to be a great movie. maybe you saw a movie with similar buzzwords ten years ago that totally ignited your interest for this type of thing. since then you've endured countless disappointing movies hoping to just find that one that will make your hours of disappointments worth it.

if that's the case, you are not alone. Skinwalker Ranch is THAT MOVIE you've been waiting for. it is definitely worth your time, and you deserve this rare story you've been wanting for.

I'm not really a big fan of Documentary style films, unless of course they are done well and the subject is interesting. Another similarly themed film that I liked was 'LAKE MUNGO' (2008). That one leaned a bit more toward the Paranormal, so it was more spooky. Whereas this one is more of a Sci Fi / Horror film, and has more of a Thriller / Suspense feel to it. I am most definitely NOT a fan of Found Footage films, but this one doesn't quite fall into that category (regardless of what some other clueless numbnuts have said here...) This is a DOCUMENTARY style film, not a Found Footage film...

As a Documentary style film covering the activities of an investigative team who are looking into the disappearance of a boy at a ranch, it is fairly decent for the most part. I personally feel that what REALLY makes the film is most definitely the soundtrack; that is by FAR the strongest element of the movie. Very nice use of ambient sound, nighttime sounds, crickets, etc. There always seems to be some kind of ambient sound in the background which adds a great deal to the atmosphere; very similar to how David Lynch does in some of his films, particularly 'ERASERHEAD'.

Also, what I like about this film as opposed to others that are similar, is the way the cameras are place around the ranch and the way those shots are nicely worked into the videographer's footage. So, you almost have the feeling of traditional establishment shots around the ranch, which especially at night, are quite effective. So, in other words, you don't have to suffer through shaky, hand-held camera shots throughout the ENTIRE film. The net effect is a bit more cohesive than usual for this type of movie.

However... with that said... Unfortunately, what really detracts from the film is the acting. It is not ALWAYS bad; for the most part it is tolerable, considering the Documentary style. BUT... there are a few REALLY atrocious moments, particularly when people are getting upset (isn't that ALWAYS so hard to do...?) where the 'acting', such as it is, is pretty painful and amateurish, to say the least. IF the director(s) had been either a little more talented or experienced, they NEVER would have used the shots that they did in these scenes. They would have definitely gone back and used different takes. But... still... IF you can overlook those few moments, you are left with a pretty suspenseful and tense film that does indeed keep your interest all the way through.

Now, one thing I really must add though... without giving anything important away, there ARE some rather imaginative elements that come into the film that may have SOME people rolling their eyes in disbelief. Thus the many blatantly negative Review Summaries here (such as 'Utter, utter, utter, utter, utter crap', etc... :) HOWEVER... IF you are the kind of person who likes a little 'Otherworldliness' in their films, and if you enjoy a nice X-Files-like vibe, then you should find this movie fairly entertaining.

I REALLY wanted to give this film a '7', grading it on sort of a curve because it honestly is made quite well compared to a lot of other similar films, but the awful acting in a few places kind of brought it down to a strong '6'...

But, there ARE indeed still plenty of good scares and some genuinely creepy moments to be enjoyed here...

Out of all the lost footage movies, where the vast majority of them sucks, this Isn't half bad.

The movie have a good start, a fair mix between creepy atmosphere and jump scares to keep you interested. It also had plenty of stuff that is open to interpretation.

There aren't that many decent UFO movies out there, but this one deserves a watch if you are hungry for creepy aliens related movies. If you are looking for a more down to earth sci-fi, then this wont cut it. Its simply not that genre.

I gave the movie 5/10 only because well, its lost footage, and that stuff is overdone. It it were shot with a mix of surveillance cameras and regular footage, it would have gotten a higher score. But still, an average movie that might get the hair on your neck to stand.

I just finished the movie and thought it was excellent. I am a big fan of alien abduction movies and frankly there aren't that many at all. I read some review on here that said it was a rip off of dark skies. Are you kidding? Maybe it seems that way because there are only a handful of these types of movies with alien abduction, Compared to the volume of ghost movies. That's like saying "The Conjuring is a rip- off of "Paranormal Activity". Or saying Dark Skies is a rip off of Signs. Alien abduction films: Signs, The Fourth Kind, Communion, Fire in the sky, Close Encounters. Not a vast selection, I hope I got my point across.

Another thing I don't agree with, saying this is "Amalgam" (Mixture) of paranormal, stuck in one movie. Yes, it might have more than just aliens. If you knew the accounts of the real "Skinwalker Ranch" you would know this is exactly the type of paranormal activity that goes on there, and that's what it is based on. Yes, the "Skinwalker Ranch" is a real Place with witnesses of U.F.O.'s, light orbs and yes other furry creatures. That's exactly why the movie was made because of the extraordinary events that have been documented at the ranch. The ranch is basically a breeding ground of paranormal activity.

Also to comment on user: Miroslav Kostic's quote as saying "It feels like there was no scenario, everything happens chaotically." To this I say, it's a paranormal documentary style horror story. It's supposed to mimic reality. Of course it's going to be chaotic. That reference is bogus. It's not meant to feel like a story but an event that was captured on film. This isn't "Harry Potter and the Skinwalker Ranch. It's a "Found Footage" Docu-Fiction Horror.

I was very surprised by the actors in the film. Usually these low budget movies have bad acting and horrible Computer Graphics. I was surprised with both. The acting was believable and the CGI was very good! I was expecting the syfy channel CGI but this looks as though they didn't lack on funds for the CGI. It makes the film that much more creepy! Loved the movie! It scared the crap out of me in certain scenes. Make sure to pay attention. You might notice something in the background scenes!!! FREAKY. LOL ENJOY GUYS!! I Give It a 6.5

Found Footage features typically rely on either horror/supernatural kinds of stuff or UFOs and alien sightings. Here, efforts were being made to do both! And I'm afraid that specific plan didn't work out too well.

I feel, storywise; it didn't have a lot to contribute. A pretty basic plot that consists of a group of specialized people investigating the disappearance of a little boy on mysterious grounds. Same old, non-exclusive approach!

Paranormal Happenings, UFOs, Aliens, Prodigious Beasts; this movie is an uncanny assemblage of all run-of-the-mill tropes one could possibly imagine in their wildest dreams! I'm all for trying out fresh ideas, but not here though! It is too much to bear and even more so without any context.

Thankfully, the execution isn't so bad. Performances are decent enough, there is sufficient tension that build-ups over time, and in particular; the choice of site is pretty impressive! Those widely spread plain fields did capture my interest, not gonna lie. Special effects & CGI fall onto the cheap side of the scale, but that is expected; especially given their modest resources!

In conclusion, if the Writing was on par with what I initially envisaged; it would have been a prominent addition to my ongoing streak of Found Footage films.

Alas! It just ended up being one of those forgettable viewings.