CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE FIFTH KIND -- A Ridiculous Pseudoscience Documentary

4/7/2020

Review by Sean Boelman

Directed by Michael Mazzola, Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind is the newest documentary featuring ufologist Dr. Steven Greer. Little more than two hours of conspiracy theory and pseudoscience, this painfully dull film proves that not everyone needs access to a competent camera team.

Serving as a sort-of follow-up to two other documentaries featuring Greer, Sirius and Unacknowledged, the movie takes a look at the CE-5 community that is working to initiate close encounters of the fifth kind. Admittedly, there are some interesting ideas deep within the film, but they are buried beneath so many layers of deceit and fallacy that they are nearly impossible to recognize.

Much of the movie consists of so-called ‘evidence’ gathered from CE-5 events in which people try to initiate contact with extraterrestrial beings. The end of the film proposes a call to action, highlighting some of the normal people and amateur ufologists around the country and world who are part of this movement to try to figure out what (or who) exists in the universe beyond what is known, and quite frankly, they all come off as ridiculous.

Yet no one comes off as poorly in the movie as Greer himself. More often than not, he seems like a false prophet. Although the amount of dedication Greer has put into his research is admirable, one can’t help but feel like the amount of profit he can make from commercializing his theories in a documentary such as this is the real motivating factor for much of it.

There is also a weird portion of the film that leans heavily into the conspiracy theory aspects of ufology. More so than any other part of the movie, this segment is pretty awful. The amount of mistrust that these supposed “whistleblowers and scientific experts” have for the American government goes from something logical to outright contempt.

On a technical level, the film does a decent job of arguing its position if its arguments weren’t so difficult to swallow. For those who already subscribe to Greer’s theories, this movie’s flashy visuals and sleek nature are sure to reinforce their pre-existing ideas on the topic. Otherwise, viewers will be able to see right past this facade.

That said, Greer and Mazzola seem much less concerned with making a legitimately interesting documentary, instead focusing on a failed attempt to educate the ‘unconverted’. As a result, the film is a two-hour-long info dump, much longer than any documentary about aliens has the right to be, and extremely boring in turn.

Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind is not a pleasant movie by any means, but it’s almost humorous to watch the level of ridiculousness that proceeds on screen. This film has a very small niche audience that will appreciate it, and otherwise, it should be entirely dismissed.

Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind is now available on DVD.

Rating: 1/5

4 Comments

Robbert Zijlstra

5/22/2020 08:32:58 am

You must be a troll. Come on, this review can not be taken seriously. I have two Masters and was a big sceptical, but I've been two times on a trip with Dr. Greer. I can tell you from my own experience it was beyod phenomal what we as group encountered. No words to describe it and all disbelief went out of the window bye bye. So, it is so easy to burn this down from a naief point of view, until you witness is yourself.

Warm regards,

Robbert Zijlstra MA MBA

Ava Green

6/1/2020 07:02:45 pm

I completely understand your position, the truth seems preposterous after being lied to for your whole life. I hope one day you become more knowledgeable on the matter of ufology although it seems you consider it not worth your time to read about, despite writing this review.

kaleab

6/18/2020 05:11:07 pm

if you try to show or theorized a zero point energy experiment for peoples 2000 years ago they literally will redicule you in terms of their current understanding because that even happen on old sceintists hundreds of years ago by being isolated.the problem on this reviewing is that its completely self opinion,if you are religious or follower of mainstream science you are exactly sheep who try to find some sceince mussai on the science community because this kind of concsiousness sceince will challenge your beliefs because you have been raised by the mainstream community to not dig this kind of metaphysical concepts until you experience it in first hand,REMEMEBER trying to know new things doesnt hurt peoples,you need to stop being limited,use your own brain mechanism not the mainstream community like a sheep.

Tom Calarco

9/27/2020 02:20:45 am

I haven't seen this film and didn't know it existed until after I saw Unacknowledged.

Reading through your review, I see that you are quite ignorant about American history and the deceit and disinformation that has become the MO of the US since the formation of the covert wing of the CIA when Allen Dulles became director during the early 1950s.

In Unacknowledged, Greer made a good case for the existence of extraterrestrial life, showing interviews with such luminaries as Dr. Hynek and others less known, people who had first-hand knowledge.

Your skepticism is very pretentious and arrogant. But then you are brainwashed like many others about the true nature of the American government.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE FIFTH KIND -- A Ridiculous Pseudoscience Documentary

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