UFO (2018)

Directed by: Ryan Eslinger | 85 minutes | action, science fiction | Actors: Alex Sharp, Gillian Anderson, Ella Purnell, Benjamin Beatty, Cece Abbey, David Strathairn, Ken Early, Brian Bowman, AJ Ransom, Katie Eichler, David Heckel, Chauncey Ragland

You don’t expect a very inspired, in-depth or compelling film with a title like ‘UFO’. But although it hasn’t become a big hit (on any level), appearances are somewhat deceiving in this case. In any case, ‘UFO’ is not the sensational, mindless B-movie you might expect. Quite the contrary.

‘UFO’ is a highly-watchable, intriguing film that hits its target with a tight focus, without being distracted by things like romantic subplots, over-the-top action scenes, or cartoonish villains. But unfortunately also not because of something like credible motivation or character development. Your appreciation of the film will largely depend on the value you place on these elements.

There is certainly some kind of tension in ‘UFO’, but it’s more about the implications of discovering alien life and the emotions that come with it, than the danger of the aliens. Our hero also faces obstacles in his quest for answers, but he is not so much held back by stereotypical bad guys as his perseverance, dedication and intelligence are tested.

Derek (Alex Sharp) is a young math genius, a bit like Matt Damon in ‘Good Will Hunting’, but without the attitude. He knows how to perform calculations at lightning speed, name prime numbers, and recognize the fine-structure constant in a sound signal that presumably comes from extraterrestrial beings that have recently hovered just above the earth.

Derek’s calculations and quick mind are mesmerizing to watch, even though the average viewer doesn’t understand 90% of what’s being told (or maybe because of that). As he seems to be getting closer and closer to the truth and the intent of the alien signal, the viewer’s level of excitement rises. Even though you know it’s fiction, you’re very curious what all this means for our life on earth, the future, the universe, our soul… And yes, you secretly want to know what those aliens look like.

Yet it soon seems clear that you will never see the aliens. As in ‘Contact’ (Robert Zemeckis, 1997), we are believed to be incapable of imagining the appearance of extraterrestrial life. Perhaps very easy: then the filmmakers don’t have to think of creatures, but at least you won’t be presented with something banal like those green men (or long, elongated human-like creatures).

Ultimately, ‘UFO’ is an interesting finger exercise and fascinating enough while you’re watching, but afterwards mainly a kind of teaser for the next step that needs to be taken: the real two-way communication.

Furthermore, it’s a shame that the main character and three or four main characters around him – his best friend (Benjamin Beatty) and girlfriend (Ella Purnell), FBI agent Franklin Ahls (David Strathairn) and math teacher Professor Hendricks (Gillian Anderson) – haven’t been developed a bit more so that we would care more about them and their relationships and put ourselves in their shoes better.

As for the main character, late in the film the filmmakers try to provide him with some emotional motivation for his obsession with this (possible) contact and solving the code. But they could have saved themselves the trouble, because the backstory is so small that it does more harm than good. The viewer should have kept the illusion that Derek is doing it all because of his need to solve every math problem. In short, that unraveling this problem is an irresistible and ultimate challenge for him.

‘UFO’ is ultimately an interesting, well-acted film that, despite the lack of deep mathematical knowledge, effectively puts the viewer in the shoes of the main character. Alex Sharp is a good, sympathetic stand-in for the viewer and Strathairn and Anderson add the necessary class in their (too) small roles. The film succeeds in creating the needs of Derek in the viewer; to solve a monstrously complex puzzle on the one hand, and on the other to find the answer to one of mankind’s greatest questions: ‘Are we alone in the universe?