by Cookie N Screen
Aliens. Man that would be so cool. You’ll have to be a complete moron not to expect little green men to descend from the skies and invade us for either peaceful or aggressive reasons. In popular culture, it has been the source of intrigue for everyone with varying levels of “what if?" From cute bug-eyed friendships to war, bloody war, there has been every inconceivable imagining of extra-terrestrial’s coming to our terrain and exploring humanity. Heck, there are even stories of UFOs and spaceships darting around rural America - many believing that they were abducted.
But what would actually happen if the beyond came closer to our homes? That is a question attempted to be answered in The Visit.
Aliens. Man that would be so cool. You’ll have to be a complete moron not to expect little green men to descend from the skies and invade us for either peaceful or aggressive reasons. In popular culture, it has been the source of intrigue for everyone with varying levels of “what if?" From cute bug-eyed friendships to war, bloody war, there has been every inconceivable imagining of extra-terrestrial’s coming to our terrain and exploring humanity. Heck, there are even stories of UFOs and spaceships darting around rural America - many believing that they were abducted.
But what would actually happen if the beyond came closer to our homes? That is a question attempted to be answered in The Visit.
Prolific conceptual artist Michael Masden takes the documentary form and transforms it beyond this world with The Visit. After all, we’d be fools to dismiss this fast universe as empty. Here, he takes actual scientists, government officials and NASA personnel and places them in an abstract plot where aliens actually come to our world. The movie takes an approach that all the previous “encounters” and mysteries never happened, this being a fresh spin on the phenomenon that derides the narrative into a new direction of fascination - creating an enthralling experimental film.
The premise, despite assuming too rationally the simplicity of the alien force, is still captivating. See the idea itself and the execution flow magnificently that anyone with a sniff of interest in space people coming down to explore this planet soul should watch. Focusing on the science of nature not akin to our planet, the extrapolation of truth in a fictional world is chilling to watch. As man is confronted with existence away from their own flesh, the film unravels the intelligence and capabilities we have if (or, more likely, when) we come in contact with another space species. The ideas presented may, at times, feel as though they have been explored before in more narrative movies but the director embellishes the themes with this research and the already established scientific or military approach those interviewed would take.
The premise, despite assuming too rationally the simplicity of the alien force, is still captivating. See the idea itself and the execution flow magnificently that anyone with a sniff of interest in space people coming down to explore this planet soul should watch. Focusing on the science of nature not akin to our planet, the extrapolation of truth in a fictional world is chilling to watch. As man is confronted with existence away from their own flesh, the film unravels the intelligence and capabilities we have if (or, more likely, when) we come in contact with another space species. The ideas presented may, at times, feel as though they have been explored before in more narrative movies but the director embellishes the themes with this research and the already established scientific or military approach those interviewed would take.
The filming and cinematography leans the movie and Madsen’s story telling into the experimental zone. That’s not to say it isn’t good. Quite the opposite really. Too many documentaries take the stance of pointing camera and shooting whereas Madsen marries fiction and non-fiction, enhancing it with these evocative scenes and vibrant colours. Through the course of the public scenes, Madsen shifts between slow motion and shaky camera work, capturing each expression and reaction. Comparatively balancing between panic and action, there is a somewhat beauty in the panic that unfolds our humanity in all its fragility. These are enhanced with the more captivating and gorgeous scenes swimming with colour and imagery. Though the repetition can distract from the overall final feel of the film, Madsen is terrific at fleshing out the tale with extremely intense scenes that flow with scientific poetry.
It’s an experimental and existential film that tackles the abandon of Earth within an expanding universe and places our race in a hotbed of conflict. You could argue that Madsen could’ve done much more with the story and rather underestimates the invasion or connection that we may have with the new species. But the manner in which his film is conduct sublimely flows into this philosophical debate on aliens and our fledgling existence. Making the film feel realistic, despite its simplistic undertones, Madsen has crafted an assured movie that will have you contemplating the stars as you look out beyond the realms of what you knew. For the questions it asks and tries to answer in some way, The Visit is an engaging delight for anyone gazing out into the universal abyss.
It’s an experimental and existential film that tackles the abandon of Earth within an expanding universe and places our race in a hotbed of conflict. You could argue that Madsen could’ve done much more with the story and rather underestimates the invasion or connection that we may have with the new species. But the manner in which his film is conduct sublimely flows into this philosophical debate on aliens and our fledgling existence. Making the film feel realistic, despite its simplistic undertones, Madsen has crafted an assured movie that will have you contemplating the stars as you look out beyond the realms of what you knew. For the questions it asks and tries to answer in some way, The Visit is an engaging delight for anyone gazing out into the universal abyss.
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