Phoenix Forgotten is a fake documentary made by a woman and her boyfriend who are researching the disappearance of her older brother and his two high school classmates. Her brother became obsessed with researching the Phoenix Lights after he saw and videotaped them at her birthday party. The Phoenix Lights is an actual UFO incident that occurred in 1997. He then set out on a quest to make a documentary
I’m one of the rare few that loved Phoenix Forgotten, which combines the found footage genre and fake documentary true crime drama. The Achilles Heel of the found footage genre is that you have to make a feature length about life as it unfolds, which means a lot of boring routine crap ends up on screen. The fake documentary provides a familiar structure to intersperse her brother’s footage as opposed to solely using the footage so the pacing is stronger than most found footage films. It is also a more familiar and appealing format that adds credibility to the sensational events in the film because it also uses clips from the news and press conferences and interviews actors playing experts. In addition, the film should be applauded for convincingly creating a period film within the film. The found footage portion is set in 1997, and technically, it looks like it.
Phoenix Forgotten is also a solid story with great acting. It reminded me of real documentaries like Dear Zachary about a family member playing detective and trying to make sense of loss. Unsurprisingly because one of the producers of the film is Ridley Scott, a follower of Space Jesus, he gets to proselytize by referencing Biblically based theories about extraterrestrials: chariots of fire, Ezekiel’s wheel. “Why would God need a spaceship?” “Exactly.” Unlike his current films, his theories do not threaten to overwhelm and engulf the entire movie. There is no sacrifice in character development, but it helps to advance it for one of the characters. There are allusions to one of the friends being brought up fundamentalist and trying to strike out independently.
Phoenix Forgotten’s perfect pacing satisfyingly also does not shortchange the alien abduction element to the story, but provides signs as to how a viewer can tell one is going to happen: mysterious lights, certain physical and psychological symptoms in nature and the victims, reaction of basic and advanced technology to the proximity of a UFO. While the film does tease other theories that could explain the teens’ disappearance, it does not waste a lot of time or annoy viewers with filler to take up time until you get what you have been waiting for. This film shared a lot of moments with Alien Abduction, which I enjoyed, but not as good as Phoenix Forgotten.
There are some undeveloped themes that are present, but not explored. The sister is in many ways walking in her brother’s footsteps and attracted some unwanted attention. I was surprised, but not disappointed that she did not get threatened along the way. Also how does her boyfriend feel about replacing her brother, the first cameraman in her life, on same level? I’m happy that their relationship is not explored, but it is odd. How were her parents not freaking out? There is a thin line between the hysteria and histrionics of reality tv and sober reflection and muted emotion in a documentary so I’m willing to sign a waiver.
If you are a fan of true crime, unsolved mystery documentaries, even if you are not wild about found footage films, I would give Phoenix Forgotten a chance. I loved it.