UFO   Starring: Alex Sharp, Gillian Anderson, Ella Purnell and David Strathairn Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment RRP: £TBC Certificate: 12 Release Date: 01 October 2018

Derek is a brilliant college student, haunted by a childhood UFO sighting, who believes that mysterious sightings reported at multiple airports across the United States are UFO's. With the help of his friend, Natalie and his advanced mathematics professor, Dr. Hendricks, Derek races to unravel the mystery with FBI special agent Franklin Ahls on his heels...

Taking its cue from the infamous Roswell UFO Incident of 1947, the film takes a UFO sighting witnessed by numerous civilians and has the FBI quickly cover it up by claiming that what these "witnesses" saw was anything but extra terrestrial.

However, Derek, a young gifted maths student, becomes obsessed with the details and spends every waking moment trying to prove that the experts explanations just don't add up. He becomes obsessed to the point of being in danger of dropping out of classes and alienating his friend, Natalie.

The problem with the film, other than the lead character of Derek isn't overly likeable, is that the race to get to the truth is both long and boring. We never really get to see the UFO, which isn't really a problem, but it also means there's no real pay off for the audience. Instead we see Derek writing down math equations and getting excited.

Gillian Anderson is well cast as Derek's lecturer, but she's a little too eager to engage in Derek's obsession.

In the end, when you strip it all down, it has a very shallow plot with not a whole lot keeping you invested in it. Sure the final scenes are interesting, but it's not a film I'd want to sit through again.

4

Nick Smithson