Phoenix Forgotten

Watch Phoenix Forgotten

"Based on Shocking Untold True Events"
  • PG-13
  • 2017
  • 1 hr 20 min
  • 5.3  (6,933)
  • 33

Phoenix Forgotten is a 2017 sci-fi thriller directed by Justin Barber and produced by Ridley Scott. The film is based on the 1997 Phoenix Lights incident that occurred in Phoenix, Arizona, in which thousands of people claimed to have seen a V-shaped formation of lights in the sky. The movie follows the story of three teenagers who went missing during the incident and the intense search for their whereabouts.

The story is told through the found-footage style that is popular in this genre of film. The first half of the movie is the reconstruction of the events of March 13, 1997, through the videotapes of Josh Bishop (Luke Spencer Roberts). Josh is an aspiring filmmaker and the brother of Sophie Bishop (Florence Hartigan), one of the missing teenagers. The footage includes interviews with witnesses, news reports, and Josh's own experiments with his camera.

Josh's investigation takes him to the outskirts of Phoenix, where he meets Ashley Foster (Chelsea Lopez), a friend of Sophie's who was with her the night they disappeared. Ashley remembers the sighting of the lights and the excitement of chasing them. She takes Josh and his crew to the desert, where they find new evidence that leads them to conclude that Sophie and her friends were abducted by aliens.

The second half of the movie is the visual documentation of the search for the missing teenagers. It is set twenty years after the event, and Josh's sister Sophie has been declared dead. Josh's curiosity is reignited by the discovery of new footage that shows Sophie and her friends alive years after their disappearance. Josh returns to Phoenix and joins forces with a local TV reporter, who is interested in the story. They go back to the desert to follow the leads that Josh had missed before.

The movie is well-made, and the found-footage style is effectively used to create a sense of authenticity. The acting is excellent, especially the performances of the three leads. Florence Hartigan is particularly impressive in her portrayal of Sophie, who starts as a carefree teenager and ends up as a traumatized victim.

The movie is not without its flaws, however. The story is relatively predictable, and the final act is rushed and feels somewhat contrived. The documentary interview format is also overused and becomes repetitive at times. Some viewers may also find the slow pacing a bit tedious, as the first half of the movie is mostly dedicated to setting up the premise.

Despite these drawbacks, Phoenix Forgotten is an enjoyable and suspenseful movie that succeeds in capturing the eerie ambiance of UFO sightings. The film concludes with a chilling last shot that gives the audience something to ponder on. Overall, if you're a fan of sci-fi thrillers or found-footage films, Phoenix Forgotten is definitely worth watching.

Phoenix Forgotten is a 2017 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3 and a MetaScore of 33.

Phoenix Forgotten
Description
Where to Watch Phoenix Forgotten
Phoenix Forgotten is available to watch, stream, download and buy, rent on demand at Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube VOD and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent Phoenix Forgotten for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2017
  • MPAA Rating
    PG-13
  • Runtime
    1 hr 20 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    5.3  (6,933)
  • Metascore
    33