Cast: D. B. Sweeney, Robert Patrick, Craig Sheffer, Peter Berg, James Garner
Director: Robert Lieberman
Producers: Joe Wizan and Todd Black
Screenplay: Tracy Torme
Cinematography: Bill Pope
Music: Mark Isham
U.S. Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Fire in the Sky purports to document the events surrounding the supposed alien abduction of Travis Walton (D. B. Sweeney). The film chronicles the day leading up to Walton's disappearance, the "mysterious" fire-like glow that draws him from the safety of his truck, and the "experiments" performed on him by the vaguely-humanoid aliens he claims to have been kidnapped by. There is also an attempt to develop the characters of five lumberjacks who witness the abduction and become prime suspects in a murder investigation opened by an ambitious and cynical police officer (James Garner).
Fire in the Sky is a muddled-up mess. It can't make up its mind whether it wants to be horror, drama, or science-fiction, and, consequently, succeeds as none. Writer Tracy Torme has penned a poorly- paced, badly-motivated script. The film meanders, with characters introduced and dropped and potentially-intriguing plot elements buried. The dialogue is embarrassing, and a sixth-grader could have fleshed out these characters more effectively.
It's clear that the movie's sympathy is with Walton. We are meant to accept his story as fact. This makes the purpose of James Garner's character somewhat mystifying. Initially, I thought he was there to represent the "other side of the story", but his position is never allowed to become even slightly credible. He is the heavy, refusing to believe Walton and his friends despite the overwhelming evidence supporting their version of events.
Fire in the Sky is grim. I'm not sure why director Robert Lieberman chose to fashion his movie like this, but the result is distinctly unpleasant -- dark, gloomy settings with harshly disagreeable characters and no sign of anything remotely resembling comic relief. Not only would I not want to meet any of the people in this movie, but they are so repulsive that it becomes grueling to sit through nearly two hours of their lives on screen.
There is one chillingly effective sequence in Fire in the Sky and, more than anything else, it illustrates that there could have been a decent story here. Walton's "experiences" in the alien vessel are portrayed with stunning, gut-wrenching realism (a couple members of the audience walked out during this sequence -- it's that disturbing). Much of the credit for these scenes goes to actor D. B. Sweeney. This is his only opportunity to act. In fact, not only is it his only chance, it's the only chance for any member of the cast.
Most unfortunate of all is the ending, which left me asking the question "Who cares?" This is deadly for any film, especially one that pretends to probe deep issues. Fire in the Sky states that it is based on a true story, but the only truth apparent to me is that this misbegotten attempt at a fictional re-creation should have been killed before anyone started rolling the cameras.
© 1993 James Berardinelli