Area 51

"Area 51," directed by Oren Peli and released in 2015, continues in the found-footage tradition of the director's debut masterpiece, "Paranormal Activity," adding an extra layer of genre-blending. This science fiction thriller weaves reality and speculation into a narrative that questions the boundaries of what we know and what we think we know about one of the most mysterious places on Earth.

The film introduces the audience to the main characters, Reid Warner, Darrin Bragg, and Ben Rovner, playing characters of the same names. They are childhood friends, whose lives take an extraordinary turn after a party one night when Reid disappears abruptly. No one, not even his closest friends, know where he went or what happened to him.

When Reid unexpectedly re-emerges after three months without any communication or hint of his whereabouts, he is different. His character, once carefree and jovial, is now intensely focused, even obsessed. Reid becomes withdrawn and secretive, harbouring an inescapable fascination with the infamous Area 51, an infamous top-secret military installation rumored to be home to extraterrestrial exploration and experimentation.

Reid convinces his friends, Darrin and Ben, to go on a road trip to uncover the mysteries hidden within Area 51 themselves. Darrin, styled as the group’s technical guru, and the initially reluctant Ben, play instrumental roles in developing a plan to infiltrate the impenetrable fortress that is Area 51.

Focused on more than just the thrill of trespassing, the trio is driven by the desperation to unravel the truth behind the secretive government facility. Various conspiracy theories have swirled around Area 51 for decades, suggesting everything from the development of weather control capabilities to time travel and the examination of extraterrestrial life. Reid’s alarming yet magnetic conviction that something is hidden away from the public compels the friends to embark on a dangerous quest, where the price could be their lives.

Unlike Peli's other films, "Area 51" emphasizes its protagonists' planning and preparations for their daring mission rather than relying solely on the unexpected. The first half of the movie spends a significant amount of time setting up the plan, equipping viewers with a wealth of suspense and tension. The trio collects information, maps out the area, and gathers high-tech equipment that will aid them in their mission, leading to a film that feels as much a heist movie as it does a science fiction thriller.

Despite the familiarity of the “found footage” approach, "Area 51" manages to feel fresh. Peli's directorial skill shines in utilizing the format to ratchet up tension systematically, knowing just when to reveal and when to conceal. Employing night vision, first-person perspective, and various other technological advancements, he succeeds in immersing the viewers into the story.

The film pauses to breathe at times with moments of light-heartedness and camaraderie between the friends, offering layers of depth to the characters that make them more than just vehicles for the plot. These moments of fraternity interspersed within the narrative remind the viewers of the reality and gravity of what the characters are undertaking.

As they near their destination, the atmosphere of the film shifts, the stakes rise, and the aura of the mysterious Area 51 starts to consume them. The anxiety and anticipation grow into palpable fear as the possibility of their worst suspicions being true becomes alarmingly real.

"Area 51" is more than a mere thriller. It is a testament to human curiosity and the lengths one is willing to go to unveil the truth, no matter how shocking or terrifying it might be. It speaks to the enduring allure of the unknown and unfathomable and indulges the compelling human instinct to question and challenge the accepted narrative.

"Area 51" uses a familiar genre format to tell a story that is anything but. From the long desert roads leading to the fortress-like installation to the enigmatic interiors of the facility itself, every aspect of the film succeeds in cultivating a sense of thrill and apprehension about what lies ahead.

Whether you are a fan of found-footage films, science fiction, or conspiracy theories, "Area 51" by Oren Peli is likely to get your heart racing and trigger your inner investigative instincts. Its unique blend of genre elements, coupled with a narrative structured around one of the most famous conspiracy theory locations, offers an intriguing viewing experience that captivates and frightens in equal measure.