Opened: November 16, 1977

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, J. Patrick McNamara, Warren Kemmerling, Roberts Blossom, Philip Dodds, Cary Guffey & Lance Henriksen

An alien film that focuses more on  human experiences than the actual aliens themselves, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a slow burning science-fiction thriller that runs too long.

When Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfus) experiences a county-wide blackout, he goes to investigate and encounters an unidentified flying object. His obsession with the sighting takes over his life though his wife Ronnie (Teri Garr) doesn’t believe him. However, Jillian Guiler (Melinda Dillon) helps investigate after her three-year-old son Barry (Cary Guffey) also has an encounter.

The lighting design in this film is fantastic and perhaps the best part. Both when Roy has the UFO above his truck and the Guilers experience it outside their house, the lighting more than anything is what freaks you out in believing the aliens are there.

Final say: A bit dated, but still entertaining. ★★★☆☆