Area 51

Name: Area 51
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror
Released: May 15, 2015
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 30

2015

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Generally unfavorable reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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3.6	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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Area 51

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: May 15, 2015 | R

Summary: Three young conspiracy theorists attempt to uncover the mysteries of Area 51, the government’s top secret location rumored to have hosted encounters with alien beings. What they find at this hidden facility exposes horrifying, unimaginable secrets.

Director: Oren Peli

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

A.A. Dowd

May 16, 2015

Though Peli stages a few fun and creepy effects shots, nothing that happens here couldn’t be surmised from simply reading the film’s title. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

May 15, 2015

To be fair, the slow burn does eventually catch fire and there’s lots of screaming and heavy breathing and dark tunnels and running and what-not. The relatively tense final half-hour is clearly the reason that very smart producer Jason Blum thought this would be a solid follow-up to “Paranormal Activity.” It’s that first hour that is the reason it took six years to (barely) get released. Read full review

Matt Donato

Jun 28, 2017

Area 51 is everything that's wrong with not only found footage films, but also weak-minded sci-fi thrillers that think crazed talking heads and fuzzy shadows are scary enough. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Jun 28, 2017

Tedious, visually unsatisfying, poorly acted and narratively disjointed, Area 51 is a textbook example of directorial sophomore slump. Read full review

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User Reviews

NShep53

Sep 2, 2015

For a movie that was in production for 6+ years and directed by Oren Peli (the director of Paranormal Activity), Area 51 is a letdown. Now, it's not terrible mind you, but average. It is not a horror movie; more like a fake documentary about people sneaking onto Area 51. There are someFor a movie that was in production for 6+ years and directed by Oren Peli (the director of Paranormal Activity), Area 51 is a letdown. Now, it's not terrible mind you, but average. It is not a horror movie; more like a fake documentary about people sneaking onto Area 51. There are some interesting visuals/ideas and the characters are very likeable for a found-footage affair, but is definitely not a must see. If you like found-footage movies, then give Area 51 a try. I don't hate myself for watching it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

quincytheodore

May 16, 2015

The minimalist approach surprisingly creates an involving trip, although it's hampered with vague visual and unsatisfying conclusion Found footage genre hasn't found much success after the initial trend start with REC or Cloverfield. It attempts to create a more personal experience withThe minimalist approach surprisingly creates an involving trip, although it's hampered with vague visual and unsatisfying conclusion Found footage genre hasn't found much success after the initial trend start with REC or Cloverfield. It attempts to create a more personal experience with first person view often falls flat with cumbersome shaky shots and unclear scenes. Area 51 suffers from the same exact problems and it stutters towards the end, but it also manages to set an occasionally interesting trip, especially in the first half.

Story follows Reid and his friends as he tries to infiltrate the highly secured titular facility. To do so he must investigate the area and bypass many security measures. For most early parts, the film delivers quite the ride as audiences follow these guys on Vegas and its surrounding. Some investigations and interviews set the tone right, and not in overly silly way. Characters are also pretty decent and likeable as though they are real life friends.

Unfortunately, it soon arrives at familiar territory of hazy shots and mindless running. The scenes in the city or desert are identifiable, but when it is stranded in dark corners, the movie loses the momentum significantly. Script is also numbingly bland as characters would yell the same thing over and over again, this is especially true when they are repeatedly shouting, “We gotta go”. With both visual and audio decrease in quality, it just turns into a confusing escapade.

Cinematography is to be expected from this kind of found footage flick, it’s rather elementary, but there are a few good shots with modified vision. At several scenes the film builds up the suspense pretty well, these are not all translated into thrilling moments. It almost seems like it has problems in latter half, resorting to cheap alien gimmick and nullifying its early decent production.

Area 51 has a presentable start with more engaging use of the found footage, but it falls to the same issues and ends up like the rest without accomplishing much.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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