In 1975, logger Travis Walton (D.B. Sweeney, Hear No Evil, Eight Men Out) and his co-workers encountered a UFO. His pals were able to flee — but Walton was not so lucky. Whisked aboard the strange craft, he was subjected to a painful, unearthly medical study. Fire In The Sky is the amazing tale of that ordeal … and of the contempt and ridicule endured by Walton and his friends as they tried to convince others of this otherworldly experience.
James Garner, Robert Patrick, Craig Sheffer, Peter Berg, and Henry Thomas also star in this gripping and terrifying depiction of alien abduction that’s based on a true story.
For thoughts on Fire In The Sky, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
This new Blu-Ray from Scream Factory gives Fire In The Sky an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1 that is derived from a new 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative. Fans have been waiting patiently for years to get this one in high definition, and this release makes it feel worth the wait. The new transfer provides a magnificent viewing experience that appears incredibly natural, stable and detailed in all respects. The film has a solid natural grain structure that preserves the filmic look of the picture, showcasing subtle details in the thoughtful production design. The grain resolves well with nothing ever feeling chunky or like it is swarming unnaturally. The practical effects of the alien terrors hold up well under the scrutiny of high definition with each memory providing much to marvel over. Skin tones look natural, and the vibrant colors of the world are rendered faithfully. Black levels hold up so well with some amazing depth to the image free from crush. There is no apparent damage to be found in this presentation. Scream Factory has made the film look the best it ever has on disc.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that opens up this world in a pretty exciting way sonically. The time on the ship offers distinct sounds that creep through the surrounds to provide some excellent ambient details. All of the various sounds in the mix seem accurately placed so that nothing ever feels off. Dialogue sounds perfectly clear without sound effects or the eerie score trouncing on important information. Moments of playful banter among the friends are employed appropriately in precise channels in the front and rear. The subwoofer is given somewhat of a workout in the active paranormal moments. Overall, this is a pleasing track that does everything it needs to do perfectly.
Special Features
- Interviews
-
- Director Robert Lieberman: A 26-minute audio interview with Director Robert Lieberman which is billed as a “select scene commentary” in which he reflects on his experiences with the movie. The piece begins with Lieberman discussing how his work on All I Want For Christmas Is You gave him the clout to make Fire In The Sky, how he achieved the production design he desired for the film, assembling his cast, getting Craig Sheffer so pissed off that it carried over into his performance, the realities of the shooting locations, the complicated special effects work and much more that is a good deal of fun to listen to.
-
- Actor D.B. Sweeney: A 15-minute audio interview with D.B. Sweeney in which he discusses what drew him to the project, why he believed this role might lead to him playing Spider-man, the balancing of the supernatural and the ordinary, filming the wirework scenes, the release and reception of the film, its legacy and more.
-
- Actor Robert Patrick: An 11-minute audio interview with Robert Patrick in which he details his struggle not to be typecast after his iconic role in Terminator 2, falling in love with the script for Fire In The Sky, getting in touch with some of the real people from the events, what he learned from working with James Garner, and much more. You can really tell Patrick has a passion for acting that is a joy to listen to.
-
- Composer Mark Isham: A 12-minute audio interview with Mark Isham in which he discusses establishing a reputation for being able to work with a variety of different sounds, balancing the electronic elements with the orchestral, the challenges faced while developing certain pieces, his collaboration with director Robert Lieberman and more.
- Photo Gallery: A collection of stills, promotional photos, behind-the-scenes moments and advertising material.
- Theatrical Trailer: The minute-long theatrical trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Fire In The Sky is a very compelling adult drama which veers into the horrific thanks to some unsettling paranormal encounters. What makes this film work so well is the care it takes to build up characters you actually become invested in before their lives are turned upside down. D.B. Sweeney is really great here, but Robert Patrick is the performer we walked away thinking about after the credits stopped rolling. When you do get to the alien madness, practical effects keep the situations so much more visceral for the audience, practically feeling the slime running over your skin. Scream Factory has released a new Blu-Ray that sports a 5-star A/V presentation and a fun array of supplemental features. This is a disc well worth a spot in the collection of horror movie fans. Highly Recommended
Fire In The Sky is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Scream Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.