Jonah

"Jonah," directed by Ben Van Kleek in 2024, weaves a compelling narrative about a journalist confronted with his repressed childhood trauma while investigating a mother's claim that her son was abducted by aliens. On paper, the film's premise, conflicts, and the backstories of its characters check all the boxes for a captivating thriller. It cleverly raises questions about the true intentions of each character and the enveloping mystery they are all trying to unravel, setting the stage for an engaging exploration of human emotion and the unknown.

The potential of "Jonah" lies in its ability to blend personal struggle with supernatural elements, offering a rich soil from which complex character dynamics and thrilling plot twists can grow. The backstories are poised to add depth, making the audience invested in the outcomes of these well-conceived characters. This depth, coupled with the overarching mystery, should have provided a fertile ground for suspense and engagement, drawing viewers into a web of intrigue and emotional complexity.

However, the film stumbles significantly when it comes to its execution, particularly in the casting and performance aspects. Despite the brilliance of the script and the clear vision behind the project, the actors' portrayals fall short of bringing the characters to life in a believable manner. This disconnect between the characters' potential depth and their on-screen representation undermines the immersive experience that is critical for a thriller of this nature. The audience's belief in the characters and the story they inhabit is crucial, and when the performances are not convincing, it detracts from the entire narrative, no matter how well-written or conceived it may be.

In conclusion, while "Jonah" promises a riveting exploration of human psyche intertwined with otherworldly mysteries, its impact is dulled by a cast that fails to deliver the emotional and psychological complexity required. This results in a film that, despite its intriguing premise and underlying script brilliance, offers an experience that falls below expectations, leaving viewers disengaged from what could have been a profoundly moving journey.

This movie is really original. It's a low budget film but it has some cool twists. The actors are good, I enjoyed Osric Chau from supernatural. It's not a perfect story and the ending is really bold, it kind of makes me think about what it all means, but it's kind of confusing. I would like to see a bit more action with this type of movie but overall it's worth watching. I rented it on apple. I think if you watch this movie just go into it with low expectations, it's indie and it's not traditional but the film does push and play with your emotions. Cool indie flick worth checking out if you like alien stuff.

This could have been a good movie, as the script is not bad. But it lacked actual alien involvement and left much to the imagination. Most SciFi buffs want to see the aliens, I mean c.mon! Also, the acting wasn't bad, but the actors are hardly known. The boy's psychodrama was probably the best part of the movie. If it had more higher profile actors it would have been more engaging. Also. It is a bit unreal, that these two really young paranormal skeptics would have credible knowledge about alien abductions in the first place. Anyway, it is OK for an inbetween movie if you're bored and there's nothing elese to watch.

Rented this on prime and it was not what I was expecting, this indie film really has a lot of religious symbolism blended together with alien theology. The cast was really good but the budget on this is low. The tension is high and it made me uncomfortable at times. The ending really makes me wonder. The film pushes what you would expect from an "alien abduction" movie. It's not typical but it does a good job at keep you engaged. The actor playing the kid was solid, really liked his performances. The mom is a crazy person. The pacing moves fast and the music really pulls you in. Overall, it's pretty good.

"A journalist's childhood trauma surfaces when a mother claims that her son was abducted by aliens."

Not deserving of its rating. Anyone giving this snoozefest more than one star is being extremely generous. Nothing about this film makes it worth investing 90 minutes of your life. Boring characters and bad acting ending with a ridiculous "alien" encounter. This is not even a decent made for TV movie. I can not believe a studio invested their money in the making of this film. You've been warned. Only positive thing I can say about this experience is fortunately it was free. Do not waste your time or dollars.