Phoenix Forgotten

Name: Phoenix Forgotten
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, Horror
Released: April 21, 2017
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 33

2017

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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4.9

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4.9	Your Score
4.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Cinelou Releasing | Release Date: April 21, 2017 | Not Rated

Summary: Based on the shocking, true events of March 13th, 1997, when several mysterious lights appeared over Phoenix, Arizona. This unprecedented and inexplicable phenomenon became known as The Phoenix Lights, and remains the most famous and widely viewed UFO sighting in history. Phoenix Forgotten tells the story of three teens who went into theBased on the shocking, true events of March 13th, 1997, when several mysterious lights appeared over Phoenix, Arizona. This unprecedented and inexplicable phenomenon became known as The Phoenix Lights, and remains the most famous and widely viewed UFO sighting in history. Phoenix Forgotten tells the story of three teens who went into the desert shortly after the incident, hoping to document the strange events occurring in their town. They disappeared that night, and were never seen again. Now, on the twentieth anniversary of their disappearance, unseen footage has finally been discovered, chronicling the final hours of their fateful expedition.… Expand

Director: Justin Barber

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

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

Mike D'Angelo

Apr 25, 2017

First-time director Justin Barber, who cowrote the screenplay with T.S. Nowlin, builds his narrative around the Phoenix Lights, but sticks so close to formula that they might as well be called the Blair Lights. Read full review

Joe Leydon

Apr 26, 2017

After 40 or so minutes of teasing hints that its makers may have hit upon a fresh approach to found-footage thrillers, “Phoenix Forgotten” indicates the genre may be having its last gasp on life support as the movie devolves into yet another threadbare patchwork of mounting hysteria, faux cinéma vérité, and shaky-cam visual clichés. Read full review

Justin Lowe

Apr 26, 2017

The performances in the 1997 scenes are relatively low-key, relying more on the dramatic development of personal relationships than the shock value of unexpected events. The contemporary storyline offers little of particular interest, however, serving more to contextualize earlier developments. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Apr 26, 2017

Director Barber makes the period video look exactly like misplaced family home movies — rolling picture, static, shaky, the works. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Apr 26, 2017

Phoenix Forgotten is borderline generic, desert-set found footage that apes the aforementioned Witchiness and genre constraints to a snooze-worthy T. Read full review

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User Reviews

Genesis_01

Nov 2, 2017

I don't understand all the hate this movie is getting. As a long time movie lover - I enjoyed it ... it kept me wondering "What happened?" even if I might "think" I know, I still wanted confirmation. I can admit, 'found footage/mockumentary' films have been beaten to death these days, butI don't understand all the hate this movie is getting. As a long time movie lover - I enjoyed it ... it kept me wondering "What happened?" even if I might "think" I know, I still wanted confirmation. I can admit, 'found footage/mockumentary' films have been beaten to death these days, but this is something a bit different and doesn't sit in the horror section like most do.

I guess my only real complaint is I am still rather left wondering ... "Ok, now what?!!" I wanted more - I wasn't really satisfied with the ending, but that's just me. I still wouldn't shrug this film off - It's different and the acting in it is pretty well done, for a split second one might even think "Was this based on a true story?" and yeah sure 'parts' are ... but it even had me wondering if 3 kids went missing back in 1997 and was used also as a backbone for the film.

All in all if you like mystery mixed with sci-fi, thriller, suspense (I wouldn't really say 'horror') then this is a good movie to check out. It'll keep your attention, it'll keep you guessing and the execution is well done along with how the movie was filmed.

I'd also like to note something here, this is my first time ever reviewing a movie, as most of the time I rely on other people's reviews - But I'd check into what some of the users who've down voted this movie are into before going by their review alone.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TryASummersault

Apr 26, 2017

Not even close to how bad people are making this out to be. Realistically I'd rate it a 6.8/10, but the average is far too low. This film is better than "Blair Witch Project", "Paranormal Activity", and most found footage films that it has definitely been influenced by. It has a veryNot even close to how bad people are making this out to be. Realistically I'd rate it a 6.8/10, but the average is far too low. This film is better than "Blair Witch Project", "Paranormal Activity", and most found footage films that it has definitely been influenced by. It has a very interesting documentary style thrown into it with surprisingly convincing accounts and interviews from the actors . It also has some very convincing actual found footage execution with some great 90s nostalgic tones and visually decent UFO effects/sounds in the climax though takes a long time to get going and ends extremely abruptly. The one thing i continue to not understand with some of these UFO/Extraterrestrial films is the fact they don't show actual alien beings when most of the story is surrounding their existence/phenomena. Thats why films like Signs and Fire in the sky will remain the classics go the genre. I have watched most found footage films released and this film is definitely one of the better executed and and interesting entries and the ratings are completely unfair. If you're a fan of UFO's, you should definitely watch this.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

BrianMcCritic

Aug 3, 2017

A found footage film that isn't all that bad. I actually enjoyed watching this film even if it's not great. While you could do a lot worse than Phoenix Forgotten I can't recommend you rush out and see it. If you like this genre you might like this. C+

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Acacia

Apr 25, 2017

It would seem from reviews on other sites that you either love this movie or you hate it. Unfortunately, I am among those that didn't like it. I am really, truly over the "found footage" gimmick. The shaky camera and the whole wavy line, static thing when the sh#t is going down is such aIt would seem from reviews on other sites that you either love this movie or you hate it. Unfortunately, I am among those that didn't like it. I am really, truly over the "found footage" gimmick. The shaky camera and the whole wavy line, static thing when the sh#t is going down is such a copout. If you can't show us what is really happening any other way, then maybe you should not be making movies. It is just gimmicky, and so boring the first 45 minutes. Other user reviews talked about a twist at the end. I never saw a twist because it ended the way it should have, folks! I say forget it!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EpicLadySponge

Apr 21, 2017

The story's just as terrible as you expected it to be. It's like I can take something that hardly anyone cares about it and slap it to a movie to send to Hollywood to officially approve so I can waste all my life working on it. The crew behind this should have known better and would haveThe story's just as terrible as you expected it to be. It's like I can take something that hardly anyone cares about it and slap it to a movie to send to Hollywood to officially approve so I can waste all my life working on it. The crew behind this should have known better and would have been because I sure wish this could have been worse.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

dajugganautx

May 5, 2017

Not much to say other than it was very underwhelming. It's one of those movies that has you thinking about how much you spent to see the move including snacks instead of the story when you walk out the theater.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

marco34la

Apr 22, 2017

This movie is soooo bad, I am seriously considering writing the studio to get a refund for my ticket, popcorn and parking. It is a complete utter waste of time. Disjointed nonsense that a 12 yr old could have made on his iphone. There is no story, nothing exciting and nothing worth seeing.This movie is soooo bad, I am seriously considering writing the studio to get a refund for my ticket, popcorn and parking. It is a complete utter waste of time. Disjointed nonsense that a 12 yr old could have made on his iphone. There is no story, nothing exciting and nothing worth seeing. TRUST ME. SAVE YOUR MONEY! This is not even a rental!!… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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