The McPherson Tape (1989)

Brilliant and touching

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Ah, the infamous "real" McPherson Tape. Hugely controversial among the alien abduction enthusiasts, hundreds of people still think that this the real deal. Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but it isn't. Still, this is probably the most believable found footage movie I've ever seen, as it really does feel as if you're watching an actual VHS camcorder home video of a real Midwestern family in the early 1980s. The alien abductions themselves are not really the focus here. The focus seems to be the tension that this family feels while being scared out of their wits. I prefer this original version over the 1997 made-for-television remake, Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County, which screamed "fake" right from the get go: awful acting, no chemistry between the actors/characters, overblown effects and laughable "documentary interviews" interspersed to insult the viewer's intelligence. Even though this original version is bare bones and lacking in alien action, it still manages to be taught, atmospheric, well acted, and most of all, believable. This has been next to impossible to find for decades, but thankfully someone has uploaded a pirated copy on the internet recently. If you are a fan of the remake, aliens/UFOs, found footage or just underground cinema in general, do yourself a favor and check it out. But just remember, its only a movie! There is no REAL "McPherson Tape" floating around out there. The name of the family in this original version isn't even McPherson, its Van Heese.

I have often wondered if there is more to this story than meets the eye. It appears as fake, and maybe so it is. However,there are elements of truth wrapped up in a supposed work of fiction.I believe it to be based on fact. Every time I see it; I see something that I didn't catch before. Don't get me wrong; Hollywood and other studios do great magic with the paranormal; but I also know that truth can be painted as fiction to reduce hysteria.Having been an experiencer from the age of four and had my own encounters with the greys in the 80's; I felt the hair on my neck stand up on end watching this film. There was a sense of familiarity that I don't find in other works of fiction relating to the greys.The memories of that night of when they came for me flashed back in this film. I have watched films like 'Signs', and others of the genre, but none really touches base like this one.

I was bored one day because there was nothing on, when i came across The McPherson tape. I pressed i to see wot it was about, it didnt read to well. I thought "what the hell" and watched it anyway. That was going to be the best decision i ever made. The movie is basically about an American family coming together for thanksgiving. A lad around 17 decided he would get the special occasion on video tape. Whenever the aliens are close to the family the camera that was used went fuzzy, this was a good thing because you then new the aliens were close. They had a warped little girl who will, if you see the movie, shock and annoy you. The movie works your mind and will really freak you out. I'm not easy to scare but this had me on the edge of my seat!! a deffinate 10/10.

The McPherson Tape is an arguably true story about the McPherson family who had met up for Thanksgiving like any other normal American family, totally unaware as to what the night would hold for them. The family are visited by Aliens, I hear you say " Yeah Yeah another alien abduction story ", but this is an alien story with a difference!. The difference here is that a camcorder tape was left behind from the Thanksgiving celebration from hell. The actor's themselves play their parts well at times it looks like ' Ham Acting ' but these are real emotions we are seeing. A great movie with interesting points of discussion, a TEN star rating from me.