“They’re here.”
synopsis
After a series of unexplained electrical disturbances and mysterious sightings across the country, ordinary people begin experiencing vivid visions of a strange, mountainous shape. Among them is Roy Neary, a suburban lineman whose brief encounter with an unidentified flying object leaves him obsessed and increasingly detached from his family. As scientists race to decode extraterrestrial signals, these scattered individuals are drawn inexorably toward a remote Wyoming location, where humanity may finally make contact with something beyond Earth.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Spielberg’s most sincere film. No cynicism. No irony. Just awe. This is sci-fi as wonder rather than threat. The final sequence at Devil’s Tower still feels transcendent. It’s slower and more character-driven than you remember, but that makes the payoff land harder. This is belief in the unknown rendered in light and sound.
A large screen and good sound.
Childlike curiosity.
Watching in the dark.
John Williams at full volume.
Absurdist's Corner
Roy abandons his entire family because mashed potatoes looked like Wyoming.
fun facts
Spielberg was inspired by alleged UFO accounts.
The five-tone musical communication became iconic.
Multiple cuts exist (original, Special Edition, Director’s Cut).