Official Denial (1993 TV Movie) User Reviews

Mostly Good

[mtenga · 6/10 · 7 June 2002]

Official Denial has much to recommend it and also much that I did not like. The negative points were the risible aliens/spaceship/cardboard soldiers/"spirit world" native American, all of which appeared to be out of a comic strip. Also Dirk Benedict who was totally unbelievable as a bad guy. The special effects also gave the film a feeling of a childrens TV programme.

The positive side was the fine and sympathetic performance of Chad Everett as the General and also the ending which was quite ingenious. It was great to see the power shift from the Everett character to the Parker Stevenson character, who knew the secret at the end. The secret itself was a nice touch as well and ended the movie on a high note.

Erin Gray looked pretty throughout but was not entirely convincing as the long suffering wife with the "fruit loop" husband. Although she appeared worried she did seem to take it in her stride a little too easily. "My husband is a nut", "Ho hum", "Just another daily happening". That was not quite believable although she gave a good performance, as did Stevenson.

There were some good one-liners and a healthy cynicism about governments and the military. The plot was strong also and it did all come together at the end. All in all this is a film to watch a second time but certainly not a classic, for me.

Interesting But Ill-Served

[timdalton007 · 6/10 · 27 April 2017]

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw a rash of film and TV projects based off of the alien abduction phenomenon. These included adaptations of two non-fiction works based off the phenomenon by Whitely Strieber (Communion starring Christopher Walken) and Budd Hopkins (Intruders). The then fledgling Sci-Fi Channel also produced a TV movie on the phenomenon as their first original movie. Titled Official Denial, the result is an interesting if at times under-served piece of work.

What Official Denial has going for it more than anything else is its ideas. Bryce Zabel's script takes much of the abduction narrative and the UFO phenomenon in general to create an at times compelling piece of work out of it. The film sends greenhouse owner Paul Corliss on a journey that sees him being abducted by aliens and then by a shadowy government working group known as Majestic (a name that those familiar with the UFO world may very well recognize). Yet Zabel doesn't give the viewer the usual semi-horror narrative that is often tied with abductions such as the grey aliens as well as other UFO elements such as the Men in Black to instead create an often intriguing take on those ideas but with a neat twist. beyond that, the film feels at times like a first draft for Zabel's later TV series Dark Skies which also drew on the same source material (Majestic especially) but in which he did very different things. While the dialogue can be a tad hokey at times, for those interested in the phenomenon that the film is based on, there will be plenty to like.

Yet Zabel's script is at times ill-served by the production as a whole. The film was Sci-Fi's first original movie and throughout that's apparent. Official Denial has the look and feel of a low budget movie which isn't an issue for the more Earthbound portions of its running time but which becomes painfully obvious when it comes to the special effects. the film's opening minutes are very much dependent upon CGI that, even by the standards of the time when the film was made, are dated at best. The same is true of the grays and the one in particular who becomes something of a major supporting character which looks exactly like what it is: a kid in a gray costume wearing an alien mask. Beyond the effects, the film is about average from the direction of Brian Trenchard-Smith to the cinematography and music. It's a shame in a way because the story deserved better treatment.

The cast does okay for the most part. Parker Stevenson does well as Paul Corliss, the every-man sort at the center of the film's plot who goes from everyone around thinking he's crazy to discovering things are even stranger than he believed. Erin Gray, noted for her Cult TV roles, does well as his wife who is ultimately taken on the journey with him. Chewing the scenery nicely as Majestic's head of security is Dirk Benedict who manages to keep his performance just on the right side of crossing over into parody. Of the cast, it is perhaps Chad Everett as General Spaulding who comes across the best as the authority figure who brings Corliss in as the outsider who might be closer to the truth than his agents. All do well for the most part give the nature of the film as a whole.

At the end of the day, Official Denial is an interesting little film. It's some solid ideas and a good script but it never quite lives up to them due to the nature of its production values and (to a lesser extent) its cast. It's hard to believe that the channel that would gives us umpteen Sharknado movies started with something as interesting as this. Perhaps a remake might be in order?

Keep watching--you'll thank yourself after thirty minutes or so

[johdousha · 23 May 2001]

I watched this film on late-night television, as has become my habit in my year-long sojourn here in England. At first, I thought it looked pretty stupid. Actually, at first it was stupid. But I kept watching for no real reason other than that I was too lazy to get up and cut off the telly, and then I discovered that this was really a moving, thought-provoking picture. Paul Corliss, who starts out as kind of an unlikable character (even when you know he's right about the aliens), gets progressively better as the film develops, which leads me to believe he was played by a damn fine actor. His wife, who starts out looking like a nagging, annoying (but pretty) nuisance develops into a strong and likable character. The general and Colonel Lerner, who both start out looking like typical, knee-jerk reacting, firepower-crazed officers develop in separate directions; the general gradually reveals himself for what he is--a thinking, caring authority (who nevertheless knows his job), and Lerner becomes the kind of villian it's easy to dislike--an un-thinking, un-caring, letter-of-the-law authority. Even the tight-lipped government agent near the end of the film (whose name is "not important") makes his potentially boring and/or unbelievable single-scene role a pleasure to watch. At the special effects end, this movie is visibly cheap. We viewers who have been conditioned by digital effects to believe only in realistic (though uncommonly smooth-looking) extra-terrestrial beings and vessels can only see these B-movie effects as...well...B-movie effects. However, if you can suspend disbelief as if you were in a theatre, this movie is immenently watchable, not the least because of its engaging and inspiring story. Without revealing too much about the end of the film (which I partially guessed beforehand), I can say that the viewer can come away from this film ready to try and make this world a better place to live in, and feel that we the human race are not doomed to kill each other off or pollute our planet beyond recognition. Long live Earth.

Sci-fi with a heart........

[merklekranz · 7/10 · 10 March 2008]

"Official Denial" easily overcomes it's budget constrained special effects with a fast moving, highly intelligent script. The film covers a lot of scientific speculation regarding U.F.O.s, alien cover ups, and alien abductions. Because interest is generated by what's being said, rather than what's being seen, the low grade visuals are not a problem at all. The entire production is very positive, and acted with enthusiasm not seen in many "blockbuster" movies. Overall a very entertaining and thought provoking film, that will reward multiple viewings. I highly recommend "Official Denial". The VHS is not easy to find, but well worth seeking out. - MERK

A must see B movie

[darren-leonard · 10/10 · 3 October 2007]

Although is is clearly a B movie, I have seen it at least three times and recorded it once but have lost the tape and have many times wished I still had it on nights when TV viewing was exceptionally poor. And I have Sky too.

I have just found this title on ebay and placed a bid for it, which if I win in about 3 hours time, will have cost me a phenomenal £10 in a time when used VHS tapes can be picked up for 50p.

I found the film thought provoking and inspiring. I have long been a sci-fi buff but only when the subject is truly believable. And this film is just that. It actually brings to the surface some of my own thoughts on the subject of whether or not "we are alone". And indeed if our visitors are actually our closest relatives and living here on earth too.

I would urge all to see this film.

Seen it before - but with better effects

[bob the moo · 20 September 2001]

I didn't expect very much from this, and I wasn't disappointed. First let me say the plot is generally strong - with good ideas and a strong (ish) finish. It's basically an X-files type story with a military cover-up going on relating to alien abductions....you know- quite a popular (unoriginal) story line that would usually mean a good film.

However here, a good story is hampered by actors that are ok for TV movies but serve to take away from the story by not being totally convincing, although in fairness Parker Stevenson does have several good sensitive moments. Also the production values are not that high, although there are plenty of on-location shoots, and the internals all look convincing.

The big fall down is the special effects which are of TV standard - it's hard to go along with the action when the aliens are so clearly children in suits and optical special effects are cheap editing tricks. For example when Stevenson meets one of his alien abductors, his performance means you believe he was abducted and his emotions are real - but you can't get over the fact that the alien is a small person in a rubber Halloween costume!

Overall what could have been a better film with a clever (if unoriginal) story is let down by TV acting and pretty poor special effects.

ALIENS-From the future??

[yatahaeshadai · 9/10 · 20 November 1999]

Chad Everet and Dirk Benedict as military officers denying the existence of UFO's. Parker Stevenson as the abductee whose life has been turned up side down. I know..I know..I know. But hold on this one is different.Parker Stevenson gives a sensitive, endearing performance when he first encounters the alien that the military have captured. It's reminiscent of "ET" but without the happy ending. It is not geared for small children.

Endearing and thought provoking

[karenh-vaughan · 9/10 · 28 February 2014]

Movie was enduring as a depressed man claiming to be a victim of an alien abduction is used by an organization to gain info from a captured creature. Stevenson does well in this film as he shows his sensitivity and a sense of humor we rarely saw in the Hardy Boys. I loved the scenes with the alien and going up against Benedicts character. The story was well told as a tale of hope for the future. I recommend this as a feel good film but keep your hankies handy. Erin Gray was wonderful as Annie Corliss the supportive wife of Paul. The writers did well to inject humor into what could be a heavy subject. I thought some of the lines were priceless.

fun

[kiefer-11 · 2 July 2001]

Having seen this movie on t.v one late night, i still look back fondly. This movie should be seen as fun, not serious (it had me in stiches). Underneath the poorly designed alien DOS and the incredible hairless man, is a well thought out plot line with serious undertones. But it cannot be taken literally, without wishing to give away any of the plotline, watchout for the shoulder carrying moment. Full of cliches, laughs, fantasticly corny and for those who need more, a good plotline i recommend Official Denial.