Fire in the Sky Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Fire in the Sky Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 29, 2022

In 1975, Travis Walton disappeared for five days after chasing a beam of light in the forest. When he returned, he claimed he was abducted by aliens, with members of a timber stand improvement crew witnessing the initial contact. Instead of retiring to a quieter life to deal with his trauma, the abductee elected to profit off his newfound fame, creating the 1978 book, “The Walton Experience.” 1993’s “Fire in the Sky” is an adaptation of Walton’s story, with screenwriter Tracy Torme taking on the challenge of finding dramatic possibilities in a tale that only holds sensationalistic value. Torme is mostly successful creating a shape to “Fire in the Sky,” wisely turning Walton into a supporting character while director Rob Lieberman goes for a balance of horror and heart in this attempt to remain sensitive about a dubious claim.

Travis (D.B. Sweeney) is a likable dreamer who works for his best friend, Mike (Robert Patrick), who leads a crew into an Arizona national forest to clear debris. On their way home one evening, the men spot a flood of red light in the distance, with Travis exiting Mike’s truck to follow the mysterious discovery. When a beam of white light hits Travis, Mike speeds away, assuming his pal is dead, Returning home, Mike takes control of the situation, making a pact with Allan (Craig Sheffer), David (Peter Berg), Greg (Henry Thomas), and Bobby (Bradley Gregg) to stick to the truth, sharing their story with Sheriff Davis (Noble Willingham) and Lieutenant Watters (James Garner). As the hunt for Travis begins, Mike fights to preserve his good name, with others believing he killed the missing man. When Travis returns after five days, he’s left traumatized by an unknown experience, forced to return to everyday life.

“Fire in the Sky” creates a solid understanding of relationships in the small Arizona town, with Travis an affable guy, while Mike is a hard-working father of two trying to keep money coming in during hard times. The crew doesn’t always get along, with Allan a troubled man, but they’re together all day in the forest, establishing a bond that’s put to the test by Travis’s disappearance. “Fire in the Sky” primarily remains with Mike during this crisis, with Torme more interested in the emotional pressure of being accused of a crime and ostracized by neighbors, while law enforcement remains in view, repeatedly testing the story that an alien ship is responsible for Travis’s vanishing.

While Mike and the crew handle condemnation and suspicion, especially from Frank, who doesn’t believe anything they have to say, “Fire in the Sky” creates a mystery but also an understanding of frustration, which is capably performed by Patrick, who communicates a growing fear of losing everything to event that’s impossible to explain to outsiders. Travis returns to the story at the 70-minute mark, which turns “Fire in the Sky” from a relationship drama to something more B-movie-esque, with Lieberman saving the alien encounter sequence for the end of the picture. It’s an eye- opening experience, skillfully created by the production with a defined push into horror, but it also underlines what’s missing from the screenplay, with Walton’s tale of return and rehabilitation glossed over to emphasize a fright zone with aliens who really want to see what’s going on inside Travis.

Fire in the Sky Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Fire in the Sky" offers a textured look at frame particulars, with weathered faces and period costuming appreciable. Alien puppetry and goopy environments are also defined, along with cavernous ship interiors and forest events. The warmer look of small-town Arizona is preserved, with golden sunlight, and colder evening and alien events are nicely supported, with deep blacks throughout. Skintones are natural. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Fire in the Sky Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA provides an active listening event, with dialogue exchanges crisp and emotionality preserved, also clarifying group conversations. Scoring is sharp, with clear synth and orchestral-like additions, and intensity remains during moments of chaos, including the alien abduction sequence, where music leads the way with power. Scoring pushes out into the surrounds, and atmospherics are inviting, also exploring community bustle and alien ship particulars. Low-end offers some heft with violent events.

Fire in the Sky Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Cinematic Abduction" (26:20) is a "select scene commentary" from director Robert Lieberman. Taking a critical hit for his work on 1991's "All I Want for Christmas," Lieberman was offered a free pass to make whatever he wanted for Paramount, settling on "Fire in the Sky," with studio chief Brandon Tartikoff investing in his talents. Oregon locations are detailed, and casting his explored, with the interviewee sharing a terrific story about his confrontation with actor Craig Sheffer, who was habitually late during the shoot, requiring a reminder of his professional responsibilities. Practical effects are examined, including the alien ship light beam that inspired the poster, and Lieberman gets into the abduction sequence, identifying his need to sell weightlessness and avoid the alien design of "Communion," attempting to make a more realistic fantasy creature. He also delves into alien behavior, equating it to the psychology of a polar bear. Interestingly, Lieberman briefly suggests the influence of "Fire in the Sky," seeing similar imagery in other movies.

• "Touched by Light" (15:19) is an audio-only interview with actor D.B. Sweeney, who shares his initial reason for taking the "Fire in the Sky" gig, trying to inch closer to James Cameron and his production of "Spider-Man," using his upcoming connection with Industrial Light & Magic and familiarity with wirework to become the new Peter Parker. Character motivation is assessed, and praise is offered to cinematographer Bill Pope. The alien abduction sequence is analyzed, with Sweeney eager to take part in the weightlessness illusion and explore the alien ship, admitting that the shot of Travis sucked into a sheet was completed by a body double. The interviewee recalls his disappointment with the ending of "Fire in the Sky," and details its box office journey and cult longevity, with fans still approaching him about the feature.

• "We Gotta Go Back" (11:11) is an audio-only interview with actor Robert Patrick. In 1992, the interviewee struggled to find roles different from his career-making turn in "Terminator 2," finding the script for "Fire in the Sky," which he read in the wild while fleeing Los Angeles during the 1992 Riots. Patrick loved the part, even traveling to Snowflake, Arizona to observe Travis Walton. Characterization is analyzed and the actor's love of the story is shared, inspiring him to reach out to the real Mike Rogers and learn from his experience. Time with co-star James Garner is also detailed, with the veteran trying to help Patrick develop his talent.

• "Borrowed Time" (11:41) is an audio-only interview with composer Mark Isham, who was tasked with creating a balance of electronic and orchestral sounds for "Fire in the Sky." Challenges are recalled, including the creation of music for the lengthy abduction sequence, and the interviewee highlights his relationship with director Robert Lieberman, who elected to make a "cinematic experience" over a true understanding of Travis Walton's story.

• Still Gallery (4:50) collects poster art, publicity shots, film stills, and BTS snaps.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:14, SD) is included.

Fire in the Sky Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Torme plants ideas concerning the authenticity of Walton's claims throughout "Fire in the Sky," identifying dire financial situations for the men, with the instant publicity of a UFO visitation claim providing necessary paydays. The picture doesn't push very hard in the skeptic direction, but it's there for those who have trouble believing Walton's claims, and the writing isn't all that interested in Travis anyway, which is another sign that "Fire in the Sky" is primarily pursuing a dramatic understanding of relationships, keeping its distance from the details of the visitation, turning such suspect claims into a rattling haunted house sequence instead.