Steven Spielberg Returns to Science Fiction! Our META Review of Disclosure Day

"What if you found out that we're not alone?" This question is at the heart of "Disclosure Day" – the thriller that marks Steven Spielberg's return to the science fiction genre. Find out what the legendary director brings to this familiar premise and what we and others think of his latest film in KinoCheck's META movie review.

Here's what it's about

A whistleblower (Josh O'Connor) and his girlfriend (Eve Hewson) steal classified documents from a mysterious cybersecurity firm. A weather reporter (Emily Blunt) suddenly starts making completely strange noises on live TV. And a corporate executive (Colin Firth) tries everything to cover up the truth. The main characters in "Disclosure Day" are drawn into one of the greatest mysteries in human history. But who has the right to know about extraterrestrial life? We don't want to give away any more of the plot at this point. You can get a sense of it here with the trailer:

Spielberg Returns to Science Fiction

One thing was clear from the start: "Disclosure Day" is a classic Spielberg film in terms of theme. It is his fifth film to deal with extraterrestrial life. Previously, he directed "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "War of the Worlds," and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

For this project, he assembled a familiar team. The screenplay was written by his longtime creative partner David Koepp ("Jurassic Park"). The score was composed by the now 94-year-old (!) John Williams.

What can you expect from Disclosure Day?

But what kind of movie is it? You should prepare yourself for a true sci-fi thriller. Film critic David Ehrlich from IndieWire sums it up aptly: The film has more in common with "Minority Report" than with "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." "Disclosure Day" is less like "E.T." and more like a classic paranoia thriller. A large-scale conspiracy, protagonists on the run from a powerful corporation, and the attempt to bring a big secret to the public. These are all ingredients of a typical conspiracy thriller.

Steven Spielberg!

"Disclosure Day" pulls off the blend of sci-fi and thriller quite well. The chase sequences play a major role in the plot and deliver some standout moments. No one should doubt that Spielberg, even at 79 years old, remains capable of crafting thrilling action and suspense. This is thanks to the numerous dynamic camera movements and the thrillingly filmed action sequences. Spielberg also manages to tell his story in an extremely atmospheric way from the very beginning, captivating the audience.

One performance takes center stage

The performances in "Disclosure Day" are also impressive. One name in particular is singled out positively by many critics: Emily Blunt. Blunt has a demanding role to master. She must carry both emotional and comedic moments on her shoulders – which she manages to do. YouTuber Jeremy Jahns also has many words of praise for the actress.

"Emily Blunt is the absolute star of this film. [...] We know she's great, but when I saw the film, I thought to myself: Yes, there's a reason she's a star."

The Dream Team: Williams and Spielberg

Another strength of the film is John Williams' fantastic score. The Hollywood legend strikes exactly the right note for the story Spielberg wants to tell. But of course, that comes as no surprise to anyone – after all, the two have been working together for over 50 years and therefore know each other inside and out. The music in "Disclosure Day" isn't as omnipresent or catchy as some of his most popular scores, such as those for "Indiana Jones" or "Jurassic Park." Instead, Williams focuses on the mysterious atmosphere but also goes all out during the emotional moments.

Critical reception

When it comes to content, both positive and negative reviews can be found. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com is enthusiastic about Spielberg's vision:

"A film that shows audiences that blockbusters can be morally and thematically complex while simultaneously providing excellent entertainment."

But Spielberg hasn't won everyone over. Antje Wessels of Wessels Filmkritik writes that the film "fails to combine its numerous ingredients into something truly new."

"Beneath its contemporary surface beats the heart of a film that thrives on the same questions – and ultimately the same answers – as Spielberg's alien stories from nearly fifty years ago."

Like Wessels, Dariush Tabatabaei from the Netzwelt portal doesn't view the film exclusively negatively, but he is "bitterly disappointed" due to the expectations placed on Spielberg. His harsh verdict: "Nothing from 'Disclosure Day' leaves a lasting impression."

We, too, find that "Disclosure Day" is by no means free of weaknesses. You definitely have to engage with the premise and accept it. The alien theme isn't always as interesting (or new) as it might have been. In doing so, Spielberg perhaps draws a bit too heavily on popular conspiracy myths. But ultimately, the film is less interested in the alien theme. Rather, it attempts to explore how people act and react – and that is the more compelling focus.

Conclusion

Overall, "Disclosure Day" has received a predominantly positive reception from the press. The aggregated critic scores on Metacritic currently stand at 74/100. The critic score on Rotten Tomatoes is currently as high as 84%. And we, too, are impressed by Spielberg's new film!

Our verdict: "Disclosure Day" is an atmospheric and thrillingly staged sci-fi thriller with a compelling performance by Emily Blunt and suspense-filled sequences. The film's strengths make up for a few weaknesses in the plot.

But see for yourself: "Disclosure Day: The Day of Truth" is now playing in theaters. We hope you enjoy it!