Horror Slashback – Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County (1998)
By Aaron Posey
It has been a while since I have done a Slashback retrospective so lets dive into the archives. November is upon us which brings us Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time where we gather with family and pretend to not hate each other for a few hours while stuffing our faces.
We also reflect back on the things we are thankful for. One of the biggest things I am thankful for is my 1428 Elm and horror family. The problem with Thanksgiving is not a lot of horror films exist around this particular holiday. But I was able to find one that scared the hell out of me when I was a kid.
Released in 1998 and picked up and screened on the UPN cable network, Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County made its début on January 18th, 1998. The film tells the story of the McPherson family who is under assault and then abducted by extraterrestrials.
As the film begins viewers are told, “In the fall of 1997, a sixteen-year-old boy set out to document his family’s Thanksgiving dinner. What he purportedly captured on his video camera was more than just a family get together.”
The film opens with a home video shot by a camcorder. We see a family gathered around a table celebrating Thanksgiving. During dinner a red light flashes outside and the power suddenly goes out. Brothers Brian and Kurt decide they are going to traverse outside and check to see if a fuse is blew.
As Kurt and Brian go outside younger brother Tommy follows them with his video camera. Upon reaching the fuse box they discover it burnt, charred and half melted for an unknown reason. Brian, Kurt and Tommy believe that an electric transformer on the adjacent property is blown decide to investigate.
Brian, Kurt and Tommy then see a UFO close by in a field. The three attempt to stay hidden in the brush and trees and see two aliens exit the UFO. The aliens incapacitate a cow with what appears to be a laser. The three brothers are then spotted by the aliens. The aliens shoot the laser at them hitting Brian and burning his hand.
Alien Visitors captured on film by Tommy
The brothers hastily retreat and return back to the house. Brian, Kurt and Tommy attempt to convince the family of the terrifying encounter they witnessed. They plead with the family to believe them and leave while they still can. Again they see lights in the sky and a glimpse of a menacing figure looking at them through the window.
The tape stops as Tommy stops recording to show his family the footage he captured in the woods. When the video starts back we see that the family finally believes them with looks of shock on their face. Suddenly a high-pitched sound impairs the family except for the youngest, 5-year-old Rose.
A series of strange events continues to unfold as the family attempts in vain to leave the house. Strange noises, burning sensations and auditory hallucinations plague the family. What do the aliens want? Why have they chosen the McPherson family and why haven’t they been seen since?
Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County is a very effective found footage film before the found footage genre really took off. The film’s interrupted in several parts where “experts” give their opinions on the validity of the video.
Upon its release the film caused controversy the way the original Orson Welles War of the Worlds radio broadcast in 1938. When originally broadcast on television its presented as a factual video of what had occurred to the McPherson family as filmed by Tommy. The broadcast also lacked a disclaimer advising the viewer is was strictly for entertainment purposes.
Desert News
Published Jan. 22nd, 1998
While obviously shot and presented as a found footage film Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County is well done. I am grateful to have viewed it on its first airing. While scouring the web I have not found anyone that sells it as I would love to see it again. What makes this film so frightening and unsettling is in the way it’s shot. While watching it you believe you are watching the last video that has ever surfaced of the McPherson family. The emotions and terror in the actors seem real and nothing appears forced.
The face to face reveal of the extraterrestrials inside the house is especially frightening because you can almost feel the menace in the air through the television. So if you are looking for some good old school horror this Thanksgiving sit on down and celebrate with the McPherson family, but keep the doors locked and whatever you do, don’t go outside.
Next: Horror Slashback - Remembering Maniac Cop
You can find more killer content from Aaron at Totally Awesome Retro and HorrorGeekLife.com.