Those who believe in UFOs and otherworldly spacecraft often get framed as unwell. For some, believing in something so abstract and obscure cannot be easily understood. Yet They’re Here, a new documentary about these subcultures, wishes to reframe the conversation. Directors Daniel Claridge and Pacho Velez approach a group of subjects with their eyes to the stars and give them an opportunity to express themselves. The journey to belief of any kind does not come naturally to humans. Yet behind Claridge and Velez’s camera, the path forward feels honest and heartfelt.

Claridge and Velez begin their journey with a series of interviews. Those who opt to share their story all appear to have a clear head about their beliefs. They’ve seen creatures from beyond the stars and voice their experiences with gusto. It’s not enough to simply say you’ve seen aliens. Instead, they own the full experience and want to make others aware of their struggle.

Perhaps the most alluring story of They’re Here revolves around Cookie. The woman claims to have been abducted by aliens several times over. She has the self-awareness to read the faces of the documentarians and the audience. She preempts any criticism with a simple but effective answer. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe.” Cookie continues “You know, it’s not your time to believe.” Cookie’s beliefs do not feel out of left field, and they do not come across as unreasonable. Instead, her patience with others allows her to become a guide within the community.

Other members of the New York community of believers include Steve, Twon, and Dave. Steve often visits Cookie, and she walks him through his experiences. They become buddies, almost creating a mentor-mentee relationship, but at the same time, address foundational conversations in the community. Claridge and Velez find companionship through their lens, and that relationship only gains importance as the story unfolds.

Twon faces a difficult time balancing his honest beliefs about aliens with his goal of pursuing stand-up comedy. Claridge and Velez follow his shows, where he wishes to spread the word about his experience. At the same time, he realizes that performing the material related to what he saw will inherently limit his future. Watching that process unfold and his beliefs become shaken makes for a very different experience than others.

Finally, Dave becomes a man obsessed with finding a higher power. It appears that aliens and the idea of a literal otherworldly presence threaten to change his approach to life. His case becomes Claridge and Velez’s most intriguing while sparking a stronger thesis to They’re Here. Simply put, the belief in creatures like aliens and the unknown boils down to belief. Other religions and faiths rise and fall, yet many are never mocked. A belief in something higher can open the door to a better future, not because of the content of the belief but the community it creates.

They’re Here provides some flashy cinematography, especially in its closing moments, to help bring this aspect home. The experimental ending is fun and provides some closure to the subjects. At the same time, They’re Here needs to develop more ideas to sustain a feature. Unfortunately, while the documentary is alluring, it feels like it leaves concepts on the table about why we should care about this phenomenon.

Yes, the questions around belief and hope are important to humanity. Yet there are other, more personal questions They’re Here could seek to answer. Many of the better questions Claridge and Velez reach for are not unique enough to the UFO community. It’s well-shot, and the interviews collected are impressive. It makes They’re Here an exciting chapter in UFO discussions but a first step in drawing a full picture of the community.

Alan’s Rating: 6/10Check out They’re Here at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. Check out our reviews and pieces from the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival here. The post TRIBECA: THEY’RE HERE – An Earnest Attempt to Understand a Life Beyond appeared first on Sunshine State Cineplex.