“Encounters” (2023) / Z-View

Encounters (2023)

Director: Yon Motskin

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

There are many documentaries that explore the idea that humans have had encounters with extraterrestrial beings.  What sets Encounters apart from most of those is that Encounters focuses on situations where several, sometimes dozens, of people experienced the same event.

Encounters is a four episode mini-series.

In the first episode the encounter took place over Central Texas. Dozens of people saw an UFO followed by US aircraft.  Although there were official denials at first, radar data confirmed what people said they saw. The incident was covered in national and international news.  One man became so obsessed it cost him his business and his marriage.

The second episode covers another famous encounter.  In 1994, over sixty children at a  Zimbabwe school claimed to have seen a spaceship and alien.  A prominent psychologist tested the students and said results indicated they were telling the truth.  This episode features interviews with some of the same children who are now adults, dealing with the impact of their encounter.

The third episode details an encounter at a small Welsh village that led to multiple UFO sightings.

The four episode explores the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. There were multiple UFO sightings observed and filmed by many witnesses.  The encounters took on a religious/spiritual aspect for many of those involved.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

I am always impressed by people who seem to have nothing to gain (and often a lot to lose) who come forward with their stories.  Some witnesses are more believable than others.  Encounters presents a mixed bag.

My favorite episodes were the first and fourth.  The first because of the sheer number of folks who came forward.  I would like to know more about the man who lost everything because of his obsession with the encounter.  The fourth episode provided video of the UFOs flying over a nuclear plant that began to have a meltdown due to an earthquake.  After the UFOs appeared, the readings began to change to a safer output.  I’d like to hear more experts weigh in on that.  I also enjoyed the religious/spiritual aspect witnesses in this episode displayed towards the encounters.

Encounters (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.