After helping out in various ways on other documentaries, Dan Starkey makes his directorial debut with Skywatcher. Following the truly excellent Skywatch, this documentary sees Starkey and Clive Christopher travel some 70 miles west of Sedona, Arizona. Why? Well, similar to their other documented treks (of which there are several), the duo is researching inexplicable phenomena to help them prove the existence of extraterristials, among other things.
It isn’t long into their skywatch that Starkey and Christopher experience odd happenings. Temperature fluctuations, oddly moving lights nestled among the stars, and visions of an 18th-century nun are just some of the things that befall the two researchers. Are they reading too much into natural occurrences, or have Starkey and Christopher uncovered evidence that proves there is life out there, and time is non-linear?
“Temperature fluctuations, oddly moving lights nestled among the stars, and visions of an 18th-century nun are just some of the things that befall the two researchers.”
Skywatcher is as pretty as Skywatch. The drone footage is expansive and lovely. The camera is sharp enough to capture the night sky crisply. Such clarity becomes very important when Starkey or Christopher discusses the difference between the light from stars, airplanes, and the odd thing that gets brighter for a moment before flying off strangely. Also, the score this go-round is spectacular and does a lot of the dramatic heavy lifting.
Unfortunately, aside from time travel discussions, the documentary feels like filler. It feels like viewers experience every minute of Starkey’s helicopter ride to scope out the chosen site. The score drowns out the conversation between him and the pilot; the music is great, but wouldn’t it be nice to hear what they’re discussing? This is not helped by ending on a “To Be Continued” (yes, seriously). The film runs only 68 minutes, so why it stops when it does makes little sense.
Skywatcher is technically sound and does go into territory that this group usually does not research. But it literally doesn’t conclude, merely stops. As such, whatever the ultimate point of this entry is meant to be is lost on all watching. Still, it is interesting enough to make me want to know what will happen next. But this film should not be a newbie’s first time out with Clive Christopher and his crew.
For more information about Skywatcher, visit Breaking Glass Pictures.
"…technically sound and does go into territory that this group usually does not research."
