'Disclosure Day' Has Finally Arrived & Received 80% on RT: Is Steven Spielberg's Film a Must-See?

Hollywood's great dreamer, Steven Spielberg, once again turns to the topic of extraterrestrial life. In Disclosure Day, he revisits the humanistic mythology of his early hits, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T., yet places it within a modern context of fear and government secrets.

However, as is often the case with the director, flawless technical execution does not always mask narrative shortcomings. Here's why the film is worth watching and where it falls short.

What Is 'Disclosure Day' About?

The story centers on two characters whose fates are intertwined by a shared secret. Daniel is forced to work for the shadowy organization WARDEX, which is holding his loved one hostage. He must hand over classified documents to save her.

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, weathercaster Margaret suddenly starts reading minds, speaking an unknown language, and passing out during live broadcasts. Neither of them suspects that they are connected by something more profound.

'Disclosure Day' Is Steven Spielberg's Return to His Roots

Technically, Disclosure Day is flawless. Janusz Kamiński's cinematography, John Williams' score, and the meticulously crafted action sequences serve as a reminder that filmmakers like Spielberg simply don't make bad movies.

The film sees the director return to a favorite topic: the encounter between humanity and the alien, which tests one's capacity for empathy. However, unlike Close Encounters, where the mystery remained sacred, Disclosure Day marks the first time Spielberg ventures into social critique.

The shadowy agency WARDEX posits the chilling thesis that the fear of the unknown is embedded in the structure of a power apparatus that combats extraterrestrials through isolation and violence. Here, the state is not just a typical antagonist, but a mechanism that uses fear to serve its own purposes.

The revelation itself inspires horror, not because it exposes the existence of aliens but because it threatens to shatter the social order.

'Disclosure Day' Has Impeccable Form but Failed Dramaturgy

The paradox of Disclosure Day is that, although the film knows how to present individual scenes, it fails to weave them convincingly into a cohesive whole.

From the outset, it's clear that a reckoning is inevitable, so we're captivated by other storylines, such as the nature of the characters' bond, the price of their evil deeds, and the consequences of their hidden truth.

Disclosure Day fails to fully explore any of these themes. In his best works, Spielberg never fully explained the miraculous, yet, his characters always crossed the threshold between the familiar and the unknown.

Here, however, the tense anticipation drags on until the final credits roll – where a resolution should have been found, only a void remains. Rather than discussing whether compassion can change the system, the movie suggests that compassion is the only answer.

This adrenaline-fueled ride takes viewers on a tour of nostalgic symbols, leaving the impression that the director delivered exactly what was expected of him – and nothing more.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Disclosure Day'?

• Disclosure Day has 80% from critics and 73% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.8/10.

• On Letterboxd, Disclosure Day scored 3.3/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Disclosure Day'?

Disclosure Day is currently playing in theaters.