Plot: What’s it about?
Are UFOs real? This is a question that has never been answered and in all likelihood, never will be. Those who believe are as steadfast as those who demand evidence, with neither side willing to concede their viewpoint. In The History Channel’s UFO Hunters, we’re taken inside the headquarters of a team of researchers who seek to prove that UFOs are indeed real. This group has extensive files on sightings of all kinds, from the famous to the obscure. The show examines UFO related phenomenon, from abductions to Roswell to the involvement of the military, and beyond. As expected, UFO Hunters does present some video and photographs that purport to be genuine UFO visuals, but the show also uses CGI recreations, when footage isn’t available. Combine those elements with the team’s research and you’ll learn a lot about the potential of UFO presence. UFO Hunters might not provide concrete answers, but the show does sometimes present a compelling case.
I went into this first season of UFO Hunters as a non believer and after these thirteen episodes, I am still a non believer. This kind of show is hard to sell to those outside of the target demographic, as the show can’t provide any real answers. We do have some interesting theories, speculation, and even first hand accounts, but beyond that, not much. If you believe, the show will help you feel like you’re right, whereas if you don’t believe, there isn’t much here to sway your position. The footage shown of the “real” UFOs is what you’d expect, inconclusive and hard to make out. I hoped for entertainment and UFO Hunters isn’t the home run shows like Ice Road Truckers or MonsterQuest turned out be. The experts here don’t have a lot of science to back up their claims, but they do try and while this is a reality series, this seems more scripted than most. As hard as I have been on UFO Hunters, I do think UFO enthusiasts will find a lot to like here, which is what really counts. So if you watch or the skies or think you’ve seen mysterious lights, you might want to check out UFO Hunters.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 non anamorphic widescreen. The trend of non anamorphic releases from The History Channel continues, which is a disappointment. The image looks passable, but this is a newer show, broadcast in high definition, so I have no clue why this wouldn’t be anamorphic. But as I said, the visuals come across well enough, whether in interviews or recreations. Let’s hope this trend ends soon, however.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is fine, but won’t dazzle anyone’s ears. The show has a reserved sound design, which is natural, given the emphasis on dialogue throughout the episodes. So the interviews, narration, and recreations all sound clear and respectable. In this case, solid is good enough.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes some additional segments not shown within the normal episodes.
