Making Contact

Starring:Joshua Morrell, Eva Kryll, Tammy Shields, Jan Zierold, Barbara Anne Klein, Jerry Hall (II), Sean Johnson, Matthias Kraus, Ray Kaselonis, Christine Goebbels, Axel Berg, Joel Kleinman, Berit Morrell, Christoph Lindert, Sandra Freeding Myers, James Baumgartner, James Hefferman, Gunther Zorn, Peter Kosma, Peter Kiener
Director: Roland Emmerich
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Supernatural Fantasy for Kids
DRIVEL!
Joey and the Imaginary World (Includes Plot Points)
R.I.P. - O.F.F.
"Making Contact" Is Not Your Regular Kiddy Flick

Making Contact
Starring: Joshua Morrell , Eva Kryll , Tammy Shields , Jan Zierold , and Barbara Anne Klein
Director: Roland Emmerich
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Fly Boy
Sticks & Stones
Kid Cop
Timemaster
The Gate

ASIN: B00006LPCC
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Customer Reviews:

Supernatural Fantasy for Kids.......2006-09-19

On the surface Making Contact seems like a horror movie for kids, and it works well on that level, with plenty of special effects, and not too scary. It has an interesting basic idea, about a boy who makes contact with his late father by phone. He comes into telekinetic powers, and later finds a scary ventriloquist's dummy in an abanoned house who tells him the voice on the phone isn't his father, but an evil entity to be avoided. But should you really believe a scary ventriloquist's dummy? Similar ideas were used in later films like White Noise and others.

The film is underrated for specific reasons. It tries to be more of a fantasy of the genre that deals with near-death or after-death experiences (Heaven Can Wait, The Dust Factory, etc.) than just a horror film, but this makes the plot seem uneven. Some scenes seem like deliberate imitations of Spielberg and other horror films. However, some clever and stirring moments shine through, particularly the ending. Other horror movies with child protagonists include Thirteen Ghosts, The Lady In White, and Sixth Sense. In terms of special effects alone, Making Contact has more to offer that these; but the others are scarier and more enjoyable to adults.

I recommend this film more to fans of films like Dragonfly and Just Like Heavan than people who want to be seriously frightened.

DRIVEL!.......2004-05-19

Somewhere between 'Pippi Longstocking' [yes, this one does have animated braids ala Barrymore], 'Sorry, wrong number' [that would have been cool], and the regular tribe "E.T.", 'Poltergeist', 'Close Encounters' and perhaps even the maglined "MAGIC" [what a cacophonous opening night in Hollywood that was way back] - lies this little sleeping gem of a ripoff .... lucking our director moved on to bigger and better things [if we forgive "Godzilla"] ... but this little flaunt?

NAH!

only really GOOD THING is the somewhat obscure German actress playing mutti [mama] - quite a find back then - Dietrich before the implants!

Joey and the Imaginary World (Includes Plot Points).......2003-07-04

MAKING CONTACT, perhaps more properly called JOEY in Germany, tells a magical fable about a boy named Joey Collins.

As the story begins, Joey is a lonely nine-year-old whose beloved father has just died.

One night, while mourning the loss of his father, Joey is surprised when his many toys and games begin to move around his room.

This is how Joey's adventure begins.

The devastating death of his father has also somehow awakened in Joey a strange power that allows him to communicate with and sometimes even control the forces and energies of an unseen world.

Suddenly, incredible events begin to unfold that defy conventional explanation.

A simple toy robot seems to come to life, and only Joey can understand the machine's chirps and whistles. It tells him that its name is Charlie.

As an old toy telephone begins to ring in Joey's room, phones all across his beach community ring as well. In answering that call, Joey hears a voice that claims to be his deceased father contacting him from beyond the grave.

Joey's world becomes one of magic and wonder, and he is so overwhelmed by it all that he is eager and willing to believe the voice is who he thinks it is without much thought on the matter.

But Joey's surprise and joy over his newfound abilities eventually give way to fear, doubt and even outright terror.

His loving mother first thinks his abilities, especially his telekinesis (the power to move objects without touching them), are only possible as the results of some schoolyard tricks.

Most of the other children at school refuse to believe in his abilties, either, or that he is the intended recipient of the strange phone calls that have plagued the community.

His teacher thinks he's suffering deep psychological traumas and needs professional help. He is only trying to help the troubled Joey, but how can he believe that Joey is talking to his dead father on the telephone?

Only one girl in Joey's class at school even tries to be his friend after seeing the troubles he has, but Joey is shy after losing his father. Still, he seems pleased when she reacts in a positive way about his use of his telekinetic abilities.

Joey's mistreatment at the hands of the neighbor kids is a reaction of fear. They don't understand his claims, nor do they really comprehend his powers. Their fears are understandable, but no less hurtful to Joey.

Joey ends up needing all the allies he can find, though, because these are only the beginning of Joey's troubles.

On a walk with Charlie, Joey decides to use his friend's diminutive size to help him explore a nearby derilect house that once belonged to an aged ventriloquist.

But the house holds many sinister secrets from the past.

The ventriloquist's dummy is as alive as Joey's robot. More importantly, though, the dummy seems threatening, as malevolent toward Joey as Charlie is friendly. Worse for Joey, the dummy claims to know the source of Joey's powers and the origins of the phone calls.

Are the calls really coming from Joey's father, or from some unknown force from the other world trying to trick the boy? What is the true nature of Joey's mysterious gift?

Before the answers are known, Joey will become the center of a conflict over his life and his destiny. Will he bring his wonderful gifts to the world, or will he come under the control of a terrible evil?

Now that I've told you a little about the story, I'd like to comment on the actual movie. If you don't want any of the film's secrets ruined for you, stop reading this review! I go into specific details about some of the plot points of the film from here onward, so you've been warned!

MAKING CONTACT, finally available on DVD, comes courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment. This package contains both the German and American releases of the film and you'll want to watch them both. Be sure to check out the differences in the dialogue between the two. Several scenes interpret the story in slightly different ways and can help make sense of some of the film's mysteries on another viewing.

The film has been criticized by some for "stealing" ideas from other films. However, a more careful examination of the film should show that this isn't a fair thing to say without understanding some major points from the story. Joey's powers come from his ability to tap into an imaginary world. When a person comes into contact with that world, they will see images from themselves and also imaginary things that come from things the person has seen or heard, like that person's greatest heroes or darkest fears. It is only natural that a boy of nine, given this power, would use his magical gift to recreate things he has seen in movies and television. Furthermore, the elements from other sources all receive very affectionate credit. Roland Emmerich appears to want to make it clear that these elements come from other movies and shows. Would someone who was trying to "steal" from RETURN OF THE JEDI include bedsheets that show the title of the movie and characters from that movie? Would that person include pictures and toys from that movie? A more accurate statement might be that this film includes playful references that reflect things you might see in a typical child's imaginative play. The references aren't mean-spirited, sarcastic, sardonic or insincere. A child gifted with the power to make his imagination real would most likely include characters from STAR WARS, and he might want a friend like E.T. in his life, especially if he were as lonely as Joey is.

Finally, a word of caution: this film deals with elements of death and loss. Children who have recently lost a relative may find it hard to handle.

But for those who are willing to let their preconceived ideas about what a movie has to be, what special effects have to be, what a story has to be... welcome to Joey's unforgettable world. I hope you enjoy your visit as much as I have over the years.

R.I.P. - O.F.F........2003-06-27

Between E.T., Poltergeist, and yes Star Wars, this movie had nothing original to it! And I'm not just talking about the plot, I'm talking lighting effects, camera angles.......And I also found myself dozing off more than once during this movie.

If you liked this movie, I recomend: Watching something better, like E.T. or Star Wars or something like that.
What I learned from "Making Contact": Dummies are frickin scary...o wait, I already knew that.

"Making Contact" Is Not Your Regular Kiddy Flick.......2000-08-11

"Making Contact" deals with Joey. A nine year old kid who has just seen his father passed away. Not only that, but all the other kids at school pick on him constantly. That's when things take a turn for the worst. Joey starts to talk to his father on his toy phone and then starts to move things with his mind. He starts to act weird around his mother which gets her afraid and mystified (as he shows her his powers too). One day, while walking his dog, he goes into a mine and finds a dummy. He takes the dummy to his room and finds out a dummy which could of been nice, is pure evil. The dummy tries to kill his only friend, his mother, and anything else who tries to come in it's way. When Joey's enemy get locked in the house above the mine due to the dummy and are locked in a maze, Joey is the only one who can save them before they all die due to the dummy.

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