The Arrival

An astrophysicist working on a search for extraterrestrial intelligence picks up a signal from deep space that appears to carry a message. When he reports the find, he is dismissed from his job, and his evidence disappears. Convinced that a cover-up is under way, Zane Zaminski follows similar transmissions south of the border, where they seem to originate from a remote area of Mexico. There he meets a climate researcher, and the two investigate the source of the signal, uncovering evidence that something not human is already present on Earth. The film blends science fiction with paranoia and suspense, treating the discovery of alien contact as a conspiracy that reaches into institutions rather than a moment of public wonder.

David Twohy wrote and directed the film, his second feature after Timescape and the one preceding Pitch Black in his filmography. Charlie Sheen leads as Zane, with Lindsay Crouse as Ilana Green, Ron Silver as his employer Gordian, and Richard Schiff among the supporting cast. The production involved 29 credited cast members and 144 credited crew.

Made for about 25 million dollars, the film took in roughly 14 million worldwide, well below its cost. On IMDb it holds a rating of 6 out of 10 from 879 votes, and its critics' score stands at 6.2 out of 10 from 35 reviews, so reviewers and audiences landed in similar territory.