Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" is a thrilling blend of Close Encounters meets the X Files

Rating ★★★★☆

Steven Spielberg has always had a unique knack for making us look up at the stars with a mixture of childlike wonder and absolute terror. From the delight and warmth of films like ET to the studies of humanity that is Close Encounters of the Third Kind, his latest venture, Disclosure Day, the legendary director proves once again why his storytelling ability remains entirely unmatched in modern cinema.

Instead of the slow burn you might expect, Spielberg drops us straight into the visceral, sweaty, and chaotic action of a UFC (I think) fight. It's loud, aggressive and a brilliantly unexpected and arresting opening for a film about extraterrestrial secrets. It instantly sets a breathless pace which it maintains until Act III, more on that later. From that gritty first scene, Spielberg expertly tightens the narrative screws, demonstrating his unparalleled gift for visual storytelling and pacing. As a viewer you are left wondering what is going on, who is who and why they are doing what they are doing. But we trust Spielberg's story-telling abilities and strap ourselves in.

If you're trying to pin down the tone, imagine, as I mentioned earlier, the awe-inspiring, sky-watching grandeur of Close Encounters of the Third Kind colliding head-on with the paranoid, shadowy, government-conspiracy thrills of The X-Files. It is a brilliant synthesis of wonder, suspense, and "trust no one" tension. Whereas the character played by Richard Dreyfus in Close Encounters could not explain what was driving him beyond an inescapable image of what turned out to be Devil's Tower in Wyoming, the characters in this film have no idea what is happening to them, or why. Scene by scene, we start to piece it together with them.

Anchoring the entire film is Emily Blunt, who delivers a genuinely astounding performance. She brings a grounded, emotional gravity to the high-stakes sci-fi chaos unfolding around her, making you believe every impossible thing on screen. I hope she is recognised for her performance come Awards season.

The supporting cast is equally stellar, with sharp, intense turns from Josh O’Connor and Colman Domingo, who both add incredible texture to the ensemble. And, of course, it is absolutely brilliant to see our own Eve Hewson holding her own and shining brightly alongside such industry heavyweights.

Special mention to Colin Firth who normally plays clean-cut, romantic leads but here he is conniving, manipulative and menacing. It is a wonderful piece of casting against type.

When the film inevitably shifts into high gear, it delivers the kind of sweeping, pulse-pounding action sequences that only Spielberg can do. He stages massive set-pieces with a geographical clarity and thrilling momentum that most blockbuster directors today could only dream of. Just try to remain calm in your seat during that train sequence.

Act III sees the narrative slow down as threads come together. There is a funny sequence in a warehouse that stretches credulity but I was happy to go along with it. The film slows right down during what I will refer to as the "Samantha Mulder" scene. If you are a fan of the X-Files, you will understand when you see it. While the film leaves a few extraterrestrial mysteries lingering just out of reach, Disclosure Day is a masterclass in cinematic suspense and spectacle. It's a phenomenal ride.