Alien Abductions, AI Voices, and Nordic Grit: Watch the Skies Soars

Special Screening at The Grove, Los Angeles – Review by Virág Vida

Originally released in 2022 in Sweden, Watch the Skies makes a striking comeback—this time enhanced with visually upgraded scenes and a groundbreaking English dub. What sets it apart is not just the story but its method: this is the first feature film ever to use Flawless AI for full-language transformation, replacing traditional dubbing with an eerily perfect, voice actor-free version that maintains the integrity of the original performances.

Directed by Victor Danell (of the Swedish filmmaking collective Crazy Pictures), the film follows a rebellious teenage girl who’s convinced her long-missing father didn’t abandon her—he was abducted by aliens. Instead of resigning to a life of unanswered questions, she joins forces with a charmingly oddball UFO club made up of societal misfits. Together, they launch an increasingly risky and unlawful investigation that hurtles toward the unexplainable.

The storytelling begins with a steady build—almost deceptively calm—before tipping into thrilling chaos. Watching it feels like climbing a roller coaster, unsure of when the next crazy turn or drop will come. When it does, the twists are brutal and surprising, especially the raw confrontations involving the main character and a tough-as-nails policewoman.

Tonally, Watch the Skies masterfully blends American sci-fi and action tropes with the slower-burn, psychologically rich style of Scandinavian cinema. This unlikely genre cocktail works, thanks to strong writing (by Jimmy Nivrén Olsson and Crazy Pictures), spot-on comedic timing, and character development that adds heart to the spectacle.

The performances—especially by Inez Dahl Torhaug in the lead—are layered and compelling, and visually, the film is polished and atmospheric. From moody rural landscapes to chaotic chases, the cinematography is quietly beautiful without overshadowing the story.

In short, Watch the Skies is a refreshingly weird, visually elegant, and emotionally grounded ride. With its genre-bending ambition and innovative tech, it’s not just a movie—it’s a signal that the future of global cinema might look and sound very different.