Mikes Film Talk

The 2025 drama The Wirksworth UFO Incident by writer/director Stuart Wheeldon is a “mockumentary” of sorts. It’s an odd one to define really as the alleged incident is fictional. The film presents itself as a down to earth, nuts and bolts documentary. While there are times where the film presents us with some excellent emoting from its cast, it left me cold.

Don’t get me wrong, I love low budget films about fantastical things. This one just left me a bit cold.

The Story

Arthur Peterson returns home to revisit incidents that occurred in 1985. Lights in the sky, unexplained objects and a feeling of dread are a common thread in the town of Wirksworth.

The Wirksworth UFO Incident Cast

Nigel Barber is Arthur.

Tony Manders is Dr. Reid

Lottie Bell is Jane Parker.

Ben Porter is Dennis.

A Fictional Documentary

The Wirksworth UFO Incident takes itself very seriously. Writer/Director Stuart Wheeldon works very hard to make this fictional feel real. The interviews, the settings and the actors all give this one their best shot. It does work, to a degree, but for me it was all too stuffy and slow paced.

However.

Barber as the mentally tortured Arthur is excellent. So too are the rest of the cast. They play folks who all have a different share in this 1985 mystery. It also has to be said, this is a magnificent bit of work for a budget of just £1,000.

Shooting in black and white, or actually sepia since the old fashioned B&W combo no longer really exists works. Wheeldon has spent a lot of attention to detail here. He does well enough that the “documentary” does indeed feel real.

The Wirksworth UFO Incident Verdict

Sadly, I have to rate The Wirksworth UFO Incident a 3.5. It was entirely too verbal for my attention span. At a run time of about one hour and 18 minutes, it felt much longer.

While this is not my cup of tea, Wheeldon has done well here. It could have used a little less talk and a touch of a bell or whistle here and there. I do not need a lot of action, just a story that is not interview heavy. I do have to say though, that kudos are appropriate for the filmmaker. The Wirksworth UFO Incident is available to stream on Amazon.

The Trailer