SciFiSland Editor and Publisher Lon Cohen was recently quoted in a Newsday feature by entertainment reporter Rafer Guzmán exploring Steven Spielberg’s new science fiction film Disclosure Day, the evolution of UFO culture, and Long Island’s connection to extraterrestrial lore.
The article examines how public attitudes toward alien life have changed since the release of Spielberg’s 1977 classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind. From the UFO craze of the 1970s to modern discussions surrounding government disclosure and unidentified aerial phenomena, the story explores why humanity remains fascinated by the possibility that we are not alone.
Reflecting on the era that inspired Close Encounters, Cohen noted that stories of alien encounters seemed to be everywhere.
“Didn’t it seem like every other day someone was being abducted?” Cohen told Newsday. “There was no internet to consult for fact-checking at the time, so when you saw these stories, you didn’t know whether to believe them or not.”
Cohen also discussed what made Spielberg’s original alien epic stand apart from many of the stories that followed.
“It felt like a huge, positive, almost spiritual take on how aliens would be,” Cohen said of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Read the full article here on Newsday.com.
That sense of optimism is one of the themes explored throughout the article. While modern UFO stories often focus on government cover-ups, secrecy, and distrust of institutions, Spielberg’s early work presented extraterrestrial contact as something mysterious, awe-inspiring, and ultimately hopeful.
The Newsday feature also highlights Long Island’s own place in UFO history, including the legends surrounding Camp Hero in Montauk, the Long Island UFO Network, and the region’s active science fiction fan community.
Adding to the excitement surrounding the film’s release, Guzmán also gave Disclosure Day a positive review, calling it a “close encounter with classic-era Spielberg.”
In his review, Guzmán praised the film as a return to the storytelling style that made movies like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Jurassic Park enduring favorites among science fiction fans. He highlighted strong performances from Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor and described the movie as a fast-paced thriller that balances action, suspense, humor, and wonder.
For science fiction fans, the two Newsday stories offer both an exploration of the cultural legacy behind UFO fascination and an encouraging early look at what may be one of the summer’s most talked-about genre films.
Photo: Promotional image.
