I’m not just some statistic; I'm an individual. John, portrayed by Alex Pettyfer, is a remarkably talented teenager who continually has to relocate with his guardian, Timothy Olyphant, because they are actually alien escapees being pursued by dangerous extraterrestrials known as Mogs. They begin anew in southwestern Ohio, and John insists on attending high school where he meets a girl of interest, played by Dianna Agron. Callan McAuliffe appears as the stereotypical geek at the school, while Teresa Palmer takes on the role of an enigmatic woman whose true identity is revealed later in the story. “I Am Number Four” (2011) was adapted from a novel by Pittacus Lore (also known as James Frey & Jobie Hughes). I wasn’t familiar with this movie until it popped up while browsing streaming services. It turns out to have been a fairly substantial production, costing $60 million and produced by Michael Bay. D.J. Caruso directed the film, and initially, it felt rushed and overstuffed, lacking any nuance regarding the characters' situation and their alien origins. However, things improved once the setting shifted to Ohio and John started school. This inevitably brought “Twilight” (2008) to mind, but this movie is considerably more daring. It’s certainly inspired by comic books, but that hardly seems to matter. It succeeds as a science fiction drama/action film. The inventive elements were captivating at times, and the introduction of Teresa Palmer in the final act elevated the experience. There's also a charming dog with an unexpected twist. Sadly, there was never another installment despite the ending setting up future events. Although it earned $55 million domestically and $150 million worldwide, it was regarded as a failure financially. What a mistake that was. The film’s running time is 1 hour, 51 minutes, and filming took place in southwestern Pennsylvania in locations including Monaca (Sam’s house), Murrysville (high school), Beaver & Beaver Falls (the falls, etc.), McKeesport (house party & police car scenes), Vandergrift (street light explodes), Harmony (cemetery scene) and Pittsburgh. The opening scenes were filmed in Islamorada, Florida, along with a few shots done in Santa Clarita, California. GRADE: A-

Source on TMDB