K-PAX (2001)

K-PAX (2001), a science fiction mystery film based on Gene Brewer’s novel of the same name, follows prot (not capitalized and pronounced with a long O, rhyming with boat) as he is sent to the Psychiatric Institute of Manhattan after claiming to be an extraterrestrial from the planet ‘K-PAX’, located 1,000 light years away in the Lyra constellation. Dr. Mark Powell, his psychiatrist, attempts to cure him of his supposed delusions but prot remains steadfast in his ability to provide coherent explanations about himself, K-PAX, and its civilizations. During his medical examination, it becomes clear that prot can see ultraviolet light and is immune to Thorazine. Powell then introduces him to a group of baffled astrophysicists who are amazed by prot’s extensive knowledge about his alleged star system.

At the Institute, prot easily gains the trust of the other patients who believe he is from K-PAX. He claims to have traveled to Earth through ‘faster-than-light travel’ and even offers to take someone back with him. As a result, many of the patients ask prot to take them on his return trip. When Powell realizes that these patients are expecting to leave on July 27, he confronts prot about this predetermined date. However, Powell suspects that this date holds significance in prot’s life due to a past psychological trauma. To uncover the truth, Powell uses regression hypnosis and discovers that prot may actually be Robert Porter, an animal slaughterer from New Mexico who attempted suicide after his family was killed by a drifter in 1996.