It’s so interesting seeing how influencer culture has become such a prevalent part of found footage. It makes sense in that it has become such a huge part of modern American society. People wanting others to see their lives, acknowledge their lives, and follow their lives. Needing to be seen and wanting to turn our lives into another hustle. Hustle and influencer culture are two of the latest get-rich-quick schemes that are out there, both seeming to hold some secret pass to fame, fortune, and happiness.
Oh, if only we could turn or hobby or passion into a career.
If only we could do something fun on the side for enough money to live well.
If only people cared about the meals we ate.
Oof.
Marrying found footage with influencer culture is almost too obvious. The need to have a camera running ALL the time is part of both things and one informs the other. The question now becomes…what do you say with that tool?
What, indeed?
MILK & SERIAL follows two friends who are viral darlings due to their prank videos. The friends stage more and more elaborate stunts to keep their viewership happy. As the birthday of Milk arrives though, their stunts take on a more serious tenor as they turn them on each other.
This is a fast-paced movie that comes in just under an hour so it definitely doesn’t overstay its welcome. There’s a meanness to the film that will draw a lot of views to it. It’s definitely a product of its time.
The acting is good, with the tension palpable, and you could see Milk and Serial as friends, though frenemies seem more accurate.
Being so short, the film doesn’t give us time to get to know anyone well enough to care very deeply. Things start as if we walked into the film a quarter of the way into it. It’s like watching just the sex scenes in a film – all action and no story.
With the theme of the film it makes sense that they are always filming but as things get more and more serious it starts to feel a little forced as there is filming of things that SOMEONE should object to. You see it a lot in found footage but it’s not really an excuse. When you think of things YOU wouldn’t want filmed would you suddenly be OK with someone filming anyway?
Then there’s the matter of the music.
There’s music in the film, breaking that rule that says that you can’t just have music in a movie that is happening “in real life.” It has to be in the background for it to work.
Last, so…who “found” this footage and put it together?
Without an explanation you are left to put it together yourself.
Yes, it’s a movie, but, alas, found footage films have rules that other films don’t. While they can be relatively easy to make, and don’t require a lot of effects or sets, you do have to stick with what the rules are.
The film shows footage from more than one filmer and it’s all put together. So…who did it?
AND…there needed to be an explanation of what was happening with the footage that was being shot.
It couldn’t all have just gone online for, reasons, but…what happened to it.
These are a lot of questions and they overshadow what is an entertaining film
A lot of folks will like the movie.
It doesn’t overstay its welcome, as I mentioned. It’s got a propulsive force to it.
A lot of folks will like it.
It didn’t work for me.
Not fully.
It’s entertaining, but nothing I’d return to.
It’s a well-made film, with a lot to offer the right viewer.
It will be interesting to see what the filmmakers do next though.
2.5 out of 5
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22075376/
Full film –
The Spooky World of Chris Ringler 
I was thinking similar thoughts (“Who is filming?”) around the 20-23 minute-mark when the two protagonists were tied up, and the camera angle kept changing. It was still a decent movie for how little it cost. Just wish they’d stuck to the rules more.
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