The Spooky World of Chris Ringler
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Reviews of Found Footage films.
The latest entry in the found-footage horror franchise presents several short films themed around Halloween, but struggles with coherence and originality. While one episode excels in creepiness, others fall flat or feel silly. Overall, the collection lacks depth and connection to Halloween, leaving the reviewer disappointed and unable to recommend it.
BODY & SOUL is a found footage film depicting police officers on duty, initially engaging with the public effectively. However, it falters when the plot shifts to a tense chase in the woods, becoming disjointed with two bickering officers and lacking narrative depth. Despite its promising concept, the film ultimately disappoints.
Found Footage military horror is uncommon, yet this film stands out with a British patrol during the Afghan War facing both moral dilemmas over stolen money and sinister threats. While the pacing and camaraderie are strong, the climax confuses, leaving viewers lost. Ultimately, it’s a unique and creepy experience worth exploring.
Fair warning, this is not to be confused with the Hugh Grant film. HERETICS isn’t the first found footage film I have seen about cults, and it does feel like an apt way to look at them. Seeing a cult examined through the lens of a found footage film, and in this case from the… Continue reading Found Footage Movie Review – HERETICS
The faux-documentary is a tricky business. You have to present yourself as a documentary, with those trappings, but have to offer something different. You have to walk in those steps to a point, and know when to deviate. And with so many murder docs out there, it becomes even harder to find the correct tone. STRANGE HARVEST reminds me a bit of the film THE POUGHKEEPSIE TAPES. It’s similar, but don’t mistake them for being the same. They both handle horrific stories about a serial killer, and do so with aplomb, but STRANGE HARVEST is its own animal, and it has its own lethal bite.
Over the past few months, I have had the honor to check out three of director Rios’ films. It’s been fascinating to watch him hone his craft, tighten his storytelling, and really evolve as a filmmaker. A willingness to keep working to improve, and to become a better creator and, in this case, filmmaker, is how you GET better. We hear the adage of “putting in the work” all the time, but not all of us want to actually do that.
There is something intoxicating about watching documentaries about the process of creating art, and in this case, making movies. Where it really gets good, though, is when you get a glimpse into the indie-filmmaking of emerging and inexperienced filmmakers. Think of “AMERICAN MOVIE” and how engaging the documentary was as it showed director Mark Borchardt… Continue reading Found Footage Movie Review – “FOUND FOOTAGE: The Making of the Patterson Project”
A couple investigates their old house with paranormal experts, finding the experience more tedious than thrilling, contrary to popular ghost-hunting shows. THE BLUE MOUNTAIN PROJECT portrays a lackluster documentary-style investigation of a haunted schoolhouse with no real scares or plot. The friendship of the main characters is the only redeeming quality. Rating: 1 out of 5.
The article discusses a found footage film titled CRUEL, focused on the Michigan Dogman cryptid. While it explores regional cryptids and the impact of such tales, the film suffers from a short runtime and plot inconsistencies. Despite a solid premise, it ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying narrative, lacking depth and cohesion.
The Reddit post discusses the appeal of found footage films, highlighting the thrill of discovering hidden gems in the genre. It reviews "CLASSROOM 6," where a newscaster investigates a mysterious classroom tied to disappearances. While the film offers solid acting and a creepy atmosphere, it suffers from logical inconsistencies and ultimately lacks memorability.
“LearX” presents a unique blend of ASMR and horror, focusing on a man participating in a social media challenge in a haunted house for $100,000. Despite an engaging lead performance, the film lacks depth and suspense, feeling more like a short film extended into a feature. With improvements, it could become more compelling.
If there is one pet peeve I have over all others in found footage movies it's when they suddenly switch narrative techniques. The movie will begin as found footage and then reach a point where it's suddenly a traditionally shot film. It drives me CRAZY! Now, you can make a movie in whatever style you… Continue reading Found Footage Review – THE GHOST IN THE DARKNESS
Influencer culture and Vloggers are having their moment in found footage, that's for sure. I have mentioned before how found footage movies seem to have cycles that reflect what's happening in the culture. Vloggers and Influencers seem like a really good "in" for found footage because these are folks who are always streaming and filming,… Continue reading Found Footage Review – DON’T PEEK
The Spooky World of Chris Ringler 