The Spooky World of Chris Ringler
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"Shelby Oaks" disappoints as a blend of found footage and traditional filmmaking, leading to a jarring experience. While it steals attention due to hype, the characters lack depth, and the plot raises more questions than it answers. Genuine scares exist, but the storyline is familiar, failing to innovate or engage.
"Ghosts of Hiroshima" is an intimate found footage horror film featuring a young man investigating his inheritance in Japan. As he confronts terrifying revelations about his family’s connection to Hiroshima, the film builds tension through unseen spirits. While it offers genuine scares, issues with pacing and an unsatisfying ending detract from its overall impact.
The review discusses "Raw File," a found-footage film that features a compelling mystery surrounding a suspicious suicide. While it is well-made with quality production values and strong acting, the narrative struggles with cohesion and logical consistency, ultimately impacting overall satisfaction. The reviewer rates it 2 out of 5.
"Demo_n" attempts to blend creepypasta and found footage horror through a video call gone wrong, where friends encounter a supernatural threat via a video game. Despite an intriguing premise and clever animation, the film falls short due to underdeveloped characters and lack of impactful mythology, resulting in a mediocre experience.
The post discusses the delicate balance in filmmaking regarding duration, emphasizing the importance of trimming unnecessary scenes while maintaining artistic value. It highlights the film "FEY," which chronicles a young woman's journey of healing after trauma. As she documents her recovery, a deeper mystery involving a fertility cult emerges.
The review of "THE HOUSEHOLD," a found footage film masquerading as a documentary, highlights its intriguing premise about local disappearances tied to urban myths. However, the story suffers from an insufferable main character and an unsatisfactory ending that fails to provide resolution. While interesting, it ultimately falls short in execution.
I have mentioned it, oh, a hundred times or more, that there are unwritten rules to found footage films, things you should stick to in order to retain that tenuous faux-reality. Unlike traditional films, found footage movies are presenting themselves as if they are "real," and as such, they need to come across as at least a LITTLE believable. Sure, we know it's all fake, but going in, we are looking to BELIEVE this could be real, even though we know it isn't, even while going to see an "Avatar" film and not demanding the same.
Over the past year, the author reviewed short films by an emerging filmmaker, particularly highlighting "The Amasol Project" and "NightBound." While both films exhibit Rios's growth and creativity, they suffer from reliance on dialogue and digital effects. The potential for improvement lies in reduced narration and more tangible scares. Rios's passion is evident.
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.