Quick Movie Reviews
Rating of
3/4
Unknown - wrote on 01/05/2015
What seems like another 'found-footage' style presentation actually turns out to be much more. The realism reached though bare minimum filmmaking is the best achievement here. The movie has an arc of slow progression, shifting focus from fun creative adolescence into strained psychoanalysis. The passion of filmmaking in the two leads forms the right connection needed to ease the transition. It leads to a more tense ending than expected. Subject matter such as this has rarely been seen through an unfiltered dramatic lens.
Rating of
3.5/4
Jacob Zembower - wrote on 04/19/2014
This is such a brilliant film. Beginning deceptively light and darkly funny, before plummeting into themes of obsession, psychopathy, bullying, and high school violence. This is one sucker punch of an experience, filled with more tension and dread than most horror films released these days. Matthew Johnson, of which I've never heard of before, gives a great performance making one sympathize with the devil. And the meta-narrative style is quite genius when you catch on to what it's representing. Some may find the ending disappointing, but if so they've missed the point entirely. This is bleak, harrowing, and painful viewing. It's also essential for anyone obsessed with cinema. I'm still letting it sink in.
