Skinwalker Ranch 2013

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPAOC5F5o1c

 

Director: Devin McGinn

Writer: Adam Ohler

Starring: Taylor Bateman, Steve Berg, Michael Black

Synopsis: A government research team sent to a ranch in Utah to investigate supernatural phenomena surrounding the disappearance of the ranch owner’s 10-year-old son. What they found was terrifying.

 

Review: Skinwalker Ranch a found footage that has managed to rank in my top 5 after two viewings in the same week. I loved it. A team of the traditional white people going into a place they have no business to research supernatural phenomena. When an old Indian dude tells you to get the fuck off the property….well. But hey, that’s just me. Hoyt the owner of the Skinwalker Ranch was leading the American dream with him his wife and 10-year-old son. Hoyt’s son Cody disappeared literally into thin air on his birthday. It was caught on camera. Of course, there was the usual town gossip and speculation, but the truth was much more than anyone could have imagined.

An investigative team came to document the phenomena and to try to help Hoyt locate the missing child. The phenomena consisted of deafening sounds, flashing light and a big huge dog to name a few things. Please keep in mind Skinwalker Ranch does exist and but it’s known as Sherman Ranch. The ranch is 480 acres southeast of Ballard, Utah it borders the Ute Indian reservation. The name Skinwalker comes from an old Indian Legend.

Even though the likelihood of this story being real is probably zero. The movie  still blew me away. What the team of scientist experienced at this ranch was subtle and gradually got worse and worse over time. And I love that they gave a pretty decent background even if most of it is bull. With that being said there were some questionable points was it paranormal or aliens?

The acting was solid and brilliantly done for this type of movie. Visuals were good for the whole found footage thing. It may seem a little like the movie was trying to do too much or like the tried to cram a whole lot into a short period. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it

*Update:* I found out the only part of this story that is supposedly true is a boy went missing. The rest is myth and folklore.

7/10: I enjoyed the movie. I know most have given it shitty reviews. But hey trust and believe, I have seen far worse and only slightly better.

 

 

Devil’s Pass (2013)

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbq3dR-SEr4

Director: Renny Harlin

Writer: Vikram Weet

Actors: Holly Goss, Matt Stokoe, Luke Albright

Synopsis: 1959 9 Russian hikers went into the Ural Mountains in Russia. Two weeks later all 9 hikers were found dead. Th ill-fated trip became known as The Dyatlov Pass Incident. Researchers were left mystified as to what happened. Everyone has theories, but no one has any answers.

Today 5 Oregon college student issued a grant to go and follow the trail of the 9 people and see if they can figure out what happened at the Devil’s Pass.

Review: The Devil’s Pass was way better than I imagined it would be. It started out typically. A back story was given about a group of Russian hikers going into the Ural mountains  found frozen to death only steps away from their camp. Years later some Oregon students decide it would be super cool to follow in the steps these of dead people…..REALLY? REALLY?? Who the hell goes hiking after dead people and second who goes hiking in an area known as The Devil’s Pass. I would say, but I may sound racist.

Although you have a good idea what’s going to happen the film still manages to suck you in. I am taken in from the start despite the stupidity of the college kids. I love the back story. They made sure you were well aware that everything happened with the original group. And you like the 9 Oregon students find yourself on a journey and wondering what it is lurking all around you.

Now I admit to liking Devil’s Pass. And I probably would have loved it had it not been for the ending, which I don’t do spoilers. So I won’t say any more than they took a path that just totally through the entire movie off for me. I was actually disappointed. But it is a totally watchable and enjoyable found footage movie and just because I didn’t like the ending doesn’t mean you won’t. So I say give it a shot.

Found Footage O Meter: 8/10

Despite my feeling of the ending I still must give this movie a high score because it was wonderfully shot Even the most motions sick person can watch at least 85% of the movie. I love that they devoted more than 5 minutes to the back story. This found footage film is very meaty you can really dig in and sink your teeth. But I still did not like the ending. Sorry. However,  people do not let my opinion of the ending detour you. It’s a good film.