The St. Francisville Experiment (2000)

Posted on by

Director: Ted Nicolaou

Actors: Madison Charap, Troy Taylor, Ryan Larson

Synopsis: A group of young people were given video cameras and the opportunity to spend the night in an abandoned mansion in St. Francisville, LA. It is rumored to be haunted.

Review: I have watched this movie many times. It came out about 1 year after The Blair Witch.  I was ecstatic because I wanted to see more movies shot in the style of The Blair Witch Project. The movie went straight to DVD which is not surprising I am sure it was a shoe string budget they were working with, and this was before the found footage craze. Though at times it could be very cheesy, I really enjoyed this movie. I am in the minority on this one. I think because a lot of people thought some camera angles were shot by cameramen which is  true but come on it is a movie don’t read so much into it.

I loved the true history they share of Madam Delphine Lalaurie which some may recognize that name from American Horror Story Coven. It was one of Madam Lalaurie’s houses they were investigating. The movie is set in Louisiana which is already filled with ghosts and history. Plus, Louisiana is my most favorite place ever. I think the historical part of the story kind of outweighed the annoying characters. Yes, sometimes the characters could be very annoying especially the two girls Madison and Ryan. I liked this movie a lot and think it is very underrated. FYI..this movie is currently free to watch with Amazon Prime.

 

Found Footage O Meter: 7/10 I enjoyed The St. Francisville Experiment. I liked the history behind the movie and I love the fact it was shot in Louisiana. Any movie shot in Louisiana instantly gets extra points from me.

Undocumented (2010)

Posted on by

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bewEws2-54

Director: Chris Peckover

Writers: Chris Peckover and Joe Peterson

 Stars: Scott Mechlowicz, Alona Tal, and Yancey Arias. Peter Stormare also makes an appearance but is masked throughout the movie.

 Synopsis: A small group of documentary filmmakers chronicle the trials and inequities faced by Mexican illegal immigrants. When they join a group of families illegally crossing the border to record the experience firsthand, their truck is pulled over and detained. What happens next plunges their group into unimaginable horror.

Review: While this is a horror film, it is something that could actually happen. I have to preface this by saying that it is extremely hard to watch. I don’t mean that it’s over the top gory or bloody and while there is blood and gore, it’s hard to watch because of how the people are treated.

Some documentary filmmakers decide to film some illegal immigrants crossing the border and get caught up in the middle of some very disgusting border enforcers who have their own idea of how to deal with the immigration issue.

While it was difficult to watch due to the human factor, this was an excellent movie that had all the elements that made it a winner. You rooted for the good guys and hated the bad guys or at least I did. I guess if you hate illegals then perhaps you might like the bad guys but I found them disgusting and despicable. With that said, this movie is quite shocking to watch and it won’t leave a good taste in your mouth but it’s one of the better found footage movies out there. It was well done and well-acted.

 Found Footage O Meter: This found footage movie gets a 9 out of 10 on the found footage meter. For one thing, it’s harsh yet realistic and hard to watch but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Megan Is Missing (2011)

Posted on by

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

Director: Michael Goi

 Writer: Michael Goi

 Stars: Amber Perkins, Rachael Quinn, and Dean Waite

 Synopsis: A loosely based fictional account of two teenage girls who meet an online predator and one becomes missing.

 Review: This is one of the most disturbing found footage movies I’ve ever seen. It starts out normal enough – even a little pedestrian but as the movie continues, it becomes something quite distressful and horrifying.

Megan and Amy are best friends. One is popular and the other isn’t but both enjoy each others company. They chat online, meet guys on the Internet, go to parties, drink, and engage in questionable activity for a 13 and 14-year-old. However, once Megan meets Josh online and starts chatting with him, things escalate quickly. Josh is supposedly a 17-year-old surfer who likes Megan but after she goes missing, Amy tries to find her.

This movie has a few brief moments of Megan and what happens but these images become ingrained in your head and you can never un-see what you’d seen. After Amy finds Josh, things go from bad to worse and you won’t be able to forget this movie no matter how hard you try. Let’s just say that you won’t necessarily want to pause on those brief scenes just so you can get a better look – take my word for it. I didn’t find it gratuitous either – just shocking and horrifying on a whole new level.

Found Footage O Meter: Like many of my favorite found footage movies, this one starts out pretty normal, if not mundane. However, it’s the ending or near ending that really raises the stakes and makes this something that would normally be a 4/10 movie into a solid 8/10.

Amber Alert (2012)

Posted on by

Director: Kerry Bellessa

Writers: Kerry Bellessa and Joshua Oram

Starring: Summer Bellessa, Chris Hill, and Jason Wade

Synopsis: A group of friends on a road trip spot a car that matches the description of an Amber Alert and decide to follow it; things go very wrong with their decision in this found footage movie.

Review: Have you ever thought you spotted a criminal or someone who the police were looking for? What if you followed that person and took matters into your own hands after getting nowhere with the police? And what if that person really is bad and you’re in danger? I have to say that this film pleasantly surprised me.

First of all, I tend to like movies that are somewhat realistic. For instance, people argue in real life, people have normal jobs and normal cars, people do stupid things, and well – you get the picture. The people in this movie do all of those things and it’s refreshing in my opinion.

After spotting the car, the group argues over what to do and what turns out to be a very bad decision was what made this movie different from a few of the others. In fact, the ending is one that I won’t soon forget so without spoilers, let’s just say that it’s not your usual ending that ensures that you can sleep well at night.

 It seems that a lot of people hated this movie and I’m not sure why. Sure, there were some bad decisions but you never know what you’ll do in a situation until you are actually in that situation.

Found Footage O Meter: I give this movie an 8 out of 10 for a number of reasons. It’s realistic, the people are very normal, and the ending is quite shocking.

The Afflicted (2013)

Posted on by

Director: Derek Lee, Cliff Prowse

Writer: Derek Lee, Cliff Prowse

Actors: Derek Lee, Cliff Prowse

Synopsis: Two best friends see their trip of a lifetime take a dark turn when one of them is struck by a mysterious affliction. Now, in a foreign land, they race to uncover the source before it consumes him completely.

Review: Hand down one of the best found footage movies of 2014. This movie is what found footage is all about. Take two buds Derek and Cliff, who head off to see the world on a vacation I can only dream of. The movie maintains a steady pace. And I love the fact that Derek Lee and Cliff Prowse are good friends in real life. It made them so believable, and you found yourself rooting for them.

Basically off in a land far away these buds are out looking for fun. I mean who wouldn’t if you could just jet set across the globe. Fun comes in the form of a hot brunette for Derek Lee. The brunette was more than any of them could have ever expected. After that encounter it is a whirl wind edge of your seat ride. Derek Lee begins an unexplainable transformation that he, and his buddy document on film.

The is one of  the best solid plots in a found footage movie I have witnessed. I am not left guessing at anything for the most part. The two main characters are well-developed, and definitely well acted. It is actually fun watching this thing get so out of control. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Made on a shoe string budget kudos to these guys.

 

Found Footage O Meter: 8/10 for me on this one. It was just so well done. It is in my top 5 possibly top 3 of found footage this year. It is definitely in my top 10 of all time found footage.

The Possession Of Michael King (2014)

Posted on by

Director: David Jung

Writer: David Jung

Starring: Shane Johnson, Ella Anderson, and Cara Pifko

 Synopsis: After the death of his wife, a man who doesn’t believe in God or Satan decides to make a documentary where he is the subject. He attempts to prove that none of it exists by allowing various spells to be cast and occult practitioners to perform rituals on him. Of course, evil indeed exists and manifests itself in Michael King.

 Review: I had high hopes for this movie after hearing that a few others had really enjoyed it. I have to say that the beginning started off promising but about midpoint through the movie, I lost interest.

 Michael King (Shane Johnson) is a married man, seemingly happy. We see video footage of him and his wife during happier times – heck, he even has a daughter and a dog. Of course, you know what that means for the dog but more on that later. After his wife is killed and by the way, the movie never does really address her death; we simply know that she died, Michael decides to prove there is no God and there is no devil. He pretty much blames the tarot card reader for his wife’s death and by the way, there is one good aspect of the movie – Dale Dickey (love her) plays the tarot card reader.

 Michael starts his documentary by visiting a variety of people to help prove his theory. He takes part in a few occult rituals and along the way he eventually does become possessed.

 One issue with the movie is that all of the fake scares are super loud and unnecessary. The acting is fine and I do have to commend everyone on that but I honestly got bored after a while. Add into that the fact that of course the dog has to die and well, I was done with it. It wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t great, and while many enjoyed it, I didn’t so much.

 

Found Footage O Meter: I give this one a 5/10 on the found footage horror scale. I admit it is one of the better ones of 2014. But it was lacking something. I am not sure what. The Taking of Deborah Logan was much better. And why must movies always kill animals. I mean is it really necessary to the plot.

The Taking OF Deborah Logan (2014)

Posted on by

Director: Adam Robitel

Writer: Gavin Heffernan, Adam Robitel

 Starring: Jill Larson, Anne Ramsay, and Mitchell Ang

 Synopsis: The daughter of a woman with Alzheimer’s allows a film crew to document her mother’s descent into dementia. However, things are not what they seem and Deborah Logan may have more than just Alzheimer’s.

 

Review: This movie is a little different than your usual found footage or even possession movies. I’d almost say it’s a breath of fresh air except I found it good, not great as some have coined it.

 Trying to help pay the medical bills of her mother, a woman allows a film crew to document her mother’s decline due to Alzheimer’s Disease. However, things start escalating into something that isn’t just due to the disease at all and that’s where the possession or occult aspect comes in.

 I found the acting pretty decent, especially with Anne Ramsay, who plays Deborah Logan’s daughter. There are quite a few creepy moments and one that is especially shocking so that in itself gives the movie some extra points. I didn’t care for the open-ended ending with the little girl (not a spoiler, by the way) and while I enjoy some endings like that, this one was just “okay” to me.

 I do like that the movie took a different approach to the usual possession theme. We have an elderly woman instead of your usual teen girl, the atmosphere was decent, and like I said, the acting was pretty good as well. I don’t know why I didn’t love it more but then again, it is probably one that I’ll watch again and that may change my review to an even higher score.

 

Found Footage O Meter: I give this one a solid 6/10 and that may change with another viewing. I dare say one of the best found footage movies of 2014.

Skinwalker Ranch 2013

Posted on by

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)

Posted on by

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.

The Bay

Posted on by

Director: Barry Levinson

Starring: Will Rogers, Kristin Connolley, Kether Donahue, Frank Deal

Synopsis: July 4th Chesapeake Bay hosting their annual fun and summer festival. But what happens when  two researchers discover a mind-blowing amount toxicity in the water? What happens next you have to see to believe.

Review: I had extremely low expectations for this movie. I am an avid lover of the found footage genre however most times I am left extremely disappointed. But I found this little gem is a diamond in the rough. The story told by Donna Thompson (Kether Donohue) was so convincing you could see something like this actually happening. Watching the kids playing and frolicking, and adults standing around and gossiping when all of a sudden a town filled with laughter and joy turns into a town of horror and nightmares.

This movie impressed me with how it was filmed. It wasn’t overly shakey. You know how it is with the found footage shakey camera style movies. I also love the way it showed various people from the town and how they were all effected from this particular situation. But the real striking point with this movie is the fact that this could actually happen. It touched so heavily on environmental factors and how people and government tend to overlook these things, blow them off , or even cover them up as the mayor did with this movie.

I am relatively sure if you watch this movie the next time you are out swimming and having a good time you will think twice before dipping a toe in at least with Jaws it was quick and killed you fast. These deaths were slow and painful. And the cause of these deaths is terrifying because it’s plausible enough to happen.

Found Footage O Meter: 8/10 Recommended if you love found footage because this one is actually worth the watch unlike so many I am going to have to write.

The Bay