This found-footage sci-fi flick offers a refreshing take on what it means to be a superhero.
While the Blair Witch Project popularised the found-footage genre way back in 1999, it’s only recently that the style has really taken off – Cloverfield, Apollo 18, and Paranormal Activity are some recent entries with dozens of other titles in the pipeline. It’s got to the point where the technique risks becoming stale.
With this in mind, I wasn’t too excited about the prospect of a found-footage superhero movie, but first time director Josh Trank pleasantly surprises. On a meagre budget of $15million he creates a far more interesting take on super powers than most big budget Marvel/DC offerings.
Chronicle follows three Seattle teenagers: Andrew, his cousin Matt and Steve. Andrew comes from a dysfunctional home (alcoholic, abusive father; dying mother) and doesn’t fit in at school. You know the type. Rather than engage with people he disassociates himself, viewing the world through his video camera and filming everything around him. Even when his cousin Matt drags him along to an underground rave the camera comes with him – a decent enough set-up for the use of ‘found footage’.
It’s at this rave that things really start to get interesting – Steve and Matt convince Andrew to come with them and investigate a strange substance emanating from a hole in the ground, next thing you know we’ve flashed forward a few weeks and the three of them have developed telekinetic powers. Awesome.
Most genre films would at this point introduce a big bad that will soon face off against the three of them, with the fate of the world at stake. Not so here. Teenagers aren’t interested in such honourable use of power, they’d rather play pranks – think short-skirted school girls standing near a leaf-blower or levitating stuffed animals in front of horrified children…
While Chronicle remains playful, it is a joy to watch. Watching the three of them come to terms with their newfound abilities and begin to push the boundaries (as all teenagers do) is pure wish fulfilment. I’m sure everyone has thought about having some form of special ability and you are far more likely to get up to similar antics than fight crime or save the world.
Unfortunately the film must have some dramatic crescendo and you know what they say about absolute power… soon central Seattle becomes a war-zone as the stakes are lifted and the fun and games are over. The increased scale also pushes the found-footage technique to its absolute limit of believability because you cannot expect that Andrew would continue filming with everything that happens.
This overblown ending detracts somewhat from Chronicle’s great first half. Regardless, the three leads are engaging throughout and share great on-screen chemistry. Steve in particular is full of energy and it’s a shame he wasn’t on screen for longer. The special effects are excellent, especially for a $15million budget – I’ve seen a LOT worse on display in films whose catering budgets cost more. With Chronicle, Josh Trank has announced himself as a talent to watch and I wouldn’t be surprised if a sequel is announced in the not too distant-future. One of the best entries in the found-footage genre to date.
4 Stars
Andrew Cozens