Chronicle
From the minds of Max Landis (son of John) and Josh Tranks’ comes a new ‘found footage’ sci-fi film starring Alex Russell, Dane De Haan and Michael B. Jordan as three high school students who form an unlikely friendship after acquiring telekinetic powers from an alien life form in a hole in the ground.
Andrew (De Haan), an emphatic loner who begins documenting his melancholy (and quite often violent) existence using a expensive but second-hand camera. Aware of his apparant struggle and desperate for him to fit in, his jock and somewhat slacker cousin Matt (played by Alex Russell) persuades him to go to a rave at a nearby isolated barn. It is there he is lured by the popular star quarterback Steve (Michael B. Jordan) into the woods claiming he has discovered something strange. The three boys then start documenting thier new found powers, using them only for their own personal juvenile amusement until trouble of epic proportions brews when one of them starts using his powers for more sinister puposes.
The Positives
Newcomer and young Leo Dicaprio-esque De Haan displays a fantastic portrayal of a solitary teen with complex bitterness and angst, mainly due to his alcoholic and volatile father (Michael Kelly). His performance leaves viewers with a strong feeling of understanding and empathy towards him even during his worst self depricating moments which is fairly complex to convey. Russell was convincing as the doting and concerned cousin who finds a new lease of life thanks to his powers and Jordans confident performance as the much loved all-star favourite makes for a character that is highly memorable. The plot was well thought out with very intricate special effects.
The Negatives
Being shot in the cult found footage format which has had a surge of popularity in recent years, the film will seem a bit Marmite to skeptical viewers however as with similarly made films like Cloverfield or even Paranormal Activity, that very same format is what lends to it’s unique quality. If it was done in any other way, it would be just another Hollywood churn out.
Despite a slow introduction to the film and a unimaginative plot there were a lot of genuinely surreal and refreshingly unpredictable moments brought to life by engaging viewers into a curiosity and mystery into the newly transformed lives of the three teens with young audiences relating to the very modern adolescent issues.
The most noteworthy aspect of this film is the fact that it gives the viewer an insight into what any desperate teenager would realistically do with telekinetic abilities.
VERDICT
A surprisingly good watch with enough twists and unexpected moments to keep even the most indifferent movie-goer on their toes.
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