A superhero movie without conforming to standards, Forecast surprises the viewer with its strong story and smooth presentation.
This is in fact a short movie, not a feature length, but it is "Issue 1" in a three part series. The protagonist is a superhero named Ben who has the ability to manipulate time, provided certain requirements are met. Like most superheroes, Ben (David Thrasher) uses his powers for justice, foreseeing crimes in newspapers and either reporting them to the police ahead of time or intervening himself. He even has a friend, Todd (Shane Carr), who runs a comic book shop with him and asks to be his sidekick. One might assume, based on this description, that the movie is nothing original, but one would be mistaken.
What keeps the movie from being formulaic is the twist placed upon our hero: he really isn't a fighter. Yes, he is able to fight someone if he knows what their about to do, but it doesn't mean he can knock them out. Instead, Ben uses his intellect to trap criminals or ambush them, something we see too little of in today's comics and movies. Another defining characteristic is Ben's insistence on not being discovered by the public. Rather than wearing a mask and hood, he just pulls up a hood and keeps quiet. This lends him sympathy from the audience, who see him as a nice guy who is trying to do right, but is still a real human being, not an icon.
The most remarkable thing about this movie is its obviously an independent, low-budget production. One is tempted to label "by fanboys, for fanboys," excepts the movie is really appropriate for any audience. It is very smooth for an "indy" film, without any real sound problems or acting bombs. The camera work and lighting is obviously lacking in some ways, but not in a distracting way. None of the weaknesses hold back the story, and that is what makes Forecast the great little movie it is.