bzbanks

I watch a lot of cheaply-made found footage films, and I'm always dismayed to see how angry and discouraging reviewers can be. Do you not know what you're getting into? SFX and sharp editing are anathema to the genre. Some stories are better than others, some acting, too, of course. But you're either a fan or you're not.

This little movie comes across as pretty genuine. The actors are almost all very real, the dialogue unrehearsed. Luke has me convinced he's a real farmer, and Cordero is definitely a child with delusions of grandeur. The ending suuuuuucks, and I probably would have added a star if the camera had just cut off 5 minutes earlier. Still, these filmmakers are younger than any of my own kids, and I enjoyed the hell out of it.

Your kids can safely watch this, although there are some intense moments. I was pleasantly surprised to find something so mild; it's perfect for a weekend afternoon. The acting is very good, for the most part, and the story moves along nicely. The sciency aspect is silly and completely falls apart toward the end, but you shouldn't care. A college student's parents are killed in a sudden (off-screen) accident. He may be remotely responsible, and is left with the care and feeding of his much-younger siblings. It's a ghost story about love and loss and duty and ambition. The little girl is amazing, and the SFX are minimalist and tidy.

An unfortunate number of horror film fans identify too deeply with Darryl, our antihero, and as those viewers realize he's not the success story he wants to be, they may turn away from this movie. The creep factor in the story is ambiguous, a bit messy, but I really enjoyed it. The performances are solid, the dialogue completely natural, the SFX virtually non-existent, and it works. Anybody could have made this film with stuff they have lying around the house, but nobody did before, so applause for the delicate, accurate portrayal of a British incel coming slowly unwound. Is he, or isn't he? Xx.