nan | 楠木

(Haven’t wrote anything for so long… Thought I would start back writing short reviews)

I first saw the trailer of Chronicle on own3d.tv, as annoying ads during livestreams. I thought the film was a cheap teen horror flick, with a touch of Omen – featuring a central angry teenager who has immense destructive power. So I was pleasantly surprised to see it so well reviewed on Rottentomatoes, and after a hearty lunch with a couple of friends, we decided to spend a Saturday afternoon checking the film out.

The film’s high rating probably stems from its main creative point – the film is shot using the “amateur footage” style, and we witness the events mostly from a video-camera one of the main leads carry (at some points in the film, whatever plausible camera footage available – e.g. CCTV cameras – are used to complement the cinematography). The camera is both an artistic design and a plot device, especially with regards to how it helps to develop the main characters.

In terms of story, the film is straightforward. Three high school teenagers discover supernatural powers, and the story evolves around how they grow their powers and the consequences. The central character, Andrew, is a nerdy, introverted teenager living in an unhappy family. His mother is terminally ill, and his father is an unemployed alcoholic. So it comes as no surprise that Andrew channels his anger to his newly acquired super powers, and havoc ensues.

I felt the camera angle setup is responsible for both the film’s novelty as well as its weaknesses. It gives audiences a unique experience in terms of engaging with a sci-fi flick, but it also limits the film’s narrative options (and sometimes feel too convenient from a story point of view). On the whole the film does feel unique compared to a generic sci-fi film. I imagined how the film would flow if it was shot in a conventional way – the plot as it is just feels too simple and formulaic.

7/10