This film starts like it’s going to be found footage mixed with interviews, but is actually a mix of those two things and regular filmmaking. This works to the films benefit since found footage gets dicey when things are filmed by characters that don’t make sense that they would film.
Mia goes on an investigation as to what happened to her missing sister Riley after her Riley’s friends turn up dead. The found footage is what Riley and her friends were filming for a YouTube channel that investigates paranormal activity. Mia’s investigation leads her to an abandoned prison and an old house in the woods which somehow was missed during the weeks long search for Riley years before. A plot hole that still bothers me.
My least favorite part of this film is Mia’s relationship with her husband. The dialogue between them is poorly written and they have zero chemistry. Maybe that was the point, but the husband just seemed like a pointless obstacle that went nowhere. Their struggle with not being able to conceive was an afterthought. Surprising since the film ends up where it does at the end with Riley alive with a baby.
The film also borrows from other films to its own detriment. The dogs from The Omen are similar here. Forced pregnancy from films like Dying Breed and Barbarian. Finding the house in the woods reminded me of Jessica Biel finding the baby in the cabin in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The found footage sequences reminded me of Blair Witch Project but in an abandoned town instead of a forest. It’s too derivative to have much to say because you can see the ending coming a mile away.
At its best, this film has some great scary sequences shot in creepy places. It forces you to pay attention to negative space because there’s nearly always someone watching from the shadows during these scenes as it heads into occult territory. I would have liked to see the film utilize the abandoned town more and if Mia really wanted a documentary about her sister’s disappearance, it would have made sense to have that film crew with her. Alas, that doesn’t happen.
This is watchable for creepy scenery, but not great. 2.5 out of 5 stars.
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Becky Tyler Art and Photography 
This film starts like it’s going to be found footage mixed with interviews, but is actually a mix of those two things and regular filmmaking. This works to the films benefit since found footage gets dicey when things are filmed by characters that don’t make sense that they would film.
Mia goes on an investigation as to what happened to her missing sister Riley after her Riley’s friends turn up dead. The found footage is what Riley and her friends were filming for a YouTube channel that investigates paranormal activity. Mia’s investigation leads her to an abandoned prison and an old house in the woods which somehow was missed during the weeks long search for Riley years before. A plot hole that still bothers me.
My least favorite part of this film is Mia’s relationship with her husband. The dialogue between them is poorly written and they have zero chemistry. Maybe that was the point, but the husband just seemed like a pointless obstacle that went nowhere. Their struggle with not being able to conceive was an afterthought. Surprising since the film ends up where it does at the end with Riley alive with a baby.
The film also borrows from other films to its own detriment. The dogs from The Omen are similar here. Forced pregnancy from films like Dying Breed and Barbarian. Finding the house in the woods reminded me of Jessica Biel finding the baby in the cabin in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The found footage sequences reminded me of Blair Witch Project but in an abandoned town instead of a forest. It’s too derivative to have much to say because you can see the ending coming a mile away.
At its best, this film has some great scary sequences shot in creepy places. It forces you to pay attention to negative space because there’s nearly always someone watching from the shadows during these scenes as it heads into occult territory. I would have liked to see the film utilize the abandoned town more and if Mia really wanted a documentary about her sister’s disappearance, it would have made sense to have that film crew with her. Alas, that doesn’t happen.
This is watchable for creepy scenery, but not great. 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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