CHRONICLE
**1/2
DIRECTED BY Josh Trank
STARS Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell
The exclusive property of the horror genre, the “found footage” style of filmmaking that’s been employed in such movies as The Blair Witch Project and Apollo 18 (to name but two of many) has now been co-opted by Chronicle, a picture that’s half science fiction, half teen melodrama. With this first push of the envelope’s edge, should we now expect, say, a “found footage” musical or a “found footage” Western?
Let’s hope not, for one of the weaknesses of Chronicle is that its “ff” format plays exactly like the gimmick it most assuredly is. That proves to be an occasional distraction in this surprisingly adept yarn about three high school boys — Andrew (Dane DeHaan), Matt (Alex Russell) and Steve (Michael B. Jordan) — who gain telekinetic powers after stumbling into a hole housing what seems to be the kingdom of the crystal skull. But this isn’t a family-friendly superhero flick like The Incredibles or Sky High, nor is it a costume-clad wish-fulfillment fantasy like Kick-Ass or Super. Instead, it grounds its science fiction in high school fact while taking uncomfortable detours into Columbine territory. Because even as Matt and Steve, two all-around popular kids, are enjoying their newfound abilities to fly through the clouds or pull harmless pranks on unsuspecting folks, the socially inept Andrew, suffering from a brutal home life (Mom’s dying, Dad’s a bullying drunk), can’t quite contain his extraordinary power and begins to view it as a way to get back at a cruel and insensitive world.
Given the low budget, the special effects are astonishing, but that doesn’t mean I wanted them to dominate the final portion of the picture. Unfortunately, writer-director Josh Trank and co-scripter Max Landis allow the film to get away from them, moving from sober-minded intrigue to surface bombast. Still, the two men, both making their feature-film debuts, do enough right to insure that Chronicle serves as a potent calling card.
This article appears in Feb 7-13, 2012.
i agree with the part about columbine territory..the movie really could have gone a number of ways but completely was consumed by the idea of this damaged kid abusing his newly found power. i like that ending and i don’t but overall this movie was a great and fresh piece
This movie i feel, was a putrid pig in a tasty blanket (abilities) for the masses, making the truth easyer to swallow, through action and effect. I found it to be predictable, and feel that the columbine territory, was the whole point of the film, but would have never have made it past a tv movie if left at that, which is sad. Overall a really good film and message. Can’t wait to see what these guys make next, without having to dance to the Hollywood music.
I don’t understand why some reviewers were bothered how the movie transpired into what it did.
It seemed like a natural progression for me; bullied kid wants to fit in, is torn by his home life, realizes how he can get revenge, gets crazy with power, alienates himself even more….. This and Cloverfield are masters of the genre, IMHO.