The Consinema Film Review: Chronicle

Credit: 20th Century Fox

Rating: 5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags

Film Title: Chronicle

The Pitch: After making an incredible discovery, three high school friends find they’ve acquired superpowers. They soon find their lives spinning out of control and the bonds of friendship are tested as they embrace their darker sides.

Plot Summary: Following the exploits of average teens Andrew (Dane DeHaan), Steve (Michael B. Jordan), and Matt (Alex Russell), Chronicle begins when the friends encounter a mysterious entity that first afflicts them with days of bloody noses, then results in the trio developing advanced telekinetic abilities. They quickly discover that their newfound super powers can be manipulated, honed, and strengthened – resulting in the ability to control larger objects, as well as mimic other traditional enhanced “abilities,” such as flight and invulnerability. As their powers increase, so does their potential to unintentionally (or intentionally) cause harm to others. Ultimately, the friends agree to keep their abilities in check, but it’s a delicate balance that one member of the group – the proverbial loner who has suffered physical and emotional abuse at home and at school – isn’t as ready to accept (Andrew endures a number of realistic bullying and abuse scenarios – which are not at all understated).

What Shines: It arrives during a glut of found-footage films, but Chronicle transcends its gimmicks with a smart script, fast-paced direction, and engaging performances from its young, talented cast. The movie is FUN. Found-footage films have become a low risk prospect for movie studios. Audiences continue to fill theater seats in search of the next compelling found-footage franchise – even when a film doesn’t have high production values or recognizable actors. That said, the genre has typically enjoyed its biggest successes with horror fans – and is mostly untested in other film categories. Another area where the film excels above similar fare is the three super powered protagonists. Chronicle doesn’t try to strong-arm audiences from one action sequence to the next, and actually takes the time to build a cohesive character journey for its characters. Instead of flat and shallow protagonists, Andrew, Steve, and Matt each have interesting interpersonal dynamics and arcs that flourish as they explore both their abilities and their newly formed friendships. The end result is a surprisingly charming and humorous ride for the majority of the proceedings. The characters offer plenty of entertaining and believable moments – even after the movie starts to take a dark turn.

What Sucks: While it’s unfair to criticize a PG-13 film for being “dark,” events in the third act do come fast and furious, representing a pretty sharp shift in tone that some viewers might not feel is entirely “earned” – even if the proceedings are believable and grounded in the larger storyline.

Summary: Chronicle isn’t just a unique found-footage movie or superior superhero film; it’s a truly enjoyable blend of the best each genre has to offer.

Watch For: The intense, riveting finale is on par with bigger budget action films. The use of camera phones, security and police surveillance tapes seems like a hokey way to showcase the final climactic moments of the film, but surprisingly that doesn’t detract from the final set piece. There’s no doubt that Chronicle has raised the bar for visual spectacle in future found-footage movies. Due to some truly creative thinking and intriguing cinematography, the filmmaking team has shown that “found-footage” doesn’t have to have thin story lines and flat characters who do nothing more than move audiences from jump scare to jump scare.