Found footage films are a whole niche that can be spectacular, or severely lacking, but the sci-fi movie Chronicle
Used this stylistic choice to perfection. The attempt to make a movie look like it was filmed by the subjects, and that the actual product was simply found and then distributed, is most often seen in the horror genre. Here, iconic movies like The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal activityAnd many more see a story unfold when the people recording begin to feel anxious, notice something unusual, or generally feel ill at ease.
Although the same style of filming can be used in other genres, horror tends to fit with the found footage style best because it creates tension, drama and a more intimate story that focuses on the people. However, one of the best found footage films to come out in the last 20 years is actually a sci-fi superhero movie. Chronicle Follows three young men who stumble upon a mysterious asteroid that crash lands nearby, and imbues them with incredible superpowers such as telekinesis, flight, and enhanced strength and durability. And despite the apparent break from more grounded stories, the Found footage style is ideal for this movie.
Chronicle combines the superpowers of the characters with the camera recording
The camera is perfectly suited to the story of Chronicle
One of the three boys, Andrew, played by Dane DeHaan, is more socially awkward than the other two, and rather than playing sports or hanging out with friends, he gravitates toward more isolated hobbies. One such Hobby is recording and documenting his life with his video camera. And when Andrew and the others gain powers, it’s the perfect time for him to document the whole experience, and record their development.
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Andrew initially carries the camera everywhere, capturing what he sees and hears, but after practicing with his new powers for a while, he finds that he has the ability to levitate the camera and operate it remotely. In this way, the movie is able to transition to more cinematic and supernatural shots, but still Makes sense in the narrative. From this point on, the camera feels like a front row seat to witness the action and bravery of the boys, and watch as they develop and refine their gifts.
According to Box Office MojoThe movie was created with an extraordinarily low budget of only $12 million. Although this is clearly the success of the movie with $126 million, but it is also amazing considering the fact that this is a superhero movie that was made in 2012. To put this in context, The Amazing Spider-Man With a budget of $230 million, The Avengers for $220 million, and Christopher Nolan’s final Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, For a whopping $250 million, all were released in 2012. Yes, these are blockbuster titles, but sci-fi stories, and even more so, Superhero movies don’t tend to be cheap to make.
But thanks to the found footage style, the movie was able to create something more intimate, and hide certain elements that could add huge costs behind the slightly less polished filming style. However, it in no way reduces the quality of the final product, and actually contributed to make it feel more intimate and realistic. This Means that the found footage style is actually the perfect choice to tell this story And make something that felt epic in scale, despite a much more restrictive budget.
Not every found footage film is created equal though. Since it is a style of filming that is incredibly approachable, literally making it possible to record a film on a smart device, with lower quality, fewer performers and little to no special effects, it can be a popular choice for budding filmmakers. However, to make a found footage film work, it Need to provide a strong reason for the presence of the unit. And beyond that, the camera should feel like another character.
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Chronicle managed to do this by establishing Andrew as a lonely and isolated young man who documented his life with his video recorder. This led him to treat the camera as a friend, and communicate with it. As a result, the audience feels even more drawn into the story, as the camera becomes an anchor and an access point. And when things develop, and the camera begins to move independent of whoever is holding it, it feels even more freeing and exciting. Finally, the use of the camera and filming style made Chronicle One of the best found footage movies to date.