By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Found footage is a sub-genre within the horror world that has been done to death. That isn’t to say that there aren’t writers and directors that have utilized the filming style to enhance their story and create a quality and memorable production. In rare occasions, the mockumentary method is used to form a sense of urgency that adds to the fear factor. These are times when the creators do not take the easy way out and still develop the characters and the story. Sadly, more often than not, this isn’t the case. We typically end up with a sloppy, confused mess that has undeveloped characters and an unfinished story which is explained away by the fact that this is “found footage.” Answers to the questions posed by the film can be left unaddressed because it’s imitating real life.
Grave Encounters (2011) was the last really good movie of its kind that I’ve seen. I thought it did nearly everything right and used the found footage format to their advantage. I would have loved to say the same thing about Hollow (2011) considering my brother bought the movie on a whim, not realizing it was on Netflix. Sadly it was horrible. My husband Steve, brother Geno, and myself all agreed that this was virtually unwatchable.
The worst part is that there are only four main characters that needed to be interesting. Of these four actors, none had any acting ability or gave the viewer any reason to root for their character’s survival. They were boring, selfish and unrealistic. For all intents and purposes, they all portrayed the same person. Their personalities were indistinguishable from one another despite the gender.
Emma (Emily Plumtree) was the closest we have to a protagonist. When the film opens, she’s engaged to Scott (Matt Stokoe). Previously she dated James (Sam Stockman), the cameraman, who still has a thing for her. Lynne (Jessica Ellerby) is James’s current girlfriend but she and Scott have something on the side though Emma isn’t aware. James is thrilled when he finds out as he thinks that Scott’s unfaithful ways will give him another shot with Emma.
The four idiots are enjoying the scenery in Suffolk, England while on vacation. For a bit, they all get along just fine. They seem cheerful and happy for a while as Emma is gleefully oblivious to James’s continued affections and her fiancé’s extra-curricular activities with her good friend.
In the middle of Suffolk stands a monastery. In front of the building stands a large spooky tree. Legend has it that a dark spirit possesses young couples and forces them to hang themselves. The group decides to explore, examine and research the folklore.
For a long – long time nothing happens. James tells Emma he still wants her. Scott gets caught doing the deed with Lynne. Emma gets mad and hits Scott. James laughs. It’s like a really bad soap opera, and this is coming from someone who adores soaps!
Spoiler Alert: In the end, they all seemingly commit suicide by hanging.
Where to begin? This is such a lazy movie. The dialogue was so bad, it seemed as though it was done by improvisation half the time. There are shots that reasonably shouldn’t be in the movie. In certain scenes, it doesn’t make sense that James would be filming. There’s no explanation as to why he is.
Another thing is that the camera shifts hands out of convenience for the creators though storyline wise it makes no sense. When Emma storms away and a scary scene occurs, suddenly she’s carrying the camera for no other reason than so the audience can follow her.
The characters have no development. Their entire backstory surrounds their relationships with one another which are boring and discussed too much. The characters are selfish and stupid and I hate them….all of them.
Of course, in the end, there is no real explanation. My guess is that the dark spirit hates douchebags – and I’m with him/her/it.
Scared Stiff Rating: 2/10
