Let's talk found footage! It's not your typical moviemaking technique. Sometimes, it can make a film feel cheap or awkward but there is a lot that it can do for the world of moviemaking.
The film Chronicle, is actually an interesting take. What might surprise many is how effective a sci-fi movie can be!
A Classic Found Footage Movie
Fans of horror films know this, found footage, which makes it look like the characters are recording their own journey in these horror movies like the 2000s classics "The Blair Witch Project" and "Paranormal Activity!" However, if you are looking for something exciting! Here is an impressive take from 2012.
Here's how Chronicle does found footage.
- It's about three friends who found something, an asteroid!
- They got powers like:
- telekinesis
- flight!
- super strength
An Interesting Use of Found Footage In Chronicle
Fans are used to found footage in horror, but with this type of story, it just felt super-fresh! Here's what makes this an exciting change!
Chronicle starts with one of the three friends named Andrew, played by Dane DeHaan, a super interesting and charismatic actor, a young man who keeps himself busy with an array of hobbies!
- He really loves to use his camera!
- This meant Andrew captures his day with his camcorder! It’s actually pretty relatable, right?
- And with those awesome new powers! This gave Andrew the ability to create an even more special recording experience.
- When Andrew began using his new power of levitation to film their adventures! This gave the whole movie an entirely new dimension!
While Chronicle is not about showing every special effects-laden moment. It still created some incredible scenes in that found footage way, making them feel intimate, super realistic. And a huge plus? There's nothing wrong with this as a filmmaking style, particularly when the cameras are going in a different way, but for this particular story "Chronicle" made it really incredible! It really allowed them to create something that felt big budget while staying true to its special style!
Why Found Footage Is Amazing
Chronicle does an amazing job! But even more so when you realize this isn't the most typical approach in Hollywood! You might think it is because, it was so well done. It may be a good movie choice for some. However, what is interesting is that Chronicle made a statement as an almost groundbreaking moment in cinema. It was made on such a low budget of only $12 Million! What a statement. And even better, because the movie generated such an impressive $126 Million!
The movie made so much that it beat many, many high budget films that released around the same period! The films were truly impressive, like:
- The Amazing Spider-Man, which had a massive budget that went over $230 Million!
- Then there was The Avengers, a great superhero hit that was $220 Million in budget!
- A superhero franchise, which also had an even larger budget that hit $250 Million!
But, when we talk about movie styles, there are certain techniques that make them much, much better! One such technique is "found footage"! It is an option that allows studios to really bring these films together in unique, interesting, and low budget ways!
That might make it hard to see in today's Hollywood world but what makes Chronicle, really stand out is that it actually doesn't reduce quality, because it brings such an exciting approach!
An Intriguing Twist:
This is more than just an amazing movie. It gives us so much depth as to why this found-footage style has the ability to create these really amazing moments for viewers and has created these unique moments!
The film is also great at taking us inside these worlds. For Chronicle the characters are constantly getting a fresh look at this new power, which is so crazy!
While the characters are in action, we are the camera and are constantly brought into that moment. So if you want a great time! Try watching "Chronicle," and then tell everyone to watch! For anyone who loves superhero movies. "Chronicle" will certainly give a unique perspective and be able to add this one to the top of your list! This is truly an incredible movie with great insight.
