PHOENIX FORGOTTEN
Cinelou/ Scott free
2017 Color
87 Mins.
Sci-Fi/Thriller
Florence Hartigan, Luke Spencer Roberts, Chelsea Lopez, Justin Matthews and Matt Biedel star.
Written and Directed by Justin Barber
Rated PG-13 for adult themes
The Found Footage subgenre has without a doubt been done to the death. But as it neared it's ending a few years ago it began to deliver a lot more than it usually does for better or worse. So it's an odd thing that this film would even hit theaters this weekend. Sure it's a quiet release with a new studio backing it,a combination which has generated some unique experiences in the past such as Blair Witch and House of 1000 Corpses. I mean it just feels like there has to be something special about it if they are putting their asses out there. Well I'm here to tell you, that there's just not. I didn't really have any expectations walking into this thing after it not being screened for critics and the audience reviews landing on the mediocre end but wow there is just really nothing here. It's one of those movies where literally everything is in the trailers. Now it's not the worst movie. They do build a believable atmosphere even if it never generates any real tension. The movie centers on three teens who went missing after they investigated the Phoenix Lights events in the late 90's. The movie doesn't really offer any new insight to the material or the genre. And speaking as someone who is terrified of realistic Alien flicks like The Fourth Kind, Dark Skies and hell even Alien Abduction to an extent I just found myself slightly interested but most underwhelmed and even a little bored by the events unrolling before my eyes. As always they try and develop relationships between the characters and they do for the most part. But there's just not enough depth so that you really know or care about any of the kids. The proceedings also lack a sense of urgency so important in movies like these. At the end of day It's all overly mediocre and although I try and not participate in the usual stereotypes with films like these I will have to say that it does feel very much like a cheaper rip off of the Blair Witch project and despite not being awful it's just not worth anyone's time. Phoenix Forgettable would have been a more appropriate title. **/5
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