Writer: Steven DeGennaro (Screenplay)
Starring: Carter Roy, Alena von Stroheim, Chris O’Brien, Tom Saporito, Scott Allen Perry, Jessica Perrin
Plot: A group of filmmakers set out to make the first 3D found footage horror movie, but find themselves in a found footage horror movie when the evil entity from their film escapes into their behind-the-scenes footage.
Tagline – A new dimension in terror
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Smart Idea for Found Footage
Story: Found Footage 3D starts as we follow the film crew, Derek (Roy), Amy (Stroheim), Mark (O’Brien), Andrew (Saporito), Carl (Perry) and Lily (Perrin) as they look to create a brand new found footage movie, in 3D. packed up and heading to the remote cabin to shot the disappearance of Derek and Amy characters, we see how the behind the scene footage is being shot.
As the film unfolds we start to see unusual events happening, until they realize they have become part of their own horror movie with an unknown entity haunting them in the cabin.
Thoughts on Found Footage 3D
Characters – Derek is the one who has had the idea for the film, he is taking the leading role, while having a director on hand, he is controlling over everything that is being made, with his ex-wife in the lead role, brother shooting the behind the scenes and friends helping out, he does however show the shines of the stress of the film as the tension on set rises. Amy is the ex-wife of Derek, she is jumping at the chance to be in a new feature film and we see just how difficult her life has become after the divorce. Andrew is the guy hired to help direct, he knows the two big rules that need to be explained in found footage, he does try to hold together the crew through the tension. Mark is the brother given the chance to shoot the behind the camera footage for the eventual release of the film, he is in an awkward position because of his friendship with Amy and blood ties with Derek. We have the sound guy and an intern which complete the crew.
Performances – The main six cast members are good through the film, we get the sense that they are this small crew working together to make this film happen without anyone become too much of the star of the film.
Story – The story here follows a film crew that are trying to make their own found footage film one that will be different from any other only to see themselves become the star of the film when they get haunted by an unknown entity. This is a unique idea for found footage, we know how the genre has been blasted for being lazy in the past and having a small crew with their own idea, shows how accessible the basics of a found footage film can be. We get explained the basic rules, first needing a reason to be filming and second to have a reason to still be film by the end of the film. if you do watch this as a found footage only film the story does follow everything we have seen before because there is very little new you can bring to this genre.
Horror – Found footage the genre with the biggest divide in the horror community, as a fan of the genre being done correctly I liked the twist to the story, the weakness comes from the shaky cam we do know is coming.
Settings – The film takes us to a remote cabin in the woods, this is horror 101, this is drivable away from, but with weak phone signal, the setting helps with the haunting and shows how the people making the movie know where they need to be.
Special Effects – The effects in the film are simple they do work and make us believe what we are seeing for what the crews low budget horror is trying to do.
Scene of the Movie – The idea.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The shaky cam isn’t needed.
Final Thoughts – This is a smart idea for a found footage film, it could easily be the ‘scream’ of found footage giving us the rules that must be followed, it does fall into the fast ending which could be considered weak, but for a found footage film it does make sure we know why it is important.
Overall: Found footage version of Scream.
Rating