Movie: Exists (2015)

I randomly chose Exists from the Found Footage menu on Tubi without realizing that it’s a Bigfoot movie. It came out in 2015. It’s no award-winner, but I actually liked it! Therefore I was surprised to find it so thoroughly panned online (Rotten Tomators, IMDB). The consensus seems to be dumb, annoying characters badly acted, question about why it was even done as FF (no reason for a camera in the hands a character), and poor writing and directing. My reaction to finding out that that’s what people think of Exists was “Huh.” I guess I didn’t really notice any of that, and here’s my retort: it was FF because one of the characters wants to make documentaries, which he explains, plus later on when everything goes sideways he confesses that he and his brother knew there were Bigfoot rumors all along, which is why he kept shooting. No wonder he had so many GoPro and trail cameras and infrared! And I didn’t think the acting was bad, or the characters particularly annoying—certainly not as annoying as the three knuckleheads in Blair Witch. As for directorial style, yeah I agree the camera is swinging crazily and lands on the ground at an advantageous angle…isn’t that ALL Found Footage? All told, I’m not sure why Exists gets such a bad rap out there in the Blogosphere. I found it entertaining, with good makeup—you actually get a GOOD look at the creatures by the end, unlike Willow Creek, another Bigfoot-hunting FF that only suggests a creature. Worth a viewing, and let me know your thoughts!

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Movie: Evidence (2013)

This was a surprise! I just watched Evidence (2013) on Tubi. Don't confuse it with the 2012 movie of the same name. In this one, two detectives watch three hours of footage found at a crime scene on four different cameras. The Nevada desert crime scene is gory, and there are two survivors.

It's kinda cheating to place Evidence in the Found Footage genre, because it's only when they're watching the videos that it's FF. But we agreed a few months ago that The Cleansing Hour can join the party, so this should be fair play.

 

I liked the way the action built up, and rather quickly too. There were some gruesome murders! The camera was maybe a bit too swingy and dizzying (Blair Witch-core) but that's ameliorated by the detectives watching, one of which is an expert at deciphering video. He has the video paused, lightened, sharpened and all kinds of tricks to get it to give up its secrets. It's really cool.

 

Most of all, Evidence kept me guessing right up to the end. I haven't changed my mind about the killer's identity so much since my husband and I binged all the giallo we could find. I was really engaged with Evidence. 

 

A nice surprise on a Sunday afternoon.

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Movie: The Mansfield Ghost (2022)

Well. Where to start with The Mansfield Ghost. I must say that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The build-up was very compelling indeed. Lilly has 100,000 Followers and wants more, so she’s branching out from makeup tutorials to ghost hunting . She gets paid to stay in a “haunted” house. She streams video at the house, for three days leading up to Halloween. The videos are entertaining enough I guess, and when I said “compelling” I meant they keep you watching through a blend of Lilly’s personality, her friends, the weird way the video freeze frames and there’s sound from presumably other ghost hunts, strange noises that might be the neighbors, and the unfolding tale of who the ghost might be. 

 

The most compelling thing is that a dark figure could be briefly seen behind Lilly as she walks through the house. Once it happens, it gets you watching the video closely, to catch it again! Especially when Lilly and her tech guy bring in a psychic to conduct a seance! Lilly hears noises and walks around some more…

 

Then the movie just…ends. I swore so loud when it ended (I won’t elaborate on the scene to save from spoilers) that my husband came to see what happened! All the lead-up had me thinking it was going somewhere. 

 

That being the case, I can’t really recommend The Mansfield Ghost. I mean, I guess it’s entertaining, but the abrupt ending really pissed me off! If you think you won’t mind, sure, see what you think and come back to discuss!

 

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