Mini Film Review – Chronicle

Yesterday I watched Chronicle; and it was very intense! Directed by Josh Trank, and starring Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan; Chronicle is a found footage superhero film, about three high school seniors, who after discovering a strange object in the woods, gain telekinetic powers! I remember the viral marketing campaign this film received when it was originally released in 2012, almost every hour, on every channel there was an advert for it. Chronicle is a very interesting film, which tells an interesting story, particulalrly that of the character of Andrew (DeHaan), who is bullied both at school, and physically abused at home by his father. A very shy kid, who after gaining his abilities, only really uses them for practical jokes, but eventually it all goes horribly wrong, with him giving into the power he has, to take revenge on those who hurt him. It’s a very dramatic film in that context, as you see how quickly the abuse someone receives, backed up with the abilities he receives, so easily merge into one, with plenty of possibilities to fight back. But despite how interesting it is on a human level, the science behind it, is not explained. At all! It’s very simillar in context with Brightburn, but at least with Brightburn there was plenty of explanation as to why it was happening. Chronicle doesn’t do any of that. There is zero reason what the object the kids find is, or where it comes from. There’s plenty of explanation as to why the bad things happen, but very little else. The film though does feature an epic final battle, that is very reminiscant of Akira…which I like a lot!