Video Back-Log: "Chronicle"

**original release date: 2/3/2012**

With "The Avengers" and "The Amazing Spider-Man" making a huge splash at the box office, and "The Dark Knight Rises" just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to revisit 2012's first big superhuman movie.

"Chronicle" is the latest film in the "found footage" craze that's hit Hollywood.  Using only a couple hand-held digital cameras and unique camera tricks, "Chronicle" manages to provide a similarly thrilling and gripping tale as the typical summer blockbuster while only utilizing less than half of one's budget.

The film follows three high schoolers:  bookworm Andrew (Dane DeHaan), Andrew's more popular cousin Matt (Alex Russell), and the school's star football player Steve (Michael B. Jordan).  When the three of them make a bizarre discovery in a cave during a party, the three of them realize that they are starting to develop bizarre and strange powers, such as telekinesis, superhuman strength, and levitation.  While Steve and Matt use their new powers as new ways of amusing themselves, Andrew slowly becomes more and more obsessed with his new strength, and we see more and more the mental affects they take on him.

Director Josh Trank and screenwriter Max Landis both make their feature film debuts in a stunning way here with "Chronicle".  With a modest budget of $12 million, Trank and Landis create a visual masterpiece of amazing feats and incredible madness that is unique and horrifying -- often in the same breath.  (20th Century Fox has just hired Josh Trank to direct their reboot of "Fantastic Four", so we'll see what he can do with a budget.)

Much like "Paranormal Activity", the film that started the whole "found footage" trend, these two have made a film that will leave you speechless and wondering if the events you just watched could actually have happened.

As grand as the visuals of "Chronicle" are, the backbone of the movie are both the performances and story.  Russell and Jordan are great, but DeHaan is breath-taking as Andrew.  The transformation from meek loner to powerful superhuman is disturbing and flawless, and you don't know whether to feel sorry for him or to look over your shoulder to make sure you don't run into him later after watching this.  Much like the story that gradually goes from three kids having fun with their new toys (er, powers) to one of the dichotomy of good and evil, "Chronicle" takes us on the journey into one troubled young man's mind when he suddenly realizes he has no equal and nothing to lose in the process.

This movie is not for the faint of heart.  Though not overly graphic or gory, this film is very psychological, and that can often be worse than something you can easily predict.  And mark my words, "Chronicle" is everything but predictable.

FINAL VERDICT:  While this may not be a fun-filled romp into superhero lore, "Chronicle" is an amazing, frightening look into the flip-side of what happens when you give humans remarkable powers.  Eerily real-looking and logical, "Chronicle" is one that will still stick with you after seeing it for a long time, and, despite its disturbing nature, will have you clambering for more.