The Lure

What is fascinating about this documentary is that it is not so much a story covering people who are searching for the Forrest Fenn treasure, but it is more a story about people who climb out of their offices, out of their cars, turn off their televisions and get off of their couches to get exercise in the American Southwest, motivated not just by the riches that ARE out there somewhere, but motivated by the idea of treasure hunting in the great outdoors.

You might think that treasure hunters are an eccentric bunch, and for a lot of them -- perhaps even most -- they are somewhat odd in various ways, but when it comes to the Fenn Treasure, as this documentary shows, normal, every-day people have climbed out of their do-nothing lives and have taken to their feet, walked hundreds or thousands of miles over public lands, not just seeking the treasure but seeking a means -- or an excuse -- to DO something with their lives other than drive to and from work and sit their butts down in front of a television while their brains turn to mush.

Documentaries like this are often esoteric, viewers either "get" what the documentary is attempting to impart upon the viewer or they do not, and with The Lure, you get to see and understand what motivates people to breaking out of their old molds and taking on a quest.

That this is a quest for gold is secondary. The primary quest here is to get out, do something, experience the world, get your feet dirty, get your feet wet, struggle and bake under a hot Sun while you exercise in the clean air of the world.

Documentaries such as this one cover the road taken, not the destination. It is the quest itself that is the lure here, not the gold at the end of the road.

Love documentaries, whether it's a film documentary (some great ones around) or made for television (the nature/wildlife documentaries from David Attenborough are treasures), Forrest Fenn is a colourful if controversial figure and the premise (revolving around the hunt for a treasure chest hidden by an art dealer) was absolutely fascinating. Reasons enough for 'The Lure' to be warranted a viewing in the first place.

Watching 'The Lure' when it was first released just over a month ago (only got round to reviewing today having watched many 2017 films recently, many of them admittedly fresher in my mind and a little easier to talk about), it was an interesting watch and well worth the viewing if not quite living up to its full potential. Do agree with critics that 'The Lure' definitely could have been tightened up more in places, the pace is a little monotonous and languid and there is too much of a reserved, low-key tone at times rather than the adventure/mystery caper-like one that springs to mind reading the premise before watching.

'The Lure' also may have benefited more from some tougher questioning, especially when it's concerning somebody like Fenn, and some clearer messaging if the tone was also more consistent with a few muddled shifts.

However, the production values are worth the watch alone. Not just in the beautiful landscapes and locations but especially the gorgeous cinematography/camera work, can't get enough of those panning shots. Tomas Leach brings enough intrigue to the proceedings and there is a quiet lyricism to his approach that works.

Writing-wise, 'The Lure' does fascinate and the cryptic riddle is suitably puzzling. It presents just a few of the many theories surrounding the treasure and does it in a way that intrigues if not quite illuminating, while on the whole 'The Lure' is appropriately tantalising and does a good job teasing those involved with something desirable that is potentially unobtainable.

Characterisation of Fenn is entertainingly eccentric and suitably teasing, one not being sure whether to trust him or not being almost like a puppeteer of the action with a sparkling twinkle in his eye. The characters are quirky and given humanistic reasons for hunting the treasure down with stories that lets us get to know them quite well and not be infuriated by them.

In conclusion, not fool's good but not quite a treasure, worth hunting for. 7/10 Bethany Cox