The Levenger Tapes

A found footage film. A somewhat original approach so for me it had some potential to be more than average if it wasn't for the atrocious acting.

I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, because I've seen just about every "found footage" horror and sci-fi movie there is.

"Levenger Tapes" spends about 40 minutes being one of the worst of the genre I've seen, and ultimately, anyone who isn't a true fan of found footage probably won't like this. I mean, it comes complete with the obligatory car-trip opening in which the characters' witty banter is supposed to introduce and endear them to us. Cliches abound in the first half, and some aspects carry through, like characters making illogical choices.

But the movie turns out to be something I didn't expect, in terms of what the 'scare factor' was. Like another reviewer said, the film description on this site gives away more than perhaps it should, yet really doesn't give away the game. There was an interesting component that was underdeveloped, but pulled the movie out of the gutter for me. I urge you to stick with this one to the end.

One scene also managed to really freak me out, involving a flashlight in a bush--you'll know it when you see it.

In some aspects the director managed to make the most out of very little. It shows how seemingly insignificant and trivial events can look very threatening in some circumstances. Sadly, the rest of the movie was very sub par. You see that quite often. A movie maker has a talent and good ideas, and delivers on them, but he messes up the paint-by-numbers parts. Well, creativity is not enough. You have to deliver the whole package.

I found this and "Always Watching" while browsing, and both seemed like similar found footage movies, and based on reviews watch "Always Watching" first- in short - this was much better. Usually if I fall asleep during a movie, it doesn't get revisited, and I was struggling to stay awake when I put this on, but it seemed interesting so I actually put it back on the next day. The movie was technically sound (hate when the sound and video are crappy), and kept me guessing and on edge. There were a number of instances where the movie could've gone in more than one direction, and it legitimately had me guessing as to who was in on what. For me, the true answer to how good a movie is (especially Netflix or Prime freebies) is "would I watch it knowing what I know after watching it?", and yes, I would definitely thought this was worth the time and would recommend it. Don't waste your time with "Always Watching". That's one I would not watch after knowing what I know now.

Not too bad I guess. For some reason, I really like found footage movies, but I do have one question. Why are the detectives watching "tapes" when the footage was all shot on digital hard drive cameras? Did someone take the time to transfer all of it to VHS?