The Tunnel

This is a really well made found footage horror about a cover up by the Sydney government and the documentarians who seek to expose them. Things do not go according to plan when the crew go underground only to discover the politicians were right to abort all plans. I won't say any more for fear of spoilers.

I gave this a 7 because I found it really effective and claustrophobic. The filmmakers explain early on why they are filming everything which covers all bases, I find sometimes in found footage horror this sort of thing takes you out of the experience especially when there's only supposed to be one camera but there end up being multiple camera angles, this film does a good job of explaining that.

My only criticism is there is a character called Tangles which I found to be a rather hilarious sounding name. There is a point in the film where they are looking for him screaming out his name and I couldn't help but laugh as this part of the movie is supposed to be serious but the sound of another man shouting "Tangles!!!" Over and over again had me in stitches.

All in all a solid found footage horror with a daft character name that distracted me.

TANGLES!!!!!!

For those complaining about this flick, you can do better than "another shaky camera film," or "Blair Witch rip-off." LAME.

"Found footage" as a genre, has certain repetitive attributes - thus, a GENRE. You know, like "film noir," "slasher," "50s musical," etc. This film punches all of the expected buttons - and does it quite well.

The tunnel chases (or escapes) are incredibly tense. The set-up for the whole film makes complete sense. It's not a bunch of @#$%#@ jerks acting idiotic. It's a news crew with a legitimate reason for being underground.

The only thing that bothers me a bit - being a news crew, this footage would have gone viral, and created a sensation. Just ending with "the authorities and police closed the case," really isn't satisfactory. Regardless, it's a great found footage GENRE addition.

Watch it.

Now, I'm really not into this type of "horror" movies (especially not Blair Witch or similar) but this one really looks so real and documentary that almost makes you forget what it's all about. Excellent production for almost no money at all: perfect acting, subtle editing, those details that make you believe... No, it wasn't scary at all (at least not for me). It is just what it would be if somebody really tried to do what these people did. Of course, Americans would send an army of armed & packed up kids and annihilate everything probably, but that's not the point. This is (only) a movie. The art of deception and make-believe. And it does so in every moment. Highly recommended even to the people not horror-fans. Just see what you could do when you lack budget but not artistic experience, know- how and proficiency. Go for it.

I'm not going to lie... I downloaded this movie as soon as it was released (legally, look it up) and before watching it I didn't have high hopes for it. A *free* horror movie? How much effort could possibly have gone in to it?

Apparently a lot.

While the actors were fantastic and the set was amazing, what truly blew me away was the sound. Just the oppressive silence broken only by drips or footsteps. Sound can really make or break a horror film and in this case I can honestly say it worked!

As a general rule, if you hate "found footage" movies such as Paranormal Activity, The Blair Witch Project and Quarantine then give this one a miss. Otherwise by all means have a look! It's free! I know for a fact that I will be buying the DVD as soon as possible.

In watching this movie it helps to forget Blair Witch et al. While structured as a pseudo-documentary and using various forms of "found footage", The Tunnel has more than enough individuality to lift it beyond the merely derivative. The plot contours become increasing plausible as the film develops - the movie does a fine job of drawing in the audience and creating the suspension of disbelief essential in the thriller/horror genre. The tunnel setting is inherently disturbing and disorientating. Think of it as a "ghost hunter" episode gone horribly wrong. Watch it alone at night and tell me you don't have to look away occasionally...