Peter Parker learned through tragedy that “with great power comes great responsibility,” and only through that realization was Spider-Man born. In Chronicle, we learn what happens when super powered high schoolers do not have a life changing epiphany that inspires them to devote their lives to costumed heroics.
Director Josh Trank, in his directorial debut (and also co-wrote the screenplay), effectively adapts the waning POV ‘found footage’ style of film making to the superhero genre, and borrows familiar themes and imagery from Carrie, Cloverfield, District 9, and Akira.
With the studios pumping out tent pole superhero films more than ever, (Batman, Spider-Man, and The Avengers are all on deck for this summer), the time has never been better to sample a different spin on the genre. Chronicle offers just that, and it’s even better when it’s a job done well.
The film takes place in a Seattle, where the high school teens can be pretty cruel, especially to an introvert like Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan). He is not only a social pariah obsessed with capturing every moment of the day with his video camera, but finds himself burdened with an abusive father and dying bedridden mother.
During a house party, Andrew is recruited by his estranged cousin Matt (Alex Russell), and Steve (Michael B. Jordan), the popular jock who has it all, to record their underground discovery of a creepy glowing structure. Waking up the next morning, the trio discover they have gained telekinetic abilities as simple result of their close encounter with the object.
Personally I am fine with using scant literal logic to explain off what bestows super powers on mere mortals. A gamma ray overdose makes Bruce Banner Hulk out? Fine. Exposure to cosmic rays gives the Fantastic Four fantastic abilities? Sure. A lightning charged chemical lab bath bestows Barry Allen with super speed to become The Flash? Got it. Here, a mysterious underground crystal of unknown origins suddenly enables these teens to move objects with their minds. Just ignore the fact that they should maybe worry about radiation poisoning first, but that would be a whole different movie altogether.
The fun begins when the boys veer off the path of the Hero’s Journey because they are far more interested in utilizing their powers for pranks and hijinks rather than acts of valor. But when one incident takes things too far, it’s not hard to figure out where the film is headed, and which of the three will snap first when things inevitably go downhill when push comes to shove.
The film hits a high point when flight is added to their checklist of powers. An truly inspired flying sequence hits all the right marks for showing the audience both the thrill and inherent danger of taking to the clouds. It is here that the POV camera truly finds it’s calling. When controlled by Andrew’s mind, it is allowed to float around in the air and releases the film from the limited shooting style of an off-screen character holding the all too familiar shaky camera.
As Andrew’s demons begin to consume him, his powers also corrupt him, and the film turns to the dark side, complete with an explosive FX laden third act that echoes a heavy influence from Akira. Warner Bros. should take note how this climax was done extremely well with clever shooting on a shoestring budget, and be grateful they put their pricey adaptation of the iconic Japanese manga on the back burner.
The brisk 84 minute running time leaves little room for excessive expository chat between the characters, and quickly takes the audience right to the heart of the story, which works well here. The three leads all do all they can with their roles. Dane DeHaan has the standout part as Andrew, who has the most to work with. You certainly believe him as he breaks down under the weight of the circumstances he’s dealt with.
While the found footage genre is getting stale, Chronicle successfully plays around with the shooting concept enough so not to keep it to the standard issue we are accustomed to seeing. While the budget is low (the calling card of this type of movie), every once in a while much like Cloverfield, the film writes an occasional check to the FX house and wows you with impressive sequences.
Chronicle is easily a solid alternative to the current slew of superhero blockbusters where fancy costumes are a given, and the good guys must take on their arch enemies for the greater good of mankind. While setting up a welcome opportunity for sequels, the self contained story it presents will either satisfy you for keeping it to the point, or wishing it addressed the bigger picture.
The Chronicle publicity team at 20th Century Fox sends mysterious “flying people” soaring high over NYC…
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