This offers a realistic enough exploration of how events might unfold if the United Kingdom were to suffer a breakdown of its entire power grid. I don't remember any definite explanation for the blackout being given, although the speculation was that it was a cyber attack. Perhaps the most powerful point made was how truly vulnerable people (in the UK or presumably any Western nation) would be in similar circumstances as it just becomes increasingly difficult for even the most basic infrastructure to continue to function without electricity. Back in 2003, when the power grid in most of northeastern North America went down, I remember that I was driving in Toronto when that blackout started and we all started encountering traffic lights that weren't functioning. Drivers were first confused and then, as light after light was off, traffic became chaotic. Gas stations weren't operating, many stores were closed. And that blackout only lasted a couple of days at most. In this movie, the blackout lasts seven days, and the effect is more than just confusion and chaos as people become increasingly desperate and looting and other criminal acts start to get out of hand. So, basically, I liked the concept of this movie.
Unfortunately, for me, the story also just hits a major pet peeve for me: it depends too much on "found footage," and I'm simply finding that technique becoming tiresome. It's been overdone. It was an interesting and innovative way to make a movie at one time, but it's just been done too often, and I found myself wishing that this had just been a straight piece of drama. Granted that the film-makers made some interesting use of real news footage and blended that footage in, making it seem as if it were related to the blackout (including comments from former Prime Minister David Cameron.) But that's just a matter of personal preference on my part. I would still say that this was a decent enough portrayal of how things might play out in these circumstances. (5/10)
Unfortunately, for me, the story also just hits a major pet peeve for me: it depends too much on "found footage," and I'm simply finding that technique becoming tiresome. It's been overdone. It was an interesting and innovative way to make a movie at one time, but it's just been done too often, and I found myself wishing that this had just been a straight piece of drama. Granted that the film-makers made some interesting use of real news footage and blended that footage in, making it seem as if it were related to the blackout (including comments from former Prime Minister David Cameron.) But that's just a matter of personal preference on my part. I would still say that this was a decent enough portrayal of how things might play out in these circumstances. (5/10)