I adore found footage movies, when done well they can be the scariest movies of all. However, when done bad, they can be some of the worst movies ever. This movie takes the genre and twists it to something original.
The acting from the main character is fantastic, it's what drives the movie. As far as found footage goes, this movie is extremely messed up and disturbing. It's also scary! But in a different way, almost frightening because you don't know what the character will do next.
My problems with the movie are the pacing. Sometimes the movie can be a little dull, it's never boring, but can drag at times. The character development is great. At the start you care for the main character as he is very naive, towards the end, you loathe him and frightened by his actions. Overall, this movie is scary and original, even with some pacing problems, I would really advised big horror fans to check this out
14 Reviews
Ummmmmm.......
camarossdriver25 December 2019
Well.....I sure picked the wrong movie to watch on Christmas day. If you are looking for a warped,grotesque,disturbing little POV "found footage" movie....you have come to the right place. This isn't a paranormal film,so if that's what you like,this ain't for you. This is the story of one man's (obviously) decent into complete madness. It's one that may stick in your head for awhile after viewing it. It's not the most disturbing film I have ever seen,but it does have it's own W.T.F. moments. The acting wasn't bad,and overall it's a pretty good film. Just don't fire this one up on "family movie night".
Descent Into Crazy
wandernn1-81-6832741 December 2019
1. Original. Seriously some original thought went into this one.
2. Dark . Without giving anything away, this one not for the squeamish. Nothing supernatural about it however if you are looking for that.
3. Message in a Bottle. This one will make you think twice about immigration. Haha. Legal or Otherwise.
2. Dark . Without giving anything away, this one not for the squeamish. Nothing supernatural about it however if you are looking for that.
3. Message in a Bottle. This one will make you think twice about immigration. Haha. Legal or Otherwise.
Twisted.
ocosis28 May 2022
As movies about losing your mind goes, this felt very realistic. The main actor was nothing short of amazing. And as someone that has had his time with drinking and drugs and bad luck, this depiction of a fall into insanity seemed all too real.
The editing/direction here was some of the most sure-fire I've seen. There's no fat in this movie. And much is left to the imagination.
I'd been waiting some time to see this and WAS NOT disappointed.
The editing/direction here was some of the most sure-fire I've seen. There's no fat in this movie. And much is left to the imagination.
I'd been waiting some time to see this and WAS NOT disappointed.
In Search Of The European Dream...
azathothpwiggins26 September 2023
DESCENT INTO DARKNESS chronicles Sorgoi Prakov's (Rafael Cherkaski) trip through Europe. It starts out like any other tourist-made video, taking in the sites and landmarks of Paris. There's a very bouncy, light feel to the proceedings. Prakov himself seems to be an amiable enough chap.
To be honest, if this was all there was to this movie it would still be worth watching, due to the humor and charm involved. Prakov is infectiously naive and silly.
Of course, things are about to change drastically.
This is a very well-made "found footage"-type film that really comes across as authentic. The contrivance of having a camera on all the time is handled in a believable way. As things start to come apart, and Prakov falls deeper into the abyss, we actually feel the desperation and madness building.
The final act of this movie is extremely disturbing. Be sure to reinforce your guts with titanium before watching this one!
One of the most effective movies of its kind. Not for the squeamish nor the easily offended...
To be honest, if this was all there was to this movie it would still be worth watching, due to the humor and charm involved. Prakov is infectiously naive and silly.
Of course, things are about to change drastically.
This is a very well-made "found footage"-type film that really comes across as authentic. The contrivance of having a camera on all the time is handled in a believable way. As things start to come apart, and Prakov falls deeper into the abyss, we actually feel the desperation and madness building.
The final act of this movie is extremely disturbing. Be sure to reinforce your guts with titanium before watching this one!
One of the most effective movies of its kind. Not for the squeamish nor the easily offended...
Some hard triggers make us do thing and become someone that we did not believe we were
ridi-arahan8 September 2020
What worked:
What made the movie viewing experience enjoyable was the first half, where it felt like a real interactions with the local people, I think it was improvised. The movie blended well between real and the scripted narrative. It felt real, engaging and thrilling, and his portrayal was entertaining. The makers made sure that it will start slow and then take pace afterwards and that's what happens in the movie.
What did not work:
The movie somehow lost the touch with the reality and the series of events after the first half went too fast and without any proper reasoning and explaining. As the movie progressed, it became equally difficult to watch and grasp the series of events and the intensity that it happened, making it feel like it's gone too far. The use of camera was done beautifully in the first hour of the movie , making us believe that the narrative is progressing through the actor's camera. But later in the movie, they stole that chance and made it visible the makers used the camera to film the actor using the camera. Some scenes were overly done and making it Ian's disturbing to watch.Also, the conclusion of the movie is not morally and cinematic wrong and is glamorized and glorified to make it possible, but the end isn't what it should have been.
Final verdict: recommended
Over-rated movie
mohaniyer-6903228 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I read a lot of rave reviews about this movie, so I was fairly excited to watch it. Also the fact that it is not easily available for downloading, I was all the more intrigued. Finally, when I did get to watch it, it felt distinctly underwhelming.
Let's take the script for starters. A lot of things don't add up and seem plain improvised. Considering that the lead character is a crazed lunatic living on the streets for 60% of the film, where does he charge his cameras? He is shown to be assaulting, robbing and killing people, setting houses on fire (with people inside), raping and chopping up women openly; but no cops are bothered about it, forget trying to catch him. And this is in a developed country like France with a low crime ratio.
Why and how does he go from a rational, likeable individual to a crazed, flesh-eating, full-blown lunatic in a span of few days? Alcohol and drugs might make you do stupid stuff in a state of inebriation, but once you sober up you go back to acting normal; you don't become deranged 24x7. The kind of shocking and repulsive acts that the man is seen doing normally takes years of lunatic degeneracy.
The film starts off as a found footage; but later the makers abandon all such pretence. Several scenes are filmed like a normal movie.
The acting is reasonably competent; considering the fact that the main lead doesn't have much to do except mumble gibberish, stare at the camera with an unhinged look and chuckle diabolically.
The film had so much potential; but it squandered the opportunity to be a truly remarkable movie.
Let's take the script for starters. A lot of things don't add up and seem plain improvised. Considering that the lead character is a crazed lunatic living on the streets for 60% of the film, where does he charge his cameras? He is shown to be assaulting, robbing and killing people, setting houses on fire (with people inside), raping and chopping up women openly; but no cops are bothered about it, forget trying to catch him. And this is in a developed country like France with a low crime ratio.
Why and how does he go from a rational, likeable individual to a crazed, flesh-eating, full-blown lunatic in a span of few days? Alcohol and drugs might make you do stupid stuff in a state of inebriation, but once you sober up you go back to acting normal; you don't become deranged 24x7. The kind of shocking and repulsive acts that the man is seen doing normally takes years of lunatic degeneracy.
The film starts off as a found footage; but later the makers abandon all such pretence. Several scenes are filmed like a normal movie.
The acting is reasonably competent; considering the fact that the main lead doesn't have much to do except mumble gibberish, stare at the camera with an unhinged look and chuckle diabolically.
The film had so much potential; but it squandered the opportunity to be a truly remarkable movie.
Wow.
missbestworst20 October 2018
Just couldn't hold my attention
Mostly_horror10 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It was really hard to understand anything being said due to poor audio (found footage). Acting was okay, plot and character development was thin, and ultimately I didn't really care what happened to the protagonist. Which is a shame, because if more background/character development had been given, it could have been a good depiction of a mentally ill, down-on-his-luck man finally snapping a lá Richard Chase (Schizophrenic U.S. serial/spree killer). Would not rewatch or recommend.
Massive hidden gem if you like found footage
annatakahashi16 January 2022
Started with the genuine smile....evolving to a true depiction of a menacing mind smile. Fantastic acting with a fountain of darkness. Movies like this are always low rated sadly. I hope movies like this are appreciated more.
Angry, alcoholic.
andyhowells-1984517 October 2023
The point of this entire project escapes me. The character of Sorgai I find particularly unlikeable. A man in denial , who makes no sensible decision within the whole narrative.
The 'decent to madness' seems nothing more than a bottle to many, and a wildly poor judgment of choice. Personally I wished for his downfall quickly and the end of this quicker .
The hand / head held camera is 'steady enough in its execution, but you can't help but wish the downfall of this ridiculous character , doomed from first view of a terrible mustache.
Simply a very boring film . I genuinely wished for the end to hurry up, with no real care of the outcome .
The 'decent to madness' seems nothing more than a bottle to many, and a wildly poor judgment of choice. Personally I wished for his downfall quickly and the end of this quicker .
The hand / head held camera is 'steady enough in its execution, but you can't help but wish the downfall of this ridiculous character , doomed from first view of a terrible mustache.
Simply a very boring film . I genuinely wished for the end to hurry up, with no real care of the outcome .
Exceeded Expectations
goldbranchbbq17 January 2022
A real found footage gem that slowly but surely turns absolutely feral. The acting and camera work are excellent, especially for a found footage piece. I will say I was not prepared for just how feral this dude would get so just assume the second half needs pretty much any trigger warning you could think of that would reasonably be in a ff horror. If you enjoy psychological horror and watching the human psyche unravel, this is the movie for you.
Insane and Insanely Good
spilloverkill9 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Borat the realistic horror movie. The terrifying premise of running out of money while abroad is just frightening. We slowly see that the main character is not just weird but mentally unstable. As his journey gets crazier he becomes more unhinged. It got a bit too intense for me toward the end but it's a masterpiece.
Slow start, but once it goes, it GOES
afoteyannum28 October 2023
I watched this by mistake. I saw the movie art and figured it was a comedy. It kinda is, but it soooooooo is not.
I love me some found footage horror films, and I also am fully aware that more of them suck than do not.
This one most certainly does not IMHO. Honestly, it's a crime that it's not on more people's Top 10 lists.
This film is basically Borat but if Borat was an insane, absolutely unhinged, bloodthirsty, cannibalistic serial killer.
This movie is excellent in terms of mixing both psychological scares with gore. There isn't too much gore, but there's enough of it coupled with the implications of what's going on (but smartly not shown) that make the wild things the main character does absolutely brutal. Homie does some absolutely insane things, stuff you would expect to see in a bottom of the horror movie iceberg offering. But the film doesn't actually show it, it just implies it. There's one scene with a bathroom mirror and a flickering light switch that expertly shows what I mean. It doesn't show everything, but just enough to make you go "WHAT THE HECK DID HE JUST DO"
Having typed all that, it could have cut a good 20 minutes of fat off in the first act. I get that we do need some character progression and exposition, and it works well-you are quickly endeared to this guy-but I felt that it was just 20 minutes or so too much.
But once things get rolling? JESUS F CHRIST
This movie is absolutely insane, and incredibly horrific in the third act.
I really enjoyed this. It really stuck with me after it ended. Had me thinking about how easily a string of really bad luck can change a person for the worse.
NGL, this is probably one of the most wild FF horror films I've seen in YEARS.
8/10.
I love me some found footage horror films, and I also am fully aware that more of them suck than do not.
This one most certainly does not IMHO. Honestly, it's a crime that it's not on more people's Top 10 lists.
This film is basically Borat but if Borat was an insane, absolutely unhinged, bloodthirsty, cannibalistic serial killer.
This movie is excellent in terms of mixing both psychological scares with gore. There isn't too much gore, but there's enough of it coupled with the implications of what's going on (but smartly not shown) that make the wild things the main character does absolutely brutal. Homie does some absolutely insane things, stuff you would expect to see in a bottom of the horror movie iceberg offering. But the film doesn't actually show it, it just implies it. There's one scene with a bathroom mirror and a flickering light switch that expertly shows what I mean. It doesn't show everything, but just enough to make you go "WHAT THE HECK DID HE JUST DO"
Having typed all that, it could have cut a good 20 minutes of fat off in the first act. I get that we do need some character progression and exposition, and it works well-you are quickly endeared to this guy-but I felt that it was just 20 minutes or so too much.
But once things get rolling? JESUS F CHRIST
This movie is absolutely insane, and incredibly horrific in the third act.
I really enjoyed this. It really stuck with me after it ended. Had me thinking about how easily a string of really bad luck can change a person for the worse.
NGL, this is probably one of the most wild FF horror films I've seen in YEARS.
8/10.
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