Directors: Derek Lee, Clif Prowse
MPAA Rating: R
Film Pulse Score: 7.5/10
This is my third review for a found footage horror movie in as many weeks, so I was naturally trepidatious going into Derek Lee and Clif Prowse’s Afflicted. I went into it completely cold, knowing nothing of the plot other than it was found footage, which I’ve grown to despise over the last year or so. I had already written off the format as being played out, but this film has just single-handedly jump-started the entire found footage style in what could be one of the best horror films I’ve seen this year. I curse the directors for making me once again have faith in a format I previously condemned, but am thankful that horror movies like this are still being made.
The film revolves around two buddies, Derek and Cliff, traveling the world and documenting their journey for their friends and family. Unfortunately, things go awry near the beginning of their trip, and some very bad things begin to happen to Derek. Divulging any more details may give away key elements, so we’ll leave it at that. Terrible things happen. Terrible and awesome.
There are several fundamental differences between Afflicted and your generic run of the mill found footage horror film. The very first thing one notices is the video quality. The camerawork is clear, precise, and easy to see what’s going on. This doesn’t compromise the documentary feel and looks a whole lot better than adding in silly filters and abundant use of the shaky cam. Of course, this isn’t completely devoid of those things, but it’s used more sparingly, and only when necessary. It’s much easier on the eyes than most found footage, which caused an immediate sigh of relief on my end.
The performances and dialogue are also marked improvements over others in the genre. Cliff and Derek were characters that the viewer can relate to and actually like. It’s easy to empathize with them and you’ll find yourself really pulling for them to get through this situation.
The best aspect of Afflicted by far is the special effects work. For a relatively low budget film, there is some downright fantastic visuals. Derek’s affliction is presented in such a graphic and realistic way, that it’s both hard to watch and astounding at the same time. The camera isn’t afraid to shy away from the gory bits, but there’s also some great action sequences thrown in for good measure. These chase scenes prove to be the most fun, but are also incredibly tense.
Afflicted is an incredibly well crafted horror film that correctly uses the found footage mechanic to its advantage in the best kinds of ways. The special effects work is top notch and the plot brings a unique take on a story told many times over. It’s frantic, chilling, and easily one of the best horror movies to grace the screen this year.
