Written by: Ryan Dailey
The found footage genre is a fickle beast. It is a dead horse that has been beaten to death. Sometimes, just sometimes, that beaten, dead horse will rise back up, bucking and foaming at the mouth. The latter perfectly describes Untitled Footage.
The film focuses on Tessa (Tori Zanoni) and Grant (Rodney B. Snyder), video cameras in tow, take it upon themselves to find and expose the man who killed Tessa’s sister Rachel, known as The Clawhammer Killer. The film is an extension from Split Screen, a double feature that some of the same filmmakers released in 2023.
Clocking in at just over an hour, the film has stricken the perfect balance of not overstaying its welcome, while leaving the horror nation wanting more. The dialogue is spot on. It flows in a natural way that this critic has not seen since the likes of The Last Broadcast or The Blair Witch Project. There is a lot that can be said about the acting, as well. Tori would be right at home on the big screen as the newest final girl, positively glowing on the screen as she battles the likes of Ghostface or Chucky. Rodney B.Snyder deserves mention as well, as he would be perfectly cast as Ryan Reynolds comedic sidekick or a “Randy” type character from Scream. Cliff Dunigan, who plays Patrick Sawyer screams hard boiled detective or super cool jock if he were to be cast in anything else. The man stood out in every scene that he was featured in. Untitled Footage is a prime example to other independent filmmakers that if you have a solid script and the right people in front of and behind the camera, budget be damned.
The untitled footage in Untitled Footage could not have been done any better. It screams Analog Horror and is brilliantly directed, as is the rest of the film. The edits are brilliant, showing just enough of the well done practical gore while leaving just enough to the audience’s imagination. Think of a way more subtle or ‘thinking man’s’ version of the cutaways in Rob Zombies’ House of 1000 Corpses. The amazing aesthetics for the VHS looking segments are crafted by the very talented director, Evan Churchill. And while during a brief interview with Joshua Brucker it was revealed the process by which Evan achieved this perfected look. Much like the Krabby Patty formula, will continue to be a closely guarded secret by this critic.
Horror Dadz and the crew really knocked one out of the park with Untitled Footage. The film nets an 8 out of 10 from this reviewer,super solid viewing and a great collection to any horror fans physical media collection.
Untitled Footage will be available for purchase from Joshua Brucker’s Facebook page, signed copies on Blu-Ray for 15 dollars, US.