The new form of social media where you’re served short form videos peering into the lives of people living around the country has yielded a unique, disquieting experience that I fully admit is offensive to even remark upon. You can see it in the eyes of that friend or family member who lives in a big city when you suggest they move somewhere affordable. “If you moved out of LA you could afford to own a home!” Indeed, you can peek into the spacious interiors of shockingly young homeowners when you’re served the content they make while you sit in your cramped apartment. But then you notice the sparse, tacky decor. You imagine the drive they have to take to the grocery store, to work, to anything interesting to do on a Friday night. What kind of neighbors do they get stuck with. And how far away are those neighbors if someone shows up uninvited in that spacious house.
What I’m saying is that there is a kind of bland, unremarkable Americana that I find inherently alien and that adds a layer to this movie that might not work if you aren’t kind of an asshole.
But this is a movie about a guy (an artist and filmmaker) going into girls’ houses. It is essentially first person and ultimately about maneuvering into these homes as a murderous creep. It’s not a stylistic psychosexual sledgehammer like Maniac and there’s the explicit element of self documentary (and thus editing). Comparisons to In A Violent Nature are way off. This has about as much in common with Presence (I.e. perspective and pacing).
I fully expected to hate this but as far as indie found footage goes it is smarter than the average bear. Smart repetitions, a few cold chills, even a hard laugh. Ultimately, your enjoyment will hang on how much of a looky-loo you are. When you walk by a neighbor’s lit window at night do you linger a beat too long? Observe the roku city on their tv? Wave at their cat? If you aren’t interested in creeping around with the unnamed protagonist of this movie, you’re not left with a terrible amount of plot. No gory set pieces although the kills are unpleasant. Doesn’t revolutionize the form but is definitely an interesting and entertaining watch. Mostly if you want a realistic look into a bunch of normal houses.
The new form of social media where you’re served short form videos peering into the lives of people living around the country has yielded a unique, disquieting experience that I fully admit is offensive to even remark upon. You can see it in the eyes of that friend or family member who lives in a big city when you suggest they move somewhere affordable. “If you moved out of LA you could afford to own a home!” Indeed, you can peek into the spacious interiors of shockingly young homeowners when you’re served the content they make while you sit in your cramped apartment. But then you notice the sparse, tacky decor. You imagine the drive they have to take to the grocery store, to work, to anything interesting to do on a Friday night. What kind of neighbors do they get stuck with. And how far away are those neighbors if someone shows up uninvited in that spacious house.
What I’m saying is that there is a kind of bland, unremarkable Americana that I find inherently alien and that adds a layer to this movie that might not work if you aren’t kind of an asshole.
But this is a movie about a guy (an artist and filmmaker) going into girls’ houses. It is essentially first person and ultimately about maneuvering into these homes as a murderous creep. It’s not a stylistic psychosexual sledgehammer like Maniac and there’s the explicit element of self documentary (and thus editing). Comparisons to In A Violent Nature are way off. This has about as much in common with Presence (I.e. perspective and pacing).
I fully expected to hate this but as far as indie found footage goes it is smarter than the average bear. Smart repetitions, a few cold chills, even a hard laugh. Ultimately, your enjoyment will hang on how much of a looky-loo you are. When you walk by a neighbor’s lit window at night do you linger a beat too long? Observe the roku city on their tv? Wave at their cat? If you aren’t interested in creeping around with the unnamed protagonist of this movie, you’re not left with a terrible amount of plot. No gory set pieces although the kills are unpleasant. Doesn’t revolutionize the form but is definitely an interesting and entertaining watch. Mostly if you want a realistic look into a bunch of normal houses.
