Author: Robert Skuch Published
My favorite movie is one that doesn’t have a single line of dialogue to explain it, 2012 chronicle This is a shining example of the power of showing rather than telling. A found footage superhero origin story sort of thing, chronicle It tells a simple story about high school students who are given mysterious powers and gives us an up-close look at their exploration and utilization of these powers. But it’s worth noting that we’re not dealing with traditional superhero stuff here, but normal, mundane, everyday life, and how such powers can be completely uprooted when they exist in environments that don’t necessarily require them.
A cautionary tale about teenage hubris, chronicle reveals the dangers of flying too close to the sun and painfully illustrates how devastating things can become when superhuman powers are given to emotionally unstable teenagers.
Andrew’s Icarus Arc
chronicle It tells a simple coming-of-age story set in the real world, but filtered through superhero logic. It all started when Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan) decided to start documenting his life on a camcorder. At the constant urging of his cousin Matt (Alex Russell), Andrew attends a party where he meets Steve Montgomery (Michael B. Jordan), undoubtedly the most popular kid of the bunch.
The three leave the party after Steve discovers a strange hole in the woods that he wants to explore. Underground, they discover a cluster of glowing crystals that react violently when touched, unaware that the encounter has given them telekinesis and enhanced powers.
Back home, Andrew must deal with his abusive, alcoholic father Richard (Michael Kelly) and terminally ill mother Karen (Beau Peterson). However, in school and on the streets, Andrew, Matt and Steve began to fine-tune their powers. They quickly realize that the more they train, the better they become. What started as childish games, like moving parked cars so their owners couldn’t find them, or playing party tricks, slowly turned into reckless behavior as Andrew began using his abilities to cause physical harm to others.
While Matt and Steve remained restrained and cautious to avoid detection, Andrew took a darker path, constantly pushing his powers to their limits. He’s still an outcast with a miserable home life, and when this emotional damage is combined with the ability to manipulate matter, fly, and fight with brutal precision, it’s only a matter of time before things go completely off the rails. As Andrew’s life spirals further out of control at home and school, he unleashes his rage through his own power, becoming a destructive force that cannot be reasoned with or subdued.
The filming budget was relatively small, only $15 million. chronicle More visually impressive than it has any right to be. At its core, this is a story about boys being boys, but in this context that means flying through the sky, crushing cars, and making objects levitate with terrifying ease. The grainy aesthetic allows the visuals to blend seamlessly together in a way that might not be well represented using more traditional filmmaking techniques.
The found footage approach also enables some really clever camerawork that expands the scope of the film. Andrew often lets the camera float and follow him, which allows the film to move between first-person and observational perspectives in a way that feels natural rather than forced. This is a clever solution chronicle Visual freedoms most films never attempt.
A worthy twist on a tired genre
The check-in time is only 83 minutes. chronicle is an easy watch, not only because of its tight running time, but because every character brings their best performance. Dane DeHaan’s portrayal of a timid teen slowly transforming into an absolute monster is disturbingly believable, while Michael B. Jordan’s affability and charm provide the perfect balance. Alex Russell bridges the gap between these conflicting characters, setting the stage for a story in which tensions escalate.
An early scene in which the trio is simply playing around and testing the limits of their abilities is particularly effective because they really feel like kids secretly doing things they know they shouldn’t do. When everything finally comes crashing down, this sense of freedom can make the consequences even more severe.
If you’re looking for a fun twist on the superhero genre that still has real emotional weight, chronicle Still one of the smartest genre curveballs of the 2010s, you can play it now on Max.
