Footage Review: A Visually Striking Thriller That Falls Short on Storytelling

Footage Review: A Visually Striking Thriller That Falls Short on Storytelling - Filmsandfacts

Director: Saiju Sreedharan

Date Created: 2025-03-12 12:30

Editor's Rating:
3

Pros

• Stunning Cinematography: The eerie forest and haunting landscapes are beautifully captured.
• Strong Sound Design: Nixon George’s deep sound design enhances the horror elements.
• Unique Found-Footage Approach: The switch between the couple’s cameras adds a creative touch.
• Memorable Sequences: The elephant herd encounter and underwater scene stand out.
• Engaging Performances: Vishak Nair and Gayathri Ashok deliver convincing performances.

Cons

• Weak Writing: The screenplay lacks depth, making the story feel scattered.
• Underdeveloped Characters: Manju Warrier’s role remains largely unexplored.
• Pacing Issues: The film drags in several parts, losing its initial momentum.
• Unfinished Story Arcs: The climax leaves unresolved plot points that weaken its impact.
• Clichéd Romance: The couple’s interactions occasionally feel forced and predictable.

Footage Review

Following their enigmatic neighbour into a wilderness, a YouTuber couple becomes curious about her sly movements. Will they survive as the truth untangles and they discover they are in danger?

Editor-turned-director Saiju Sreedharan’s directing debut starts with enough mystery to keep you watching a found-footage horror thriller set deep in the forest involving a haunted house, a full moon, and a stormy, rainy night. Played by Vishak Nair and Gayathri Ashok, the film follows an unidentified vlogger couple who chronicle their life for a meagre internet following. Early in the movie, their obsession with odd locations and individuals drives them to a haunted mansion, which sets the appropriate tone with well-placed jump scares and creepy scenes.

Originally a hopeful horror movie, it quickly turns into a thriller with the supernatural components first giving way to a provocative approach that touches on postpartum depression and society views about women.

The movie mostly depends on visual narrative and experimentation. The man’s camera records the first half; the second moves to the woman’s lens. Showcasing his skills as director and editor, Sreedharan guarantees that these halves work harmonically visually. The way Shinoz captures the gloom of the forest and the terrible beauty of the valleys makes her cinematography a highlight. Two memorable scenes are a terrifying night-time encounter with an elephant herd and an underwater sequence. The technical grace of the picture is enhanced by Nixon George’s deep sound design and the evocative soundtrack by Indian post-rock band aswekeepsearching.

Though it has a great look, the movie suffers in the writing front. The narrative of Sreedharan and Shabna Mohammed is shallow, and the screenplay seems jumbled most of the time. Long sections lack pace and the couple’s personal interactions occasionally feel forced following an interesting beginning. The plot seems disappointing as they try to find the truth about their enigmatic neighbour.

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Manju Warrier portrays the mysterious woman, a mainly unexplored character who solely uses handwritten notes to convey without explaining why. When the couple visits her apartment and reads her diary, her background is exposed in bits but her arc is still unfinished. Her intention becomes evident towards the climax, however the story leaves holes that lessens the effect of the ending than it may have had. As a quirky, free-spirited couple, Vishak Nair and Gayathri Ashok give strong performances; yet their amorous interactions sometimes strays into clichéd territory.

Although Footage is entertaining and features great graphics, more intriguing writing and a tighter story may have made it really unforgettable.