Found footage movies may have risen to prominence with the release of The Blair Witch Project back in the nineties, but they induce a wide variety of reactions. Some have managed to write it off as a mere trope of horror movies past and present, a technique that has been overused throughout the years. However, there is always that one film that manages to revive found footage; this has to be done well for the execution and vision to succeed. 2023 has sought out an answer to that in The Outwaters, which is a slow-burn experience utilizing found footage to add new layers of intimacy and fear.
The Outwaters first made its rounds out into the world through film festivals, then was picked up for distribution domestically by Cinedigm for a release date of February 2023. It will find its way into select theaters first before appearing on streaming shortly after. Directed by Robbie Banfitch, who has worked in the film industry for many years and directed other movies like Tinsman Road and Exvallis, he also stars in the role of Robbie in The Outwaters. Other key cast members, who can be seen up close and personal throughout the movie, include Angela Basolis, prior collaborator Scott Schamell from Banfitch’s stable, Michelle May, and Leslie Ann Banfitch.
Horror fans will find much to love in The Outwaters; while it does not reinvent the genre and offer an incredible amount of never-before-seen tactics , it still manages to remain fresh and relevant today . Its protagonists are a group of friends heading out into the Mojave Desert , but they are shot with handheld cameras as they wander through something unknown yet horrifying . It is endearing , offering some close moments that hit home for everyday people – images that become haunting after seeing them when you think about them later when all else fails . The Outwaters is a visceral , searing experience that maximizes its potential for an indie horror movie. However, for the uninitiated who are unwilling to truly connect with the movie and its characters, it might be a painful hour and a half getting through the film in its entirety.
It doesn’t take long for The Outwaters to get going. Dark opening credit footage of a 911 call is overlaid on top of text that reads “Michelle August missing since August 8th, 2017”. People are panting and screaming while the operator keeps asking what happened and if she can hear them. Further along, we find out that there were four other people including two women who are missing too. The film about is presented as being authentic found footage (Putman et al., 2018). It starts with a birthday celebration by two brothers which is interrupted by an earthquake before shifting scenes to introduce other important characters in this story. Four friends intend to go into the Mojave Desert so they could make a music video that they would later camp overnight at the same place. This part of the planning sounds like fun and games, where hard decisions include choosing a rock to bring back home as souvenir by each member of their team. There are four friends: two brothers-Scott and Robbie; Angela-who works as stylist; and Michelle who sings in the band. One brother acts like camera man cum protagonist at the beginning of the movie showing us his world through his lens.
However, even before they leave for their destination, earthquakes continue happening wherever they go. Maybe that should have been enough warning signs from nature for them to stay home seeing how bad it was getting by then. But still despite being called up by one of their concerned mothers all the way asking where they were headed off into unknown territories without any care in life about tomorrow or past tonight? Initially it was like pretty much what they had pictured – just a fun camping trip with aesthetics behind it for real project. However when sun starts setting things begin spiraling fastly down hill soon after that! Turns out there’s more than meets eye into Mojave desert’s vast sand fields and mountains range.A few odd occurrences marked the first time they camped together while most supernatural happenings began in the second phase.
The Outwaters’ next section sets it firmly within the horror genre and not just a subdivision of crime fiction, more like one sees in movies. It is somewhat experimental with a faster pace heading for its climax and final moments. Quick cuts between frames help to heighten the urgency as well as making the visuals very intense and frenzy. There’s blood, gore and lots of shadows lurking around every corner. Handheld cameras make us ask more questions than we find answers to –we only see what camera lens shows, which is very limiting when you are out in the middle of nowhere at night. This works here too as this is where things get terrifying; that is left to audience imagination about who these characters are and what’s happening on screen or behind scenes (Putman et al., 2018).
The setup of The Outwaters will be familiar to horror fans, who may find comfort with it sometimes. Sound design plays a major part in the film to work as well as it does, not just within the horror elements. It only seems right that music would be included into the movie itself for a group going out on a music video shoot– and that’s what happens. Whether it’s an overlay of a pre-recorded track, Michelle singing while standing in the middle of a desert or the radio playing in the background; music is used smoothly here. However, as Michelle later puts this when discussing about the peculiar thunder they were hearing “things sound louder [in the desert] because there [are] no other sounds.” It is not long before this theory kicks in especially as gorgeous screen visuals give way to menacing ones.
The found footage aspects add intimacy to it–from early moments, it can already been seen that someone in cast is usually holding camera watching through screen at those moments. These can be close-ups of another face for instance or increasing amount of terror which adds another layer that can be immediate or even loving depending on context. This could make some smaller parts rather hard to understand but reading between lines might be good enough for better comprehension for all readers who are willing to go deep into the narrative.
However shaky this method may feel at times almost nauseating from how much her hands were shaking yet it works quite well with this story and its themes. For example if you look at vloggers during this era whereby social media fans continuously document every aspect of their lives one may feel like this journey is one where he/she would want to take everything down so that when he grows old he can look back upon them. And I should have believed my eyes until probably 60 minutes down while viewing like something from home videos. One visits his mother on her birthday and windy emotions are shared amidst tears across deserts.
Movies like The Outwaters already exist in abundance– still, The Outwaters somehow manages to make these familiar ideas look fresh again with its mash-up of media and the way it chooses to show the horror involved. Some people may compare Nope by what is included as they watch this film whereby a group of friends get stuck in a desert trying to face an unbelievable monster on their own. In the beginning, the movie’s most endearing quality that allows for this slow first 30 minutes, is the friendship between these four characters. It feels kind of real hence giving them some time before they are thrown into chaos. The next forty minutes or so involve them running toward a savage ending together. We know how this will end for him, but just for now there is a part of me that hopes they could make it out alive once more.
Watch free movies on Fmovies
