Atrocious (film)

I had been getting Atrocious as a recommendation for some time.  I read the reviews and wanted to watch something on the shorter side of things.  Finding out this was a found footage horror film that wasn't terribly long, I had every reason to spend an evening watching this film.

Eldest Son Christian

Atrocious follows Christien and July (pronounced Julie), brother and sister, while their family is away at their mother's childhood home.  Avid amateur ghost hunters, they had been tipped off about legends concerning the woods nearby.  A young girl, Miranda, was lost in the woods and never found.  Some stories say she will lead those who are lost in the woods.  Others say how she is seeking revenge for her own lost life.  During their search for the paranormal, a much harsher reality rears it's ugly head.
Likes - I liked what was done with this film.  It's not for everyone though.  To begin with, I really enjoy the found footage approach and Atrocious approached this tactic better then most.  The filming felt much more natural to what a person would film while in a panic or were distracted.  There are moments of long pauses and when they are running, with only trees and brush in sight.  Not being able to see the cause of the commotion adds a greater depth of benson and terror.  Atrocious made you scared for what you couldn't see.  They also incorporated news reels near the end, adding to the idea of how real and well known the event was.

July

Another aspect of the film I enjoyed was the pacing.  This was a slow burn type of film.  It takes it's time to build up the scares.  I appreciated that.  I don't like slow moving films, but I think the molasses run with this film is to it's advantage. Once the shit hits the fan, things happen so fast you can't process what's going on.  Hell, the film itself revisits parts so you can see what actually happened.  This is definitely a film you have to pay attention to while watching it.

Young Josè

Dislikes - There isn't nothing I didn't like about this film.  It's not new in anything of it's method or story.  Things were just executed well.  It does it's main job well - scaring you.

Overall - I think this is a great film.  A part of me wants to say this is what Paranormal Activity wanted to be.  It's thought out and believable on many levels, making it much scarier.  You are there in the rooms, lost in the dark with Christain, unsure what's happening.  You are with July as she tries to navigate the woods her mother told her to stay out of.  You are there, in the middle of it all, scared of what will happen to you.  That is how it should be done! 4 out of 5 stars.