Found Footage Movie List #2
#2
Release Date: April 4th, 2014
Genre: Horror/Thriller
**DISCLAIMER: This movie contains language, blood, gore, felony, animal abuse, and depictions of horror. Viewer discretion is advised.**
Summary:
Best friends Derek and Clif set out on a trip of lifetime. Their plan: travel to the ends of the earth, see the world, and live life to the fullest. But the trip soon takes a dark and bloody turn. Just days in, one of the men shows signs of a mysterious affliction which gradually takes over his entire body and being. Now, thousands of miles from home, in a foreign land, they must race to uncover the source before it consumes him completely. Footage meant to be travel memories may now become evidence of one of the most shocking discoveries ever captured on film…and perhaps will be their only postcard home.
This is the newest movie on my list, Afflicted having only been released recently on VOD. I discovered this film during its early promotion on Facebook, and after seeing the trailer I knew I had to see it. I had to wait a while, but when it finally came out on On Demand I jumped to rent and watch it.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I certainly didn’t see coming the sheer awesomeness that is Afflicted. Already in love with the found footage format, I found this movie to be extremely well done with its camera quality and handling of angles. One of the two main characters is a film student who has brought all the right equipment to film everything in the best way possible, and it shows throughout the film as the action picks up how it was worth it to bring the extensive items.
Following two adventurous young adults seeking to get film to create a travel blog, Afflicted is about how one of the two characters, Derek, is infected with a strange new ailment that, at first, seems to be nothing but good. Super speed, strength, healing, senses, it seems as if Derek is a superhero. But as time passes, Clif notices how Derek is changing – physically. He doesn’t eat, he sleeps all day, and he keeps passing out. Eventually they discover there’s only one thing he needs, and it isn’t exactly easy to come by, and without it Derek’s metamorphosis continues in the worst possible way. Monstrous repercussions occur when Derek doesn’t eat, and the whole world comes to witness what happens through the camera strapped to his chest.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a movie that left me in such a state of awe, and Afflicted did that and more. From the first second I was hooked, and just as I feared the movie would end, it kept bringing the pain. It could have easily left off on a few points, which would have been a little disappointing, but they kept going until they were done with the story. A very admirable thing to do, and it was definitely worth it. I was left wanting nothing more after it was over. I was happy with every single thing this movie did, which really is a rarity as I’m always left thinking about how I would have rather something different happen at some point or another.
Deeply terrifying, morbidly fascinating, and fantastically portrayed by the actors, Afflicted is a truly spectacular movie worth the recent attention its been getting and the #2 spot on my Found Footage Movie List. I am DEFINITELY going to be getting this movie when it comes out on Blu-Ray!
-Michael
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