Halloween Movie List 2 #3 (18+)
#3
Release Date: April 4th, 2014
Genre: Horror/Thriller
**WARNING: 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.
When I previously posted this movie at #2 on my Found Footage Movie List, I had only just recently seen it and was caught up in the excitement of having found a new, good movie. Now that I’ve had time to reflect, I can honestly say… I still fucking love this movie!
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.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I discovered this movie, but I certainly didn’t see coming the sheer awesomeness that is Afflicted. Already in love with the found footage format, I found this film 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. In most found footage movies, there’s no explanation why the characters have so many cameras on hand, or how they know how to use them all so proficiently, but this movie gives the perfect back story to answer both questions.
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.
At #3 on my Halloween Movie List 2, Afflicted is a deeply terrifying, morbidly fascinating film with terrific acting and humble special effects that deserves to be viewed at least once during this Halloween season!
-Michael
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