WEBCAST is a mixed bag of an indie found footage horror, fairly good in some aspects, but disappointing in a lot of others. As another reviewer has noted, the lack of a script is all too apparent, with boring repetitive dialogue spoiling a number of scenes. The idea of spying on creepy neighbours has merit but the running time drags a little. Imagine one of the PARANORMAL ACTIVITY sequels crossed with DISTURBIA and KILL LIST and you'll be there.
Webcast
2018
Action / Horror / Thriller
Webcast
2018
Action / Horror / Thriller
Plot summary
Stranded in the suburbs, student filmmaker Chloe begins to make a documentary about her family's troubled past. Whilst filming, she and best friend Ed, witness an hysterical girl appearing to escape from a neighbour's house, only to be quickly dragged back inside again. Is she a recovering drug addict like the neighbours say? Or is she really in danger from those who claim to be caring for her? Chloe and Ed begin to run surveillance, but as they dig deeper, they find themselves caught up in a world of strange beliefs, old religions, and dark witchcraft. Their search for the truth will climax in a live webcast that will terrify and make those watching question the very authenticity of what they are seeing. Webcast is inspired by a wealth of films from both the horror and thriller genres, including Rear Window, The Wicker Man, The Blair Witch Project, Rosemary's Baby, Paranormal Activity, and Race with the Devil.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Mixed bag indie
Bland characters and not a very interesting story
I've seen a lot of "found-footage" movies in my time, but it occurred to me while I was watching 'Webcast' that I couldn't recall seeing a British one before. It's entirely possible, even likely, that I have. But I certainly don't recall what it was. Like with most things when it comes to film, the Americans certainly seem to do them better. This movie was a bit of a mess. It took all the things that make "found-footage" films so great and removed them. It became overly complicated, the characters were extremely bland and every time it was building some suspense it would do something to completely deflate the scene.
The film actually got me very early on with an extremely well done scare. I just wasn't expecting it or ready for it at all and it gave me a very big jump. After that though there was a real lull for a big chunk of the movie. There was weird stuff going on, but it was a little too weird if that makes sense. The best "found-footage" movies deal in realistic things I've found. Sure 'The Blair Witch Project' was (supposedly - see the theory about there not being a witch at all in that movie) about a witch, but we were never actually seeing the witch and didn't know for sure what was going on.
The ending in a "found-footage" is also very important. It needs to have a powerful ending that leads to the audience imagining the footage being found. 'Webcast' was going to have a reasonably powerful ending, but then it changed it and what it went for instead was very weird. I even went back and watched it again to try and work out what had happened but couldn't. This one didn't do a lot for me. There are better films out there to spend your time on.
Decent effort but be wary of the faux 9 & 10 ratings
Yes people, this "found footage" movie currently stands at 6.3, the same rating as Paranormal Activity and just a 0.1 behind The Blair Witch Project, with 68% of "viewers" have rated it a 9 or a 10. Smells a bit fishy you say? Well, you'd be right. Of course the cast & crew and their family and pals would have nothing to do with this, right.. To be fair, the movie is not that bad: it is well acted and has a fairly original concept, whilst not being afraid to wear it's influences on its sleeve. The two leads are likeable enough, and there are at least a couple of creepy moments but outright scares are few and far between. It does somewhat fall apart in the final act though, with the last moment being something of a cop out, and well, a touch confusing. And there were a few things left unanswered, not there is anything wrong with being ambiguous but it doesn't quite work here. Anyway, it's worth a watch and I may have rated it a 6 if not for all the faux ratings and reviews. No, this film does not deserve a 9 or 10. It's also not as good as the UK ff movie 'The Borderlands' aka 'Final Prayer', which does not suffer from all these faux ratings and only sits at 5.8.