I watched Malibu Horror Story (2023) in theaters last night. The storyline follows a group of Malibu high school friends who go missing in some historically mysterious hills in California. A tape from the hikers surfaces that a group that researches paranormal activity get their hands on. They set out for the hill to uncover what may have led to the teen's disappearance.
This movie is written and directed by Scott Slone (2001: An EDM Odyssey) and stars Dylan Sprayberry (Teen Wolf), Robert Bailey Jr (The Happening), Valentina de Angelis (As the World Turns) and Rebecca Forsythe (Replace).
This film had all the ingredients for a worthwhile found footage movie. The storyline was unique and unlike anything I'd seen before in the genre. The execution reminded me of a mix of The Blair Witch Project and The Descent. Most of the found footage shots were well done, creepy, and the creature was excellent, until they used CGI to show its transformation that included random CGI flames (which seemed unnecessary). The acting and depiction of the news, police, and other interviews were mediocre to bad. I didn't particularly like any of the docuseries elements. The kills in the movie are actually pretty good, but the ending falls short.
In conclusion, Malibu Horror Story contains some worthwhile elements that make it worth a watch for horror enthusiasts, but not enough to make it a good movie. I would rate this a 4/10 and recommend it only to die-hard fans of the horror genre.
