Hacked

I went into "Hacked" without much enthusiasm. As it was concerning murder mystery podcasters-a world for which I have zero interest-and was obviously a low budget indie with a very small cast, it just didn't bode well. But my ScreamBox subscription was about to end, so I was binging whatever I hadn't seen.

The beginning of the film was as dull as I was expecting, and if I hadn't just fixed a sandwich I'd have given up right off the bat. Two podcasters on a split screen. One obviously more professional than the other. The less professional one very definitely not okay in the head. He's pulling the show down and everyone knows it and he's not handling it well. I'm glad I hung in there, because once the additional characters come in, things start getting interesting.

The film only has a 70min running time, so it's over before you know it. It definitely is cheap looking, but the actors do a good job and you feel like they're not acting. My favorite is Shawn C. Phillips as a fellow podcaster who is ridiculous and over the top, but I have known people like him. They exist. The biggest gripe I have is the ending. It was like they suddenly ran out of money and had to finish it with a quick gore effect-which was so silly and nonsensical that it left me literally shaking my head in dismay. I nearly lowered my rating to a 5 because of it. But Phillips' last scene kept it at a 6.

My suggestion is to give it a chance. It's not a gory, serial killer-type thing, but more mental. But at only a little over an hour long, it goes by fast. But yeah, the ending sucks.

Doing a true-crime podcast with a friend, one of the hosts' increasingly bizarre and off-beat antics to improve the show tends to turn off his partner and employers to the point that his sanity starts to break, and as he slips further he becomes a threat not just to himself but others around him.

This was a solid and enjoyable effort. One of the more interesting aspects here is the burgeoning psychological build-up on display which comes across a lot to like. The stress of his everyday life trying to come up with content for the show and the struggle to remain cool as his life begins to unravel as the exploits with their boss and the revelation about the missed interview show the earliest signs of his unhinged state. Given that there's a gradual behavior change as a result as well, this happens to fuel the second half where it becomes a detriment to the show and eventually leads to the struggles within. As this change to the show is ongoing, the eventual downward spiral goes alongside the physical manifestations that slowly emerge. Suffering from delusions and hallucinations about injuring and disfiguring himself, the result of this comes as an enjoyable method to denote how the guy's mental sanity is snapping. Once the show officially changes and he's far more susceptible, that brings about a couple of impressive gore gags to showcase how he's become so psychologically unstable that he would harm others and gives some solid blood-drenched kills as a result. These efforts, combined with a zippy pace, offer up so much to like here. There isn't much to dislike with this one. The main issue is the whole finale which, keeping the entire theme of the film intact, seems to end with no real resolution. The idea is sound in what happens yet there's a suddenness and jerking quality to the film which is quite disconcerting with how abrupt that occurs. On top of that, the after-credits sequence covers a far-better and more impactful outcome to everything that's happened anyway, making the resolution even odder. As well, the mental insanity he develops is so obvious it seems weird to have had no one comment once he finally starts behaving even more erratically, which is all that holds it down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

So I finally had the chance to watch this film from the minds of up and comers Matt Leal, John Festle, and Matthew Festle (who also stars here). The slow burn feel of the movie is effective in tension building as well as fleshing out the characters. The movie keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next. I have to say that the final act wasn't what I was expecting. Everyone here really fit into their roles well from Jackson Turner who plays the by the book lead Darren to the foul mouthed boundary pushing Michael played by Matthew Festle himself. Shawn C. Phillips, Thom Mulligan, and Alan Maxson are excellent in their roles. The cinematography was excellent. The imagery is haunting. It would definitely benefit from a sequel or sequels that delve deeper into things. As it does have some bits that could have been elaborated on a touch more.. In the end viewers will definitely have enjoyed this one and makes you want to see what else these filmmakers have in store for us.

From directors Matthew Festle and Matt Leal comes an independent horror thriller that capitalizes on its limited budget with an effective use of horror elements. Hacks presentation and continuity will thrill viewers due to its dark music, inviting cinematography, and impressive performances. The two leads play podcasters, Michael (Matthew Festle) and Darren (Jackson Turner), who are fanatics of crime podcasts, but one has a nightmare awaiting. It is a twisted, mind-bending, and daring film which is a seventy-minute thrill-ride of surprises and tension. The script was written by brothers Matthew and John Festle, both of whom possess creative minds which tend to shock their audiences. The film gears on two podcasters who are focused on growing their podcast by featuring crime stories. Due to some flaws, they believe they have a chance to gain popularity once they interview a special guest named Dr. Brennan (Thom Michael Mulligan). However, when Michael begins to become intrusive while trying to schedule an interview with Dr. Brennan, he comes across haunting discoveries and visions. The discoveries cause viewers to wonder if the horror is real or a nightmare. Michael's obsession and egotistical attitude causes tension, and it begins to rise as the disagreements with Darren escalate. As Michael grows angry, his mind begins to deteriorate as he experiences more nightmares out of the blue. What spoke to me the most about Hacked was the acting between the two podcasters. Michael and Darren have personality differences which play an important role in Hacked. Darren is the laid-back, but knowledgeable podcaster who wants to take appropriate steps to build their podcast and its positive reputation. Michael is the impatient and foul-mouthed podcaster. As positives things happen for Darren, Michael encounters more negatives. In addition to unexplained nightmares, he burns more bridges with Darren as well as other, and others due to his unprofessional attitude. The differences between these two characters are where the essence of brilliant horror is in Hacked. I found myself asking what is the next bridge for Michael to burn and what shocking vision or nightmare will then ensue? Hacked will leave viewers questioning due to a variety of unexplained fragments. When I reflect upon Hacked, I believe it is a film by two directors who know the formula that grabs fans' attention. Festle and Leal add to their film's shock value by combining continuity and karma. The use of karma in this film is portrayed by showing how a person's actions in the present can decide their fate in the future. The decline of Michael's reputation is where the karma lies. Hacked is a film that is psychologically engrossing, and an example of the promising projects Festle and Leal have in the works. Three and a half stars.

I dig this one a lot. There were times I was genuinely laughing and other times where I felt incredibly uncomfortable (in a good way). The writing, performances, and camerawork are all spot on, and the music is perfect for the vibe I was getting. Can not wait for next thing!