While the idea is definitely there, and there's enough variety in setting and story to keep each episode fresh and different, the writing and acting aren't up to par. It's a shame, because Lost Tapes is a fantastic idea for a show, especially one such as this...... I'm a sucker for a great idea, and Lost Tapes is a fantastic one, presenting its creature stories as found footage horror, complete with a variety of different characters in a variety of settings. It even occasionally addresses social issues. The research is also up to par, though it's presented in a half-baked manner that really could have been more organized and thought out...... Each episode presents a different creature, and it's in a bite-size 20 minute format that makes it easy to casually watch, while still covering its topics with enough depth and detail to feel like proper experiences.
The visuals are fine, especially for a show of this caliber. There's a variety of POV content and the focus on gimmicky effects means you'll either love or hate the exceptionally cheap budget...... I just wish the acting and writing were up to par. Dialogue never quite hits the level of convincing it needs to, and the performances never feel real either. It's a lack of effort on both ends that was probably caused by a lack of proper direction. Some scenes have too much exposition, which tends to remove believability as well.
That said, if you're a found footage fan, the show checks off most of the right marks. A variety of POV footage presented in a mockumentary format, with a brief episode format that leaves some ambiguity throughout. Plus found footage fans can't exactly afford to be picky when most of the content in found footage tends to be of the lesser quality variety.
