This is a film that I saw at Nightmares Film Festival. I recognized the co-writer/director's name as I saw one of his films in a previous year of this festival titled Z. I read a bit about what this film was about ahead of seeing it and that intrigued me. This was making its Midwest premiere as well.
Synopsis: two police officers investigate a domestic dispute and there is an accidental shooting. Not wanting to be crucified by the public, the officers attempt to cover it up - only to uncover that the cameras aren't the only things watching them.
We start this in the car of the two officers we're following. Driving is Bryce (Sean Rogerson) and his partner is Jackson (Jaime M. Callica). There are subtle things that we learn here like Bryce is racist. They take the call as being the closest officers to the domestic dispute and he makes a comment about how bad the area is. He then realizes that Jackson's mother lives out this way, so it is close to where he grew up. Bryce does apologize at least.
Something here is that this feels inspired by what we hear in the news about places like Portland, OR. There are homeless people milling around. They aren't moving, almost like they're on a drug of sorts. The cops come to the house and the power is off. They call into dispatch, requesting permission to go in when they hear a scream. There is interference. They then explore.
Bryce goes downstairs where Jackson goes up. The latter finds a crib with a dog in it. This scares him. He also finds a woman in the closet. In the basement, Bryce finds a hole. The word 'Rise' is written on the wall. He then turns to find a man with something in his arms. He comes toward the officer, freaking him out. It results in Bryce discharging his weapon. Jackson hurries to join his partner and is shocked by what he finds. Jackson wants to call it in, Bryce wants a minute to think. The mother they found freaks out when she sees what happened.
Their decision then turns their world into a nightmare. Jackson seeks out his mother, wanting to know what they should do. His sister seems to have gone missing as well. Bryce is married to Michelle (Elizabeth Longshaw). She is pregnant. He calls her, thinking his life might be over. It is from here that they can't escape this house or what they did. They're followed and plagued by a group of homeless people who inform them, they took something from them. Now their lord will take something from back.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I'll start is that this is filmed in the style found footage. There's a meta element here where Officer Bryce is worried about when his bodycam is reviewed, that he's going to be crucified like the synopsis said. We are watching this in real time as a fly on the wall, to just help set this up a bit more.
Now where I want to go is bringing up something I included in my breakdown of what we get. Inspired by news of big cities' homeless populations, the scene features rundown houses and tents along the road. Police corruption is another element. Bryce, a white officer, shot a man in the basement and fears public backlash, believing he'll be scapegoated. While his rash act was a crime driven by fear, public perception often ignores nuances, pushing him into a stereotype. The coverup that he is pitching to his partner makes it worse.
His partner is where I want to go next. Officer Jackson is black. He also grew up in this area. He is the rational one. He firmly believes that if we just report the facts, everything will be fine. Since Bryce is so adamant, it pressures Jackson into going along with it. This feels real. It also brings in that commentary about how good cops stand by the brotherhood, which then makes them bad cops. There is camaraderie there. I've been on sports teams so I get it to an extent. People lost their lives here though, so there is that element.
Now let's get over to what makes this horror. The great atmosphere, despite the scary, powerless building, leads to Bryce's impulsive actions, his cover-up, and chasing his wife, trapping them. Supernatural elements, possibly a time loop or inescapable events, emerge with a cult in pursuit. The creepy basement hole hints at cosmic, Lovecraftian horror, which is captivating. Not everything fully works, but I'm on board for most of it.
I think I'll then shift away from the story and go over to the filmmaking aspects. Police bodycams boost realism and provide accountability. The film's "trippy" aspect comes from the possibility of non-supernatural events occurring in characters' minds. Footage review would enhance realism for me. I won't hold it against what we do get though. While I usually dislike digital footage distortion, it works here, contributing to an eerie atmosphere. The only true gripe is that we get CGI near the end for something. It doesn't look great. I am forgiving though as well.
All that is left then are the acting performances. Callica and Rogerson excel as leads, playing morally ambiguous characters. Jackson compromises his ethics to protect his partner, while Bryce, initially villainous, is humanized despite his cover-up. Catherine Lough Haggquist is great as Ally, Officer Jackson's sister. Longshaw softens Bryce. The homeless people are unsettling, evoking the film, Messiah of Evil in how they act. The realistic performances are ideal for this style.
In conclusion, this delivers a compelling and unsettling experience, utilizing the found-footage style to immerse viewers in a nightmare of police corruption and supernatural dread. Director Brandon and co-writer Ryan Christensen craft a narrative that deftly blends social commentary with cosmic horror, showcasing strong performances from Callica and Rogerson. While not every element lands perfectly, the film's effective atmosphere, moral ambiguities, and "trippy" realism make it a captivating watch, especially for fans of unique horror.
My Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
