Review: Chronicle (2012)

"With great power comes great responsibility" are not the words that are going to echo through the minds of any teenager if they someday discover amazing super powers. I know because as a nerd I have spent many an hour speculating on how I would abuse any given meta-human talent and many nights dreaming of flying on my own (literal) wings. Chronicle is an exploration of just that, how real teenagers would take harness of super powers, its an exploration of adolescent anxiety and the very nature of true power.

Chronicle follows 3 teenage boys from varying social castes who are each granted telekinetic badassery from a strange glowing object at a party. They bond over their new demi-god like abilities and slowly train them up together. Andrew, the primary viewpoint into this film is very troubled, his mother dying of an unspecified illness, his abusive father reigning terror upon him, all whilst high school kicks him around for being a bit odd. As his needs change over the film, the way he uses his powers does too and to me this was incredibly interesting as I think it showed a rather unglamorous side to not only super powers but also to the whole teenage experience.

Ok, so its another teenagers with superpowers movie, seen it right? Well this film does have an added gimmick, and yes I use the word gimmick because I hardly think it contributes to the film overall. The film is presented in the 'found footage' style ala Blair Witch or Cloverfield. Its clearly been done to make it more digestible to modern teenagers with access to youtube and viral marketing that has made us somewhat attention deficit consumers of media. At first it works, it adds a sense of reality to the film, but ultimately I think that in this particular case the scale of the film (especially its finale) is held back rather then enhanced by this style. That being said, it does add something, I just don't think that in this particular case it was really the best way to convey the plot, at least not for the entirety of the film. Director Josh Trank very cleverly cheats the rules of the found footage style, when the characters begin to lift the camera's telekinetically to trace them and as a result for much of the film there is not meant to be anyone holding the camera, but rather the camera itself is a technological little character chasing after the boys.

Where this film excelled for me was its themes and I can only hope that its thematic explorations of power where intentional. The relationship between power and user is explored and we are left questioning of whether great power can ever truly be yielded or does true power consume and control its user. Obvious anxieties about the teenage experience are brought up, and without giving too much away events like those witnessed at the Columbine shootings eerily seep through this film. Let it be completely understood that this film has a very dark and clear presence and is not to be mistaken for a 'superhero' film, one viewing will quickly tear apart any notion of spandex clad, superpowers shenanigans. This is not one for children.

Chronicle is a film that is perhaps shackled by its style, but should still be seen anyway. It is dark and true to character. Performances from the 3 leads shine through, with each feeling believable and true to form. I can't help but wonder how much better it could have been if some cinematic style shooting was sliced in amongst the found footage. Then again, the voyueristic passenger feel of this movie is incredible and certainly enhances the menacing undertones. Chronicle is a good flick for anyone wanting a more realistic look into the metahuman or anyone who has ever dreamt of flying. Be warned though, with great power comes great potential for irresponsibility.

Alex

Never regret thy fall, O Icarus...