It’s not unusual for money, power or fame to change a person. The same can probably be said about telekinetic powers, if they existed, of course. That’s the main focus of Chronicle, a new science-fiction film directed by Josh Trank and written by Max Landis.
The main character in the movie, Andrew (Dane DeHaan), lives a tough life. He is abused by his alcoholic father at home and is bullied by his peers at high school. The film begins when Andrew decides to document his life with a camera and that, for the most part, is what the audience sees. Early on we are introduced to Andrew’s cousin Matt, who is a little older and drives him to school every day.
While at school Andrew is subjected to constant teasing from other boys and receives practically no attention from the opposite sex. Despite this he feels powerless to respond and instead allows it to happen again and again.
The two cousins decide to go to a rave and eventually meet up with Steve (Michael B. Jordan), one of the school’s most popular kids and currently in the running to be student government president. The three of them discover a hole in the ground outside the rave and decide to investigate. In the cave they find a large glowing object that emits strange vibrations.
The movie skips ahead a few days and it is revealed the trio now has special powers where they can control things with their minds. From throwing rocks at one another using their newfound telekinetic abilities to moving cars in parking lots, Andrew, Matt and Steve become inseparable. When they learn to fly things start to get really interesting, especially for Andrew whose confidence grows as he learns to use his powers more. It proves to be bittersweet because even though he becomes popular in school, his new skills make him lose sight of what is good and evil.
Andrew’s struggles start long before his telekinetic powers are realized.
Living in a broken home has affected his relationship with those who are legitimately trying to help him, such as his cousin Matt. Once his power grows stronger, Andrew likens himself to the apex predator and feels it is up to him, and him alone, to steal money to pay for his ailing mother’s medication.
All three actors portray their roles consistently, especially DeHaan as the loner teenager with something to prove. The fact the majority of the film is seen through the lens of Andrew’s camera is surprising due to the lack of shakiness usually associated with those types of movies. However, there are times when it does become apparent and can be a little frustrating for the viewer. It certainly doesn’t have that cheap home video sort of look to it and it’s only noticeable every now and then, which in a way adds to the film’s authenticity.
Overall Chronicle is an entertaining movie with some neat special effects. The plot takes a while to develop and those bothered by the personal video camera style might be a little put off, but the acting is solid and the climax proves to be surprising. It’s worth a look. 7 /10
