Chronicle

Cast View all

	Dane DeHaan	Andrew Detmer
	Alex Russell	Matt Garetty
	Michael B. Jordan	Steve Montgomery
	Michael Kelly	Richard Detmer
	Ashley Hinshaw	Casey Letter
	Bo Petersen	Karen Detmer
	Anna Wood	Monica
	Rudi Malcolm	Wayne
	Luke Tyler	Sean
	Crystal-Donna Roberts	Samantha
	Adrian Collins	Costly
	Grant Powell	Howard
	Armand Aucamp	Austin
	Nicole Bailey	Cala
	Lynita Crofford	Casey's Mom
	Royston Stoffels	Pharmacist
	Patrick John Walton	Park Ranger
	Lance Elliot	Police Officer
	Nadine Suliaman	School Flyer Girl
	Pierre Malherbe	Police Detective
	Joe Vaz	Michael Ernesto
	Matthew Dylan Roberts	Ernesto's Neighbour
	Allen Irwin	Redneck Trucker
	Chelsea King	Girl in Window
	Francois Coetzee	Thug #3

Crew View all

Director	Josh Trank
Writer	Max Landis, Josh Trank
Producer	Greig Buckle, John Davis, James Dodson, Adam Schroeder, Katie Shapiro
Photography	Matthew Jensen

Trailer

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Personal

Notes

My quick rating - 6.9/10. Barely missing the 7 mark, and only because the camera sometimes forgets it’s supposed to help us see things. Chronicle takes the overused “teens get superpowers” setup and actually makes it feel fresh. So, suspend disbelief, grab your Dramamine, and dive in.

Three high school buddies accidentally acquire telekinetic powers after poking around a glowing hole in the ground (always a great idea). At first, they’re just doing what any of us would—playing pranks, moving Legos with their minds, and recording everything on what must’ve been the busiest camcorder in Seattle. But soon, the fun turns darker as one of them starts to crack under the weight of, well, being a hormonal teenager with godlike powers.

What makes Chronicle stand out is how it grounds its story. It’s not about saving the world—it’s about what happens when power amplifies insecurity, anger, and isolation. The whole thing feels uncomfortably real at times, like if Carrie met The Blair Witch Project but with better special effects and fewer people terrified of trees.

Speaking of effects, they’re seriously impressive. The way the visual trickery blends into the found-footage style is seamless—so much so that it kind of sets a new bar for the genre. The flying scenes, the chaos, the destruction—it all feels immediate and raw. You believe these kids are actually doing this stuff, and that’s a credit to both the effects team and the actors, who sell the transformation from goofy teens to tragic figures with surprising depth.

The pacing is near perfect; the 90 minutes fly by and build toward an emotional and inevitable finale that’s both thrilling and sad. If it weren’t for the occasional moment where you’re squinting at the screen, wondering who’s holding the camera—or which way is up—this would easily have broken into the 7s. I read some people even got motion sick in theaters, and honestly, I can see why.

Still, Chronicle is one of the rare found-footage films that actually justifies its style. It’s bold, tight, and way more thoughtful than it has any right to be. This is the kind of movie that reminds you how good the format can be when someone actually puts effort into it. So fire up your streamer of choice, dim the lights, and enjoy the ride—just maybe keep a barf bag nearby.

And ladies, if the rumored sequel ever materializes, I’m there day one.

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