Found footage anthologies aren’t really a trend that’s caught on. Of course the V/H/S franchise is the best we’ve got so far and even that’s hit or miss.
Recently Conjuring Tapes landed on Amazon to rent or buy and me falling for the title’s buzzword, had to check it out, and guess what it’s not that bad; I say that with a semi-straight face.
A young woman plagued by visions of a woman’s suicide by a self inflicted gunshot wound, finds several video tapes with titles such as Ouija and Possession written in Sharpie. She plays each one. In true found footage form, each tape is shot in POV fashion documenting tales of the supernatural.
It’s very V/H/S in concept but it’s a passable dupe that does nothing with its shopworn plots, but ultimately it’s an okay time.
First is “Ouija” wherein a group of friends play with the titular board game and release a demon. It’s simple and derivative so don’t expect much.
Better is “Possession,” an Evil Dead type story in which a videographer documents what he thinks is a gag.
Better still is “Grief” about a therapist who consults a disturbed patient who says he has something inside of his soul.
The movie takes a jarring left turn and becomes a story about the Sacred Redemption Order (SRO) a cult that says it can heal people by literally excising their demons. It’s the best story of the lot; it puts into perspective the talent of Conjuring Tapes directors Robert Livings and Randy Nundlall Jr, two talented filmmakers perhaps limited only by their budget.
Conjuring Tapes is a rehash of other ideas, but most films are these days. The actors could use with a few more acting classes and the makeup department needs more money but overall Conjuring Tapes isn’t the worst thing in the bargain bin.
Here’s the pitch: “While sorting through their late friend’s belongings, two women discover VHS tapes showing them in haunting, unfamiliar scenes, each one drawing them into the grasp of a mysterious, malevolent entity.”
Conjuring Tapes doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It’s a portfolio entry piece for the writers and directors, which isn’t going to score them a big Hollywood deal just yet. But sometimes, we as the audience just want to put on a movie, scroll on our phones and look up when the music turns tense lest we miss a plot point our subconscious thinks we might find important.
