When I was trying to figure out how I wanted to start this review, I was gonna ask if you believe in aliens? However, that's how I started our Wow Signal review. While that was a documentary on the exploration of rationally explaining a satellite anomaly. This one is not the same way. This film focuses on a parental figure passing down the questioning of life beyond our solar system. When you're young, I feel like this is probably a conversation that parents are having with their children. Though, the parents aren't putting much stock in what the kids are saying. The kids are just being kids.
At what point, does that childish belief manifest into a legitimate way of thinking for adults? It's like religion. To some capacity, there are many kids who grew up around church. At some point, they reach the decision whether they pursue it themselves or walk away. Their parents’ religion slowly transforms into their own. Or it stops completely. It's no different for some of us who believe in UFOs or existence of life beyond our solar system. Though, there must be a healthy transformation to take place. Like I believe in life beyond our solar system because why would we be the only ones in such a large and ever-expanding universe? That's a logical and healthy explanation and question.
Throughout the years, the science fiction genre has found a way to stereotype people like myself. We are portrayed as complete nutcases or weirdos. What if there is merit in this belief? What if we aren't alone in the universe? In the movie, Case 347, a doctor (Maya Stojan) enlists the help of two documentary filmmakers (Chris Wax, Justin Kropik) to answer the question, why do people believe in aliens? Can they be rationally explained? With the film's opening, viewers are led to believe that we could be embarking on a journey set in the vein of The Poughkeepsie Tapes, The Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activity.
That notion is quickly scrapped within the first five minutes of the movie. As we are quickly introduced to Stojan and her mission in making the documentary. Not a bad way to establish the basis and narrative for the film. Only the very exciting content that viewers are hearing Stojan discuss with you never comes. That's one of the most tragic factors for Case. For all the excitement, it is trying to pursue, it never once catches it. The movie is dreadfully boring. Even reaching at one point, to bizarrely redirect the narrative, to reinvent itself. Not even that is enough to save viewers from wanting to fall asleep.
I get that there are movies that are so bad they have good qualities. There are still bad movies I will come back to for those very qualities. Case does not fall under that category. With movies like that, there is a sense of overacting in those films or just sheer ridiculousness. Never does anything like that happen. The writing is a bit forgivable because it has direction. Even if that direction is recalibrated half way through, there was still a clear vision. However, the acting that breathes life into said script is atrocious. In almost every scene, the acting is wooden or flat. In turn, makes the movie that much more painful to get through.
Perhaps the biggest offender to the film is the tone of the movie. The tone quickly establishes that it is aiming to pursue a grounded tone. These documentarians are trying to rationally explain (and debunk) the existence of aliens. About half way through the film that notion is completely abandoned. The film aims to plunge itself into the fantastical while still keeping its grounded storytelling. It's jarring and disjointed, once again, feeding into its boredom.
Overall, Case 347, maybe home to an interesting concept but that is not enough to save this sinking ship. The cast of the movie deliver flat performances that could put even the most awake person to sleep. The monotone deliveries, and occasional scream, only help fester the naptime environment. The messy plot and recalibration of the film's narrative occur too late for audiences to care. While the jury is still out on whether or not aliens do exist. It's safe to say that there are other, better alien movies out there.
RORSCHACH RATING:
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Victims and Villains is written and produced by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey. Music by Yuriy Bespalov & Beggars.