After many years of following the Horror genre, I can say it is as diverse a category as anything else. With my favorite sub genres being Slashers, Paranormal, Exorcisms, and Found Footage, I am overly familiar with the roots of the genre. Like many others, I really discovered the category of Found Footage with The Blair Witch Project while I was in high school at the end of the 90s. The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity are probably the two most famous and widely known series.
When you look at the history of the genre, it has come a long way. The original entry, Cannibal Holocaust, revolved around movie executives reviewing the film recovered after a documentary crew was killed by a tribe and eaten after they’d treated the locals like garbage for filming’s sake. The attention the film received may have not been what people expected: they were investigated by law enforcement because people that the deaths were real and suspected that they had recorded murder. It was banned in many countries for a long time. To this day, it still has its almost cult following. Then you have The McPherson Tape from 1989 that really put all the details and touches on Found Footage that it became known for. Viewing events through the lens of a camera helps the viewer be a victim or participant. The McPherson Tape took place during a birthday party that was interrupted by an alien abduction. For its time, it was believable and really freaked some people out. Fast forward to The Blair Witch Project and the genre finally blew up into its own category of horror.
Reportage November is a Swedish take on Found Footage. After the disappearance of a mother and her daughter, a small team of journalists and camera men go on a trip to investigate the mysterious events. In typical fashion, missing information comes to light that causes them to question the overall reported story. While investigating, nothing goes as planned and the entire trip goes downhill. Reportage November almost rehashes the formula that made The Blair Witch Project so famous and interesting. Is it by any means original? No. However, it is interesting to watch. When the twist of what is happening finally reveals itself, it gives you a reason that makes it all the more believable.
To this day, people question if something was actually happening in The Blair Witch Project, or if it was just hysteria between a group of lost investigators. That is where Reportage strays. They build to the background story of the area and answer more questions that it raised earlier in the progression of its events. That exact reason of having a more defined and specific story outcome is what makes it all worth it. They give you proper closure on the main story and a progressive twist. The investigative journalism is what drives the story. They are trying to find out what happened in the first place and get the details of the investigation and background, ultimately leading up to the mystery surrounding the missing woman and child.
The big issue I have with Reportage November is that for much of the movie, it is almost a complete retelling of The Blair Witch Project. Most of the film takes place with the crew getting to the forest area the disappearance took place at and then the wandering begins. That is the main problem I had. It is essentially the same movie. The only difference is a bit more closure with the story than The Blair Witch Project had originally. It does cause some distractions due to all the times I would think “huh, I have seen this before.”
Overall, I did enjoy Reportage, but it seemed extremely familiar due to how closely it played out like The Blair Witch Project. It is a good addition to the Found Footage subgenre but nothing groundbreaking. If you’re a fan of this style of movie, it definitely scratches that itch. If you are expecting something new and different, then you won’t be happy. Me being a fan of the category meant I enjoyed it but wasn’t overly impressed. Its feeling of being generic is what takes away from a story that is interesting once it’s revealed what is going on.
Rorschach Rating:
Mental Health Moment: One of the themes of the movie was panic and anxiety, both from being lost in an unfamiliar place, and lost and creepy events starting to unfold. In today's society, both have become far more common issues with such an uncertain future. Worrying about where money is going to come from to pay bills or will I have a job tomorrow all play roles for many people. Others have extreme anxiety when the thought of having to be around large groups of people. In almost all cases, panic and anxiety are perfectly valid for them and their mindset. There are plenty of resources that offer techniques and practices to help manage anxiety and panic attacks. Therapists are available for anyone willing to seek out help. The important thing to remember is that everyone has anxiety about something. Those that seem like they have it more together than others have just learned to manage it more effectively than others. If you know someone like that, they may be a good resource to ask how they did it.
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. We do not own nor claim any rights.
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