So, lets cut to the chase--I'm not a big fan of "Grace Encounters". That's not to say that the film is terrible--it's not, in my opinion. If you want a quick, mediocre scare, then this is the film to do it. From a critical standpoint, the film is not good and scores low. However, from a purely scare-fan perspective, the film's alright and the scares are good.
"Grave Encounters"
Tagline: "They were searching for proof... they found it."
Short Bio:
"For their ghost hunting reality show, a production crew locks themselves inside an abandoned mental hospital that's supposedly haunted - and it might prove to be all too true."
Long Bio:
In a mock of Paranormal television shows everywhere, "Grave Encounters focuses on a team of "Paranormal" investigators (who, in actuality, are faking it for the purposes of a television show): Lance Preston (the head, the "Zak Bagans", of the show), Sasha Parker (the "Occult Specialist", the whinny, annoying girl of the show), T.C. Gibson (he DOES NOT die first), Matt White ("Tech Specialist", not much to say except that he was annoying), and Houston Gray (the resident "Psychic", who turns out to just be a shitty actor, much like the actor who plays him). The five-some investigate the infamous "Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital", initially finding nothing and fabricating evidence--until discovering the dark forces that haunt the troubled, rundown hospital. With loads of "special" effects, shaky camera operating, and dramatic acting "Grave Encounters" seems to insure a good scare... Or does it? dun dun DUNNNNN!!!
Quick Stats
Overall Score: 72% (72.1), C-
Camera Work: D-
Acting: F+
Storyline: F+
Scare Factor: C+
Reality Factor: D-
Transitions: B+
Sound: A-
Availability: A
Effectiveness: D-
Workability: F
Camera Work:
The camera work of "Grave Encounters" is poor at best. The biggest flaw is the fact that each "scare" is set up with the camera--poor camera operation and placement result in the hint of a scare on its way. Every time it seems to get to a point where a scare should be, the camera is framed too perfect--now, yes, that sounds stupid (being framed too "perfectly"), but the draw of the Found Footage genre is the fact that the camera just happens to capturing these events, and they're not set up or planned--"Grave Encounters" shatters this illusion by setting up the shots too perfectly and ultimately gives away good scares. Also the "Archival Footage"... are you fucking kidding me? The footage looks anything but "archival"--it looks like cheap, MODERN camera work, overlaid with a vintage filter. The same can be said for the "Archival Photographs" too. Also, in general the camera work is just poor: early in the film (during the filming for the sixth episode) the camera never seems to achieve a steady movement and is just poorly focused and positioned. The only good thing that can be said about the camera work is the placement of multiple cameras around the hospital (the fact that these cameras run for a very, very long amount of time, however, is a "mystery"--a mystery in bull, but I'll get to that a little later) was a smart move on the Vicious Brother's part--as it allowed for multiple view points and perspectives, without shattering the reality of a Found Footage film. In the category of Camera Work, "Grave Encounters" receives a D- (just barely, I'm being nice).
Acting:
The acting and actors of "Grave Encounters" is... are... it's BAD. Let's just be honest, it's bad.
It's the horrible mixture between underacting and overacting. It's just not good. The only thing that really saves "Grave Encounters" in the acting department is Lance's scenes at the very end of the film--he's pretty convincing and genuine, and definitely bumps up the score. Basically, that's all I can say about the acting of "Grave Encounters"--it's bad, but only seems to get slightly better at the end. In the category of Acting, "Grave Encounters" receives an F+.
Storyline:
The storyline of "Grave Encounters" is actually not bad--it's just executed poorly. The story plays on the new fear (due to the overwhelming amount of Paranormal television shows) regarding the new Paranormal television show trend. The idea that you could get trapped while innocently looking into a different world it quite frightening--almost that... Alice in Wonderland with no escape feeling. There are parts of the script that are weak: the continuous references to Paranormal television shows (the "X-Camera", Ghost Adventures, and the use of a dramatic Psychic, Paranormal State), the characters are not at all well written (they lack depth and change), and the obvious question as to how the producer acquired this footage--if the investigators couldn't get out, how did he get in and find their footage? So, there are holes and the story wasn't executed well, but it's a good idea and could have been better. In the category of Storyline, "Grave Encounters" receives an F+.
Scare Factor:
The scares of "Grave Encounters" are good, however the poor camera operation ruins them at times. Most of the scares are really unexpected, which is great (however, even with the unexpectedness of them, the camera still inhibits the scares from being truly effective). The use of multiple rooms--giving the felling of totally being lost--was a good move and definitely amped up the severity of the scares. The only negative regarding the scares of "Grave Encounters" is the fact that it's not what the scare is it's how it's produced: meaning that what actually scares the investigators (and the audience) is not what's scary, it's that pause, that... moment of air between us and the thing, before the big reveal. After the initial scare, sure the thing's scary and creepy (the wide mouth thing is quite odd and sticks with you for a bit, but it's nothing to write home about. In the category of Scare Factor, "Grave Encounters" receives a C+.
Reality Factor:
"Grave Encounters" has a fair to poor reality factor. What makes the film realistic is: the use of unknown and non-established actors, the use of an authentic hospital, and props (meaning the bracelets Lance, Sasha, TC, and Matt mysteriously receive). However, what makes the film unrealistic and what shatters the reality of the film is definitely the story line and the acting--the acting just doesn't carry the story well. Furthermore, there are major plot holes that lead to increased question of the reality, for example: how did the producer, seen at the beginning of the film (and not at the end, which may have benefitted the film if he had ended the film as he had introduced the film), get this footage? Sure, the cameras are all over the place, but what about Lance's camera, which was in the bellows of the hospital? Also, I accept that the cameras continued to roll and record, I just can't accept that "ghosts" would also keep the battery going on the cameras too. Lastly, I have to mention the cell phone that Lance shows to the camera--a moment where I had to rewind the film because I couldn't believe that he would actually have such an old model of cellphone--and that was when I was just disgusted with the reality factor of the film. There are just too many instances where the film just makes you go, "Really?". In the category of Reality Factor, "Grave Encounters" receives a D-.
Transitions:
The transitions of "Grave Encounters" are actually done pretty well. The entire film is meant to feel like this never ending night, that ceases to end or change, and this is exactly what the film puts across. The use of the ticking timers at the bottom of some of the static cameras is also a nice touch (at first showing the correct amount of hours they have been rolling, then later on in the film showing a running sequence of numbers as the tickers have stopped counting). The film's ambition is to confuse the audience on the date and time, which it effectively does. In the category of Transitions, "Grave Encounters" receives a B+.
Sound:
"Grave Encounters" definitely uses sound to it's advantage. The hospital has a very nice echo (especially in the tunnels), which gives a creepier feel to the whole film. Furthermore, the sound I refer to as "chaos" benefits the film: it's the sound that plays during any moment of chaos during the film, like when a scare is happening. It works, but that idea of a "chaos" sound is kind of... cheap in my opinion, but it does work for "Grave Encounters". In the category of Sound, "Grave Encounters" receives an A-.
Availability:
"Grave Encounters" is pretty available. I streamed it from Netflix (as I have an account), but there are PLENTY (seriously, there's a lot) of links online too see it. In the category of Availability, "Grave Encounters" receives an A.
Effectiveness:
So, how effective is "Grave Encounters" in selling the idea that the entire film is not a work of fiction? Well... Through the use of unknown actors, the film gets good points in favor. However, with the poorly executed scares, the film loses those points. Sure, the "producer" at the beginning of the film definitely adds to the effectiveness, but that leads to the question of how exactly this "producer" got the footage and how would the FCC even pass such a film that actually shows such horrible things? "Grave Encounters" isn't horrible, but it's not great--it just has too many cons to save it. In the category of Effectiveness, "Grave Encounters" receives an D-.
Workability:
Sadly, "Grave Encounters" does not work. For multiple reasons. There's too many questions, too many "Seriously?"-moments, too many screw ups. Whether it's the writers fault or the Vicious Brothers fault, it doesn't seem to matter that much. The problem lies within the idea of the film: sure, the premise is frightening, but it just wasn't executed well, and how could it? It was just too much to swallow. With that said, in the category of Workability, "Grave Encounters" receives an F.
Final Thoughts
"Grave Encounters" isn't terrible, it's not. It's not great, but it's not terrible. It's a good way to kill a few hours and it's good for a few scares. That's all. I don't hate it, it'll be my go-to film to explain Found Footage Films, but that's all it really has.
Favorite Scene:
The scene wherein Lance Preston bludgeons a rat to death and then eats it.
"Grave Encounters"
Tagline: "They were searching for proof... they found it."
Short Bio:
"For their ghost hunting reality show, a production crew locks themselves inside an abandoned mental hospital that's supposedly haunted - and it might prove to be all too true."
Long Bio:
In a mock of Paranormal television shows everywhere, "Grave Encounters focuses on a team of "Paranormal" investigators (who, in actuality, are faking it for the purposes of a television show): Lance Preston (the head, the "Zak Bagans", of the show), Sasha Parker (the "Occult Specialist", the whinny, annoying girl of the show), T.C. Gibson (he DOES NOT die first), Matt White ("Tech Specialist", not much to say except that he was annoying), and Houston Gray (the resident "Psychic", who turns out to just be a shitty actor, much like the actor who plays him). The five-some investigate the infamous "Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital", initially finding nothing and fabricating evidence--until discovering the dark forces that haunt the troubled, rundown hospital. With loads of "special" effects, shaky camera operating, and dramatic acting "Grave Encounters" seems to insure a good scare... Or does it? dun dun DUNNNNN!!!
Quick Stats
Overall Score: 72% (72.1), C-
Camera Work: D-
Acting: F+
Storyline: F+
Scare Factor: C+
Reality Factor: D-
Transitions: B+
Sound: A-
Availability: A
Effectiveness: D-
Workability: F
Camera Work:
The camera work of "Grave Encounters" is poor at best. The biggest flaw is the fact that each "scare" is set up with the camera--poor camera operation and placement result in the hint of a scare on its way. Every time it seems to get to a point where a scare should be, the camera is framed too perfect--now, yes, that sounds stupid (being framed too "perfectly"), but the draw of the Found Footage genre is the fact that the camera just happens to capturing these events, and they're not set up or planned--"Grave Encounters" shatters this illusion by setting up the shots too perfectly and ultimately gives away good scares. Also the "Archival Footage"... are you fucking kidding me? The footage looks anything but "archival"--it looks like cheap, MODERN camera work, overlaid with a vintage filter. The same can be said for the "Archival Photographs" too. Also, in general the camera work is just poor: early in the film (during the filming for the sixth episode) the camera never seems to achieve a steady movement and is just poorly focused and positioned. The only good thing that can be said about the camera work is the placement of multiple cameras around the hospital (the fact that these cameras run for a very, very long amount of time, however, is a "mystery"--a mystery in bull, but I'll get to that a little later) was a smart move on the Vicious Brother's part--as it allowed for multiple view points and perspectives, without shattering the reality of a Found Footage film. In the category of Camera Work, "Grave Encounters" receives a D- (just barely, I'm being nice).
Acting:
The acting and actors of "Grave Encounters" is... are... it's BAD. Let's just be honest, it's bad.
It's the horrible mixture between underacting and overacting. It's just not good. The only thing that really saves "Grave Encounters" in the acting department is Lance's scenes at the very end of the film--he's pretty convincing and genuine, and definitely bumps up the score. Basically, that's all I can say about the acting of "Grave Encounters"--it's bad, but only seems to get slightly better at the end. In the category of Acting, "Grave Encounters" receives an F+.
Storyline:
The storyline of "Grave Encounters" is actually not bad--it's just executed poorly. The story plays on the new fear (due to the overwhelming amount of Paranormal television shows) regarding the new Paranormal television show trend. The idea that you could get trapped while innocently looking into a different world it quite frightening--almost that... Alice in Wonderland with no escape feeling. There are parts of the script that are weak: the continuous references to Paranormal television shows (the "X-Camera", Ghost Adventures, and the use of a dramatic Psychic, Paranormal State), the characters are not at all well written (they lack depth and change), and the obvious question as to how the producer acquired this footage--if the investigators couldn't get out, how did he get in and find their footage? So, there are holes and the story wasn't executed well, but it's a good idea and could have been better. In the category of Storyline, "Grave Encounters" receives an F+.
Scare Factor:
The scares of "Grave Encounters" are good, however the poor camera operation ruins them at times. Most of the scares are really unexpected, which is great (however, even with the unexpectedness of them, the camera still inhibits the scares from being truly effective). The use of multiple rooms--giving the felling of totally being lost--was a good move and definitely amped up the severity of the scares. The only negative regarding the scares of "Grave Encounters" is the fact that it's not what the scare is it's how it's produced: meaning that what actually scares the investigators (and the audience) is not what's scary, it's that pause, that... moment of air between us and the thing, before the big reveal. After the initial scare, sure the thing's scary and creepy (the wide mouth thing is quite odd and sticks with you for a bit, but it's nothing to write home about. In the category of Scare Factor, "Grave Encounters" receives a C+.
Reality Factor:
"Grave Encounters" has a fair to poor reality factor. What makes the film realistic is: the use of unknown and non-established actors, the use of an authentic hospital, and props (meaning the bracelets Lance, Sasha, TC, and Matt mysteriously receive). However, what makes the film unrealistic and what shatters the reality of the film is definitely the story line and the acting--the acting just doesn't carry the story well. Furthermore, there are major plot holes that lead to increased question of the reality, for example: how did the producer, seen at the beginning of the film (and not at the end, which may have benefitted the film if he had ended the film as he had introduced the film), get this footage? Sure, the cameras are all over the place, but what about Lance's camera, which was in the bellows of the hospital? Also, I accept that the cameras continued to roll and record, I just can't accept that "ghosts" would also keep the battery going on the cameras too. Lastly, I have to mention the cell phone that Lance shows to the camera--a moment where I had to rewind the film because I couldn't believe that he would actually have such an old model of cellphone--and that was when I was just disgusted with the reality factor of the film. There are just too many instances where the film just makes you go, "Really?". In the category of Reality Factor, "Grave Encounters" receives a D-.
Transitions:
The transitions of "Grave Encounters" are actually done pretty well. The entire film is meant to feel like this never ending night, that ceases to end or change, and this is exactly what the film puts across. The use of the ticking timers at the bottom of some of the static cameras is also a nice touch (at first showing the correct amount of hours they have been rolling, then later on in the film showing a running sequence of numbers as the tickers have stopped counting). The film's ambition is to confuse the audience on the date and time, which it effectively does. In the category of Transitions, "Grave Encounters" receives a B+.
Sound:
"Grave Encounters" definitely uses sound to it's advantage. The hospital has a very nice echo (especially in the tunnels), which gives a creepier feel to the whole film. Furthermore, the sound I refer to as "chaos" benefits the film: it's the sound that plays during any moment of chaos during the film, like when a scare is happening. It works, but that idea of a "chaos" sound is kind of... cheap in my opinion, but it does work for "Grave Encounters". In the category of Sound, "Grave Encounters" receives an A-.
Availability:
"Grave Encounters" is pretty available. I streamed it from Netflix (as I have an account), but there are PLENTY (seriously, there's a lot) of links online too see it. In the category of Availability, "Grave Encounters" receives an A.
Effectiveness:
So, how effective is "Grave Encounters" in selling the idea that the entire film is not a work of fiction? Well... Through the use of unknown actors, the film gets good points in favor. However, with the poorly executed scares, the film loses those points. Sure, the "producer" at the beginning of the film definitely adds to the effectiveness, but that leads to the question of how exactly this "producer" got the footage and how would the FCC even pass such a film that actually shows such horrible things? "Grave Encounters" isn't horrible, but it's not great--it just has too many cons to save it. In the category of Effectiveness, "Grave Encounters" receives an D-.
Workability:
Sadly, "Grave Encounters" does not work. For multiple reasons. There's too many questions, too many "Seriously?"-moments, too many screw ups. Whether it's the writers fault or the Vicious Brothers fault, it doesn't seem to matter that much. The problem lies within the idea of the film: sure, the premise is frightening, but it just wasn't executed well, and how could it? It was just too much to swallow. With that said, in the category of Workability, "Grave Encounters" receives an F.
Final Thoughts
"Grave Encounters" isn't terrible, it's not. It's not great, but it's not terrible. It's a good way to kill a few hours and it's good for a few scares. That's all. I don't hate it, it'll be my go-to film to explain Found Footage Films, but that's all it really has.
Favorite Scene:
The scene wherein Lance Preston bludgeons a rat to death and then eats it.
Important Links
Official Movie Website: http://www.graveencountersthriller.com/
IMDB Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1703199/
Wikipedia Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_Encounters
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