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[Review] ‘Rorschach’ is a Subtle and Engaging Thriller

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While Found-Footage is certainly a sub-genre worthy of respect, with quite a few memorable entries over the past few decades, it’s also true that giving any random filmmaker the power to produce his own (usually horror) movie with minimum production requirements is a bit risky. However, this formula has graced us with new gems like Paranormal Activity in the past, and now continues to provide us with unexpected scares through films like C.A. Smith’s Rorschach.

Starring Ricky Lee Barnes and Ross Compton as “Ricky” and “Ross”, a duo of skeptic paranormal investigators, Rorschach chronicles the team’s efforts as they deal with strange occurrences in a seemingly normal suburban home. Contacted by Jamy (Jamy Gillespie), a single mother worried that the paranormal activity in her household may soon harm her daughter Ashlynn, Ricky and Ross begin to document their experiences with the family.

The film is presented to us as the edited collection of all the footage recorded by the investigators, which is both a blessing and a curse. In a way, this allows for clever presentation of the strange events surrounding the house, while still maintaining a high level of credibility (which is one of the strongest aspects of the film). On the other hand, knowing from the start that Ricky and Ross survive to edit and present their footage as a feature film somewhat hinders the hard-earned suspense that permeates the rest of the movie.

Despite this, Rorschach is an incredibly engaging picture that utilizes this extremely believable and realistic premise to its fullest extent. At times, it seems as though the amateurish, documentary-style filmmaking would feel right at home as an episode of one of the many ghost-hunting shows that plague cable television. This even extends to the subtle nature of most of the movie’s scares, which reward viewer patience and attention to detail, while not resorting to traditional jump scares that might ruin Smith’s carefully constructed realism.

Rorschach certainly isn’t for everyone, however, as the film’s deliberate pacing places it closer to movies like Ti West’s The Innkeepers, rather than similar found footage films like Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity franchise. This results in a divisive experience that some moviegoers may find boring instead of immersive. I personally didn’t mind the slower nature of the experience, as piecing together the film’s implied backstory through the many clues and red herrings scattered across the picture was entertaining enough for me.

Ultimately, Rorschach is a remarkable example of low-budget horror done right, as it plays with viewer expectations and presents us with a realistic yet frightening view of the paranormal. The ending might feel slightly unsatisfying to some, as there are no real conclusions, only hints of a larger story going on in the background, but it makes sense within the film’s premise. While I would have liked to see more of the supernatural throughout the story, Rorschach is still one hell of a fun ride if you have the patience to reach the end.

Rorschach will be available for free on Youtube for a limited time, so you can check it out below!

Born Brazilian, raised Canadian, Luiz is a writer and Film student that spends most of his time watching movies and subsequently complaining about them.

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SCREAMBOX Investigates UFOs and Extraterrestrials: Several Documentaries Streaming Right Now!

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As someone who is obsessed with UFOS (or more recently known as UAPs) and the concept of extraterrestrials, I love a good documentary. Sightings have been on the rise since the 1940s, with the atomic bomb seemingly acting as a catalyst for new visitors. But what are these UFOs/UAPs? Is there an explanation or are they simply beyond our explanation? Why are they here? Who are they? How much do our governments know? The questions are endless and so are the documentaries that attempt to uncover the secrets behind decades of sightings and alleged confrontations.

Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or new to the rabbit hole, there’s always a handful of interesting documentaries to get your neurons firing and leave you with sleepless nights. SCREAMBOX is investigating with the addition of several docs, all streaming now on the Bloody Disgusting-powered service. Here’s the breakdown:

Aliens (2021): Beam into this unidentified streaming documentary for a glimpse into Extraterrestrial life. Aliens are hypothetical life forms that may occur outside Earth or that did not originate on Earth.

Aliens Uncovered: Origins (2021): Before Area 51, hidden deep in the desert, the military discovered a hidden gem that helped them create Project Bluebook.

Aliens Uncovered: ET or Man-Made (2022): The crash of Roswell wasn’t meant for New Mexico. In 1947, a neighboring state had 3 major sightings that were swept under the rug.

Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record (2023): In the late 70s, the US government launched a message to our distant neighbors.

Roswell (2021): This high-flying documentary examines the July 1947 crash of a United States Army Air Forces balloon at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Theories claim the crash was actually that of a flying saucer, but what is the truth?

Also check out:

The British UFO Files (2004): Since the 1940’s the British Government has been investigating the Flying Saucer phenomenon. High-ranking military and government personnel, speak out for the first time, offering unique eyewitness accounts and inside information.

Alien Abductions and Paranormal Sightings (2016): Amazing Footage and stories from real people as they reveal their personal encounters of being abducted by Aliens.

And do not miss Hellier (2019): A crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in a dying coal town, where a series of strange coincidences lead them to a decades-old mystery.

These documentaries join SCREAMBOX’s growing library of unique horror content, including Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, Here for Blood, Terrifier 2, RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, The Outwaters, Living with Chucky, Project Wolf Hunting, and Pennywise: The Story of IT.

Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.

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