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What lies beneath the surface? That’s the question truly good horror must ask. And when it answers, there better be a payoff worth waiting for. Forget the gore and drama. Forget the great acting by young Gavin Brown. What makes Found such a good movie is the constant reminder that inside us all lies the capacity for great evil and great courage. Good stories, horror or otherwise, never forget that lesson.
The first time I watched Found, I was a bit disappointed. What started as a coming of age story, turned into a gore fest that was quite unexpected. As I’m not a fan of over-the-top violence and gore — I prefer psychological horror to slashers or serial killers — a scene in the middle of the movie distracted me from the overall story. At that time, I watched while checking Facebook, Twitter and important email, and didn’t catch all of the themes and subtext in the movie.
Glad I forgot to write a review then and decided to watch it again since it had been weeks since I first saw it. This time I paid attention throughout, catching themes about what “respectable” people hide. Prejudice, violence, contempt and arrogance. Within the context of that theme and the overall transformation of Marty from bullied weakling to bad ass, the more disturbing parts of the movie fit much better. Don’t get me wrong, some scenes are a bit overdone for my tastes, but I’m not your typical horror fan. Trust me, gore fans will not be disappointed.
The thing is, the gore in this movie was unnecessary, because at the heart of Found lies a great story told through a child’s eyes. Nothing was more chilling than Marty in scary or merely uncomfortable situations. Whether we think Marty is in danger, or he’s having a conversation with a well-meaning, but naive pastor, we experience the appropriate emotions from a twelve-year-old’s point of view. I found myself rooting for Marty, and chastising those around him.
Besides Gavin’s acting, Ethan Philbeck was fantastic as Marty’s older brother. In particular, Ethan had a knack for showing anger and love, often at the same time, using facial expression and body language. Phyllis Munro and Louie Lawless were more than credible as parents of the two boys. Outside of them, performances were generally adequate or better.
Special notices should go to writer Todd Rigney for crafting outstanding dialog and a complete story. Too many low-budget, horror movies focus on special effects and camera tricks at the expense of storytelling. Not so with Found. This story would be just as powerful with or without significant special effects. I’d love to see the screenplay turned into a novel.
Let’s recap, shall we? Great story, fantastic acting, and excessive gore. Sounds like a movie festival fans will love!
So, what lies beneath, deep within Marty? Does he have the capacity for great evil? I’m not tellin’. Watch Found to find out. You’ll be glad you did.
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