Chronicle

Josh Trank's Chronicle is a film about three Seatlle high-school seniors who become best friends after receiving telekinetic powers from an alien object. The films protagonist is Andrew Detmer, an unpopular and frequently bullied kid who's home life is a wreck. He starts videotaping his life. At home, Andrew faces an alcoholic father and a mother slowly dying of cancer. Andrew's cousin Matt invites him to a club and after a run-in with an angry attendee, Andrew leaves to be alone and cry. Steve, a popular student, persuades Andrew to video tape something strange him and Matt found in the woods. The three teens approach a strange hole in the ground and they gain telekinetic powers. A week later the boys are videotaped displaying their newly found powers. At first, they use their powers for pranks, but later in the film, Andrew almost kills a rude driver by pushing him off the road and into a river with his mind. The three vow to only use their powers on non-living creatures. Later, things get better in Andrew's life because he enters his local high school talent show and uses his abilities for card tricks and balancing acts. He was recognized and praised by his peers, until he threw up on a girl at a house party. Andrew, becoming more hostile, used his powers to fight back against his abusive father. Andrew also uses his powers to kill one of his close friends, Steve by striking him with a bolt of lightning! At school, Andrew uses his powers to rip out the teeth of a bully. Andrew is changing. When his mother runs out of medicine, Andrew becomes desperate and angry enough to rob a couple of thugs for the money. He also robs a gas station and accidentally causes an explosion that lands him in the hospital. While unconscious, Andrew's father informs him that his mother has died and blames him for all of it. Andrew wakes up and blows a hole in the outer wall of the hospital. Sensing something is wrong and seeing a news report of a hospital explosion, Matt travels to the hospital and finds Andrew floating in the air, ready to drop his father from stories I the air. After rescuing Andrews father, Matt tries to reason with Andrew, but he's becoming more insane. Andrew then attacks Matt and they fight and fly across the city, crashing into buildings. As Andrew becomes more hostile, threatening innocent civilians with his destructive abilities, Matt realizes he can't help him anymore. Matt has no choice but to tear a spear from a statue and impale Andrew with it. Matt then escapes the police by flying away.

This film is one of my favorites because it has action and a sci-if element to it, but Andrew's character is what makes the film phenomenal to me. To see a shy and depressed boy morph into a destructive monster is a scary and fantastic ride. I believe a fantastic film needs a fantastic character, one who the audience can relate with and also feel bad for. Transforming the main character into the villain takes a lot of skill, and I believe the writers pulled it off flawlessly.