A Second Son

Not a movie I would recommend to everyone, but one I enjoyed for the most part.

It's not an outright horror movie, save for one pretty wild scene near the middle, but it's got good a atmosphere. The first act is dedicated mostly to the family dynamic, specifically the tense relationship between Emily and her mother and the more supportive one between her and her brother. It almost felt something like "Exhibit A". Around the halfway point, it takes a big tone shift more towards the Mystery/Thriller side of things, which I'm not sure was the best idea. I feel like it lost some of the "heart", so to speak. Thankfully, the film didn't drag on too long when the more political and religious aspects came in, so it never quite lost me. A few of the line readings can be unconvincing (the doctor and the interview scenes are pretty rough) but overall it felt very well acted. Everyone in the family felt very believable. I'm surprised the main actress doesn't have any other major role credits! It ends pretty abruptly, but it makes sense in the context of the film so I can forgive it. It happens more often than not in found footage features ;P

If you like a family drama with a sprinkle of religious mythology, it might be worth it to check it out. Not perfect, not one of the best FF movie I've seen, but it definitely deserves more than the 20 ratings it currently has.

...I am, however, dropping a star for the scene of the underage girl in her underwear. Seriously, dude? C'mon.