MovieChat Forums > Amber Alert (2012) Discussion > I actually didn't think this was that ba...

I actually didn't think this was that bad.

posted 12 years ago by mahou_fancy_lala
3 replies | jump to latest

Found footage is pretty hit or miss (more of the latter) nowadays. However, the concept sounded at least different and kind of more plausible than another supernatural rehash.

Firstly, the protagonists are so downright irritating that it almost made me want to turn the movie off thirty minutes in. Then again, I thought to myself: how is someone supposed to react in this situation? Being cool, calm and collected is less realistic than the trio freaking out and screaming at one another. I do feel that the female protagonist could have been given a little more history so that her behavior would have been more understandable (I know people are going to write her off as a complete b-#-t-c-h or whatever). You know, maybe she went through a similar experience as a kid? I imagine anyone could become that irrationally emotional over this ordeal. Anyway.

The movie finally progressed into more of a thriller, which ultimately saved it for me. There was so much tension and concern (even for the leads, who I didn't like) that I couldn't turn away from the screen. I was genuinely scared despite knowing how these type of movies end.

So yeah, Amber Alert isn't the new top model for found footage horror. I do appreciate that it's different, and the suspense kept me glued to the movie.

[–] alesisqs61 12 years ago

They were annoying...like real people...that's why it worked. The acting was so believable is why it was tense and scary at the end. If this had been the "first" Blair With type movie, it would have had a HUGE reaction to it.

Never did it seem like the actors were remembering lines which is a good thing.

The 2 leads nailed the roles. I'd say that only the cameraman, whom we never see had some poorly delivered sounding dialog if I had to make 1 gripe. The bad guy was creepy too. I personally was never bored and I was indeed nervous at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/user/alphazoom
http://www.vimeo.com/1986276

[–] TheBeardedWonder 12 years ago

Agreed on most accounts. It started out real badly, but it picks up about halfway through. Then it turns into almost an amateur detective type movie, and it becomes at least watchable. Like you said it progresses into a more of a thriller, compared to the awful opening act anyway.

Was it amazing? Hell no! Was it better, or at least as good as most found footage movies that come out? I think so...

"My first name is Mister, my middle name is the period between, and my last name is T." - Mr. T

[–] redban (6645) 4 years ago

My one issue with the movie is that girl came across as irritating and idiotic. She basically walked right into their deaths.

But overall, the movie was good. There were a ton of creepy moments, such as the molester's dialogue from the speaker. I was on edge the entire time they were inside the molester's home.