If found footage is your thing,you will loveee the film

I thought I would hate this movie when I saw the trailer. I've been fooled before by found footage horror movies about people going to a secluded place in search of the supernatural, yadah yadah yadah. Usually they're terrible, but I saw this one and was pleasantly surprised. My biggest complaint is that the part of the movie focusing on the documentarian who has found this footage, the real meat of the movie, isn't very engaging at all. Half of the movie focuses on 3 kids trying to find proof of aliens, but we are gradually shown this story through the story of the main kid's sister uncovering the footage. Whenever it cut back to the sister, I just wanted to get back to the main plot. However, the long setup is very much worth the payoff at the very end. This is a slow burn film that takes a while for the important events to happen, but the final act of the film is well worth the wait. I don't often get scared by horror movies, but the ending of this films kind of terrified me. Paranoia slowly builds until we're treated to a very tense ending that gives enough closure to satisfy but also leaves a few things to the imagination. Phoenix forgotten isn't fantastic, but for what it's worth, it's much better than most of the other formulaic horror movies studios are currently cranking out. It's well acted and produced, and I liked it. Don't be expecting to much, but if you're in the mood for a good UFO movie, I'd recommend it.

Sophie Bishop returns to Phoenix. It was 20 years earlier that UFOs interrupted her 6th birthday party. Her older brother Josh pursued the UFO with friends, Ashley and Mark. They go missing soon after. In present day, Josh's old footage is found and Sophie follows the investigation.The present day stuff is lacking any tension. It's circling the old footage. It would be more compelling to play all of the old footage first. At least, there is an expected payoff with the found footage and that gives them some tension. The footage could lead to some questions, and present day Sophie could follow in their footsteps to find some ultimate answer. As it stands, the found footage is fine and present day Sophie is lackluster.

I loved everything about 'Phoenix Forgotten'. I loved the structuring of the story, intertwining 'found-footage' with 'mockumentary' and using them to not only elongate the film, but also to show other sides of the story and add to the mystery in that way. I loved the way the story found fiction amongst a real-life event. I loved the story itself and the fascinating way it was told. I loved the performances. I loved the visuals. Put simply, I loved this movie.I found myself absolutely entranced by it. It isn't a film that sets out to scare you (it might do that, but it isn't exactly its motive for existing), instead it tries to captivate you and make you care. It pulls this off incredibly well. And when I say it doesn't set out to scare you, I simply mean that there aren't jump-scares around every corner and the horror side of things isn't as obvious as it is in a lot of modern films. The final half hour or so of the film will have a tremendous impact on a lot of people though.As far as flaws go, they're pretty hard to come by. I will be fascinated to read some negative reviews on this film and see just what exactly people didn't enjoy about it. I'm almost certain I'm going to disagree with the majority of their points. 'Phoenix Forgotten' is a brilliant, fresh and original film that is not to be missed.