The Atticus Institute (2015)

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  TheMovieDiorama

  3 / 10

  The Atticus Institute nearly institutionalised me into an early nap. Pseudo-documentaries can be an interesting narrative structure to convey a story. It automatically heightens the realism and enables creative use of camera placement, whether it be interviews or handheld footage. Justifying the utilisation of this structure fully depends on the subject matter, it has to be captivating enough to make you want to know more and pay attention to the interviews. This however, was utterly boring and far too predictable. Chronicling the events of an institute, hoping to prove supernatural psychic abilities exist, and how they deal with their most proficient case study which may turn out to be more paranormal than first anticipated. It's a horror, it's visible on the poster and included in the trailer, so it comes as no spoiler that Judith, the case in question, is actually possessed. Independently written and directed by Sparling, it's a shame he follows typical horror tropes and conformities by substituting an intelligent concept for an uninspired plot. Demonic possessions are practically in every horror film of the last decade, they are always depicted similarly and thus consequently become predictable. Exploring the abilities of telekinesis, pyrokinesis and other psychic abnormalities in itself makes for a frightening watch. Sparling already had the foundations laid out. Yet, he places lethargic bricks, one after the other, and cements them with an utterly boring mixture. This really was a tedious experience with very little happening on screen. The security cameras, considering this was supposed to be in the early 70s, were so advanced that they were able to capture audio to precisely inject loud jump scares. Really? You're not fooling anyone. The documentarian format serves no purpose aside from an interesting segment regarding the military desiring to weaponise Judith. However, this is immediately negated when they decide to invite the local priest over for an exorcism. Yes, I'm done. "Boringly dull and fundamentally uninteresting", put that in your documentary!

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