Review of Project Almanac (2015) by Sean W — 26 Feb 2015

When done right, "found-footage" films can be very effective. Though it may be becoming a bit of a gimmick, films like Cloverfield, Paranormal Activity and Blair Witch are positive examples of the genre done right.

However, I went into Project Almanac knowing very little about the film or its plot. My heart did sink a little when I saw MTV's logo, not to mention Michael Bay's production company Platinum Dunes, pop up at the beginning, but I tried to give it a fair chance. And to confirm my anxiousness, Project Almanac appears to be an interesting but unoriginal concept disguised as a terrible, terrible film.

Within its fictional narrative, how kind it was of the people who found the footage to insert a dance-pop soundtrack, slow-motion effects and unsubtle promotional consideration from Red Bull and Nokia. As it turns out, instead of all the exploration and amazing experiences that time-travel could offer, this film thinks it is best used to attend festivals, become famous and garner Instagram and Facebook followers. We also feature the most hipster time-travel device in cinematic history controlled by an iPhone!

It's rare that a film is so bad it makes me angry, but I really wanted to put holes in the cinema screen on several occasions. Artless, stupid, disastrously structured and containing all the wit and intrigue of a WKD commercial, Project Almanac is the worst "found-footage" film ever made.