Review of The Bay (2012) by Sasha W — 24 Sep 2014

After a dozen films with mostly first-time directors, "The Bay" intrigued me because I was curious to see what acclaimed director Barry Levinson would bring to the found footage genre of horror films. As sad as it is to report, the answer is "not much.".

It's a bold and brave move for one of America's most beloved filmmakers to tackle a tiny and low-budget film like this, but it should have been so much more than it is. The gamble definitely did not pay off. The premise should be scary enough, as the film attempts to make a statement on pollution and shady government practices, and it certainly is believable enough in this day and age.

The problem is that this is not particularly scary, and neither is the film as a whole. It's much too laid back to be an effective horror film, as it fails to reach the fever pitch necessary to make it successful. It's also quite maddening to see the lack of concern from the government agencies involved, from the state's governor to the CDC all the way down to the local politicians and police force that are featured prominently here. It's improbable that any American city, regardless of size, would be left to die without any kind of federal involvement.

The look of the film is kept fresh die to the constantly changing forms of photography used from TV cameras to cell phone footage, but that's faint praise indeed when you consider the story is not worth following. Considering the talent involved, it's even more aggravating that "The Bay" is this listless and forgettable. A great premise is squandered and all we're left with is the usual bag of tricks.