Friday, July 1, 2016

The Conspiracy (2012) - 5 stars out of 10

The Conspiracy (2012) - 5 stars out of 10

"The Conspiracy" is an interesting addition to the found footage genre.  It is the latest in a series of Paranormal-Activity-With-A-Different-Subject-Matter films (“The Fourth Kind,” “Apollo 18”) that relies on the audience believing that what they are seeing is nonfiction.  Even if you figure out that the story is not legit, the film effectively builds suspense through its documentary-style footage.  Unfortunately, the ending does not live up to the expectation built throughout the first hour of the film.  The first problem is that it is basically like watching "Eyes Wide Shut" from a first-person perspective.  The cult meeting sequence is interesting and seeing it from a first-person perspective creates some chilling imagery, but it doesn't deserve any awards for originality.  A lot of the best moments of the film are a result of acting that feels natural and subtle.  As the movie progresses, you can't help but wonder how the story can possibly be resolved in a way that would allow the audience to see this censored footage of a secret society.  This is where the execution falls short of the concept.  Rather than a the entire film building to a climactic ending ala “The Blair Witch Project,” the writers kill the momentum with about five minutes remaining in order to explain the finding of the footage.  I did appreciate a little bit of ambiguity that keeps us thinking as the credits roll but it still felt terribly anticlimactic and a bit over-explained.  It is a shame because the rest of the film does a great job of not over-explaining and allowing you to put the pieces together yourself.  Even without a great conclusion, it is an interesting mindbender that delivers its story with a sense of authenticity.  “The Conspiracy” is worth watching for its unique story, memorable imagery, and that shocking moment in the shed.  Honestly, I just don’t think that there was a good ending for this story.

[Pictured; Even when you know that the ending is a disappointment, the story will keep you watching]

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