Found footage style horror is a tough medium to get right. Even though the whole idea is to create a super-realistic environment, it usually comes off to me as too unconvincing or scripted to take seriously.
Afflicted doesn’t do a bad job though. Although the acting is goofy and the plot quickly becomes tiresome, and there’s enough unpredictable twists and turns for it to be generally watchable. Unfortunately there are just too many descents into farce, an overactive sense of editing, and of course the ridiculous jump scares. This is found footage – why even HAVE editing and jump scares?
What stood out to me though was the balanced application of special effects. The long action scenes were nicely done, especially the one in the basement – the sequence of the protagonist beating away riot cops as if they were little more than flies was impressively morbid and powerful. Now if only there had been a little more of that!
Rating: 4/10
Possession Media 