CHRONICLE (12a) Director: Josh Trank Starring: Dane DeHaan,Michael B Jordan, Alex Russell, Ashley Hinshaw, Michael Kelly and BoPetersen As weakling Peter Parker discovered to his cost before histransformation into web-spinning superhero Spider-Man, with greatpower comes great responsibility.
Three high school students learn a similarly harsh lesson in JoshTrank's low-budget sci-fi thriller, which imagines the catastrophicconsequences for the friends when they are suddenly giftedincredible mental and physical skills.
Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan) is powerless to help his bed-riddenmother Karen (Bo Petersen) fight the terminal illness that hasstripped away her dignity. He suffers in silence, weathering thebeatings from his alcoholic father Richard (Michael Kelly) andpersistent bullying at school. The film opens through the lens of anold-fashioned video camera that Andrew has just purchased to recordeach waking minute, in the hope this might protect him from his oldman's fists.
"I'm filming everything from here on in," he shouts to Richardthrough his locked bedroom door, establishing Chronicle's stylisticconceit of recounting events from the perspective of the differentdevices that track the characters' movements. Andrew's cousin andonly friend Matt (Alex Russell) wearily tolerates the omnipresentcamera but is quick to shoo away Andrew when he is trying to impressold flame Casey (Ashley Hinshaw), who has a penchant for videoblogging.
Late one night, Andrew, Matt and high school golden boy Steve(Michael B Jordan) discover a strange artefact in a crater.
Soon after, they are blessed with powers of flight, telekinesisand invulnerability.
Chronicle is a sprightly tale of corruption and redemption thatcurries sympathy for Andrew despite his heinous crimes in the latterstages of the film.
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