DASHCAM (REVIEW)
Dir. Rob Savage
Reviewer. Martyn Wakefield
Picking up from the overwhelming success of HOST, Rob Savage has a very high bar to reach for his second feature.
When a YouTube star arrives in the UK to meet an old friend they end up on a joyride with horrific results beyond comprehension. If HOST was a haunted house film, this is one on wheels and where Savage's debut confined the horror to stationary cameras, here the frenetic action needs something more mobile and follows a more familiar, yet wildly vivid, found footage formula.
Annie's streaming footage brings some comedy to proceedings and a real-life character in bringing onboard her own persona and channel (Band Car) is an interesting choice for a film but manages to bring a sense of authenticity to the found footage that makes the whole experience so believable. For those that follow Annie's adventures, DASHCAM feels like a natural extension and building into the world of horror feels natural and for those who don't know Annie's feed then there's a marmite character that will be loved or hated but is certainly not a two dimensional lead that can be ignored.
DASHCAM doesn't hold back when the horror of a possessed passenger is unleashed and when the realisation of what is unfolding comes to fruition, there's blood and guts all splurged across the camera screens.
The inclusion of special effects from Dan Martin (POSSESSOR) make the ensuing chaos something to smile about for hardened horror fans as it gets messy and often inconsequently chaotic in its execution. The full effects of the passion span across the genre tropes and more bringing to life one of the most hardcore possession films in the genre. The found footage format, doesn't quite give the art and design justice with airtime given mere seconds to the action and marred with fast blurring shots to share the protagonists misfortune and fight for survival. However it's testament tot a director willing to put in above and beyond what is necessary and furthermore bring fresh life to the found footage genre.
At times chaotic with a love her or hate her lead character, it's hard to ignore Savage's passion for the genre and where HOST was a simple and clean affair, DASHCAM goes full pelt to throw everything but the kitchen sink and for the most part, it sticks and it's never dull.
