By Robert Scucci
| Published 26 seconds ago
My favorite kind of movie is the kind where not a single line of dialogue is devoted to expositional explanations, and 2012’s Chronicle is a shining example of the power of showing over telling. A found-footage superhero origin story of sorts, Chronicle tells a simple tale about high school students who are gifted mysterious powers, and gives us a front-row seat to their exploration and exploitation of said powers. It’s worth noting, though, that we’re not dealing with traditional superhero stuff here, but rather regular, mundane everyday life, and how it’s completely uprooted when such powers exist in a context where they’re not necessarily needed.
A cautionary tale about teenage hubris, Chronicle exposes the danger of flying too close to the sun, and makes it painfully clear just how destructive things can become when superhuman strength is handed to emotionally unstable adolescents.
Andrew’s Icarus Arc
Chronicle tells a simple coming-of-age story set in the real world, but filtered through superhero logic. It all starts when Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan) decides to start documenting his life with a portable video camera. Constantly urged by his cousin Matt (Alex Russell) to break out of his shell, Andrew attends a party where he meets Steve Montgomery (Michael B. Jordan), who’s easily the most popular kid in the group.
The trio breaks away from the party after Steve discovers a strange hole in the woods that he wants to explore. Underground, they find a cluster of glowing crystals that react violently when touched, not realizing that the encounter has gifted them telekinetic powers and enhanced strength.
Back at home, Andrew has to cope with his abusive, alcoholic father, Richard (Michael Kelly), and his terminally ill mother, Karen (Bo Petersen). At school and on the streets, however, Andrew, Matt, and Steve begin fine-tuning their powers. They quickly realize that the more they train, the more capable they become. What starts out as childish games, like moving parked cars so their owners can’t find them or pulling off party tricks, slowly turns into reckless behavior on Andrew’s part as he begins using his abilities to physically harm others.
While Matt and Steve exercise restraint and caution to avoid being discovered, Andrew heads down a much darker path, constantly pushing his powers to the limit. He remains an outcast with a miserable home life, and when that emotional damage is paired with the ability to manipulate matter, fly, and fight with brutal precision, it’s only a matter of time before things go completely off the rails. As Andrew’s life spirals further out of control both at home and at school, he channels his rage through his powers, becoming a destructive force that can’t be reasoned with or subdued.
Shot on a relatively small budget of $15 million, Chronicle is far more impressive visually than it has any right to be. At its core, it’s a story about boys being boys, but in this context that means flying through the sky, crushing cars, and making objects float with terrifying ease. The grainy aesthetic allows the visual effects to blend in seamlessly, something that may not have translated as well using more conventional filmmaking techniques.
The found-footage approach also enables some genuinely clever camera tricks that expand the film’s scope. Andrew frequently lets the camera float and follow him, which allows the movie to move between first-person and observational perspectives in a way that feels natural rather than forced. It’s a smart workaround that gives Chronicle visual freedom most found footage films never attempt.
A Worthwhile Twist On A Tired Genre
Clocking in at just 83 minutes, Chronicle is an easy watch, not only because of its tight runtime, but because every character brings their A-game. Dane DeHaan’s portrayal of a timid teenager slowly transforming into an absolute monster feels disturbingly believable, while Michael B. Jordan’s affability and charisma provide the perfect counterbalance. Alex Russell bridges the gap between these clashing personalities, grounding the story as tensions escalate.
The early sequences, where the trio is simply messing around and testing the limits of their powers, are especially effective because they genuinely feel like kids sneaking off to do something they know they shouldn’t. That sense of freedom makes the fallout hit harder when everything finally collapses.
If you’re looking for a fun twist on the superhero genre that still carries real emotional weight, Chronicle remains one of the smartest genre curveballs of the 2010s, and you can stream it now on Max.