Three unwilling participants to a game they have no control over intertwine to a shocking conclusion in Bryan Bertino’s ‘Mockingbird’. When each party receives a video camera, their reluctance to turn off is drawn from different corners of their psyche. Anonymously sent and anonymously played by an unknown they go deeper into the “game” that eventually draws them all together to an event that will change them forever.

 

From the director of ‘The Strangers’ you would expect nothing less than a tense ride and that is exactly what ‘Mockingbird’ delivers. While it takes its time to settle into motion, when it does become apparent what the events of each story are leading to, the sheer terror of expectation becomes hair-raisingly terrifying. Even from a director who has had such success with his previous work, and production from Blum House, it’s easy to see why the low budget found footage format was chosen and even though it starts off quite repetitious of other genre films, the building blocks set up before it are essential to the payoff.

 

Although fixed to the limitations of its format, the amateur cast and visual style all present, the beauty of ‘Mockingbird’ is in the writing, something we rarely can say for a found footage film. Placing each set piece at the right time, the confusion becomes a clever development of not only character but of the story. Barak Hardley is a standout as his story develop into something far more than expected.

 

While Bertino plays safe with many similarities between this and his only other film, ‘The Strangers’, he has certainly not been diluted by the formula. Claustrophobic paranoia is addressed throughout and whether it’s the slow build up to where it is going or the use of “normal” people in a very dangerous situation, the terror and pulse pounding delivery is present until the very end.

 

If you haven’t predicted the ending two thirds in then you obviously haven’t seen enough horror but for the most part, ‘Mockingbird’ delivers on a tense thrill ride through a twisted and clever game. If Agatha Christie met Jigsaw (‘Saw’) this would probably be the end result and as the final trigger is pulled, will cause a few heartbreaks.