Am I Missing Something?

Rating: 4/10 (1 June 2017)

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this - i'd heard some of the hype and marketing, but was at a loss as to how such a low budget found footage could have generated such interest and positive reviews from a string of respected critics.
Having now forced my way through, Im still at a loss. I mean, it's alright, if i was running a film school and one of my pupils produced it on a low budget i'd probably give it an A-. It's kind of scary in places, in a not really half rolling your eyes kind of way, its competently put together and does succeed in drumming up some tension, but by professional standards its as amateurish as you would expect from something produced for under £20,000. The kind of thing a young director might use to demonstrate he can produce films to a production company, without being suitable to actually release.
80% of it its just a boring couple talking to each other in their boring house, with a film quality not far off what iPhone's are capable of these days. Perhaps worse, all this filler doesn't seem to contribute anything in building up tension for the few actual 'scary' scenes, which after a while became boring in themselves. The acting/ pacing/ camera-work/ anything else you'd like to name are all generally woeful, and the fact so much is so unrealistic and ridiculous stops it properly generating tension and scares. The acting, pacing and writing are just so clumsy it becomes easier to laugh. They literally have on camera doors moving on their own, an Ouija board moving around on its own and setting itself on fire, as well as seeing first hand doors suddenly slamming on their own and weird screeching in the house, and the guy is still laughing if off like she's screaming at a spider. There are literal footprints in their bedroom and the couple start googling it the next day like she's checking the symptoms of a cold or something and go to bed that night like its nothing. Call the police, maybe? Get out the house? Maybe even try to look a bit spooked out?
Other 'supernatural' type horrors (say 'the ring' or 'sinister') make you forget you are watching a film, get under your skin and properly unnerve you. By the time the girl was being dragged out of bed by some invisible force i just wanted to laugh. Im actually almost annoyed at the cheek of the aggressive marketing of this as the 'scariest film ever,' as well as some of the critics giving it legitimacy. If you are intrigued by it but have suspicions as it how it could live up to its billing, then, honestly, don't bother. It is exactly as you suspect and really, really, isn't worth your time.