WRITING GIVES MY LIFE MEANING

Rating: 7/10 (17 April 2018)

This film is a watered down version of the hand held camera genre. In instances where they didn't use home video footage, they filmed the scene bad enough to make it feel like found footage. The movie opens showing us a family being hung in their back yard. True crime author Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) moves into the same house with the intention of investigating the gruesome killing and writing about it. The locals are not warm to the idea, but we don't see any incidences due to budget constraints. Ellison doesn't inform his family they are in the same house that the killings took place.
In the attic, Ellison discovers a horde of super 8 movies (some that have their own sound track, or so it seems) of the killing he is investigating as well as other killings that date back to the 1960's. He asks the questions, "Who is filming this?" and "Why?" and "Where is Stephanie?" She was the daughter of the family that was hung. They never found her.
Ellison begins to investigate the other cases as weird things start to happen in the home. As usual it starts out slow and escalates.
I liked the concept of the film more than its amateurish execution. Ellison drinks rather heavily which makes for an alternate explanation of his "hallucinations." The film would have been better if it had lead us in that direction, rather than just discuss it. Those who enjoy the "Paranormal" type movies should find a friend in this film. I loved the film in the beginning, but then it slowly wanes. Thumb rule: When you think demons are in your house, turn on the lights.
Parental Guide: No f-bombs, sex. or nudity. Snuff films. . Should scare the kids during a sleepover at Trent Raznor's house.