We see things through the two shaky and grainy cameras

Rating: 9/10 (29 June 2020)

It is probably the most widely seen film that is in full found footage style, the style to pretend as if the event was accidentally recorded by the people involved, and later it was discovered by others.
I imagine it must have been quite baffling experience for the audience in the theater at the time of its original release. How did they feel when the grainy amateur-quality footage was on the big screen and it contined for over 80 minutes?
The plot is typical for horror movies. The main characters violate a taboo by intruding a forbbiden area only for their whimsical activity. We already know the result; they disappeared, probably died. Our interest is about how it happened.
As they proceed into the woods, the mood is getting darker and darker, and they are gradually realising it has become too dangerous to enjoy thrill as they expected. They are encountering eerie stuff like cairns and stick figures. Tension between the three is rising. We see all the changes of situation through the two cameras. They are getting shaky and unstable, reflecting the holders' emotional state.
At a first glance it may look like a tasteless jump scare film. But if you follow Heather's emotion, it turns out to be a story of regret and guilt. It culminates with the iconic close-up shot near the ending. I think it is very sincere and touching.