The Bay Review


Movie: The Bay
By: Chev Chellios
Date: November 13, 2012

There's something in the water, but it isn't what you think!

First of let's talk about what a mockumentary is: (a portmanteau of the words mock and is a type of film or television show in which fictional events are presented in documentary format. Well that's what this is, nothing more nothing less, but after a lot of trashy found footage movies is this one going to cut it, we will found out soon enough. Read on horror freaks read on...

The beginning

Directed by Barry Levinson, which I think everybody knows, he directed movies such as, Rain Man, Sleepers, Sphere and Bandits. I think he is a very capable director. But now for the first time (maybe second, I think Sphere was awful, but it covered some Sci-Fi/horror basics, but it failed miserably) he tries the found footage horror genre wrapped as a Mockumentary. You should think a well respected director like Levinson should get more interesting material to make, but maybe on the other hand it's like the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" but I think the old dog can teach us a few new tricks.

The Bay

It's a unexpected turn for Oscar winning director Levinson and scriptwriter Michael Wallach, in order not to fall like a lot of horror movies do lately, they try to be creative and innovative with the found footage genre by gathering more diverse media sources. These include Smart phones, police cars, security camera's and even Skype conference call comes around. I thought it was smart and creative. And I was intrigued by what was going to happen next. In comparison, after 3 paranormal activity movies, I was so tired of the minimal use of 1 or 2 camera's with shaky moves, that it was refreshing to see that it could still be exciting to watch a found footage movie, and that there, still are directors that try to use all sort of new tricks.

The Bay

And with a small budget, with only 2 million and shot in 18 days he achieved more, than the million dollar movies Michael Bay produces at the assembly line. Levinson used more than 20 kinds of camera's and cell phones and I heard in an interview that Levinson thought that almost one-third of the movie was shot by his own cast, which I found pretty impressive.

The Bay

The story

Well the story starts with Donna Thompson (Kether Donohue), she also gives a lot of narration during the movie. It starts off with Donna trying to explain what happened, and that people tried to cover up the truth of what happened on the fourth of July at the Bay, she plays a Journalist from the local news channel, and during the day she and her camera man captured a lot of footage. Going back and forth with the TV coverage of Donna we also see a few other important characters like the scientists, who found something terrible in the water. From the little girl with the I phone who tries to take as much footage from the horrors that ensue in the hospital, to the happy family who come to the Bay to visit mom and dad, well we know that it isn't going to be pretty.

The Bay

Without spoiling too much, (which I think is a sin with a movie like this, the more mystery the better) the story revolves around the finding of two bodies, and the damage has been to the bodies can't be explained, and then there is the issue of the million pounds of chicken poop that's being dumped into the water each year, and on top of the ice berg a Mayor with a big smile and the microphone and explains to the people of his Bay, after he takes a little sip of his water, that it's the best water he ever had, hahahah you know you're in for a treat after that. Let's just say "Shit hits the Fan" and luckily its R Rated. And I know what you think "what the hell is this movie about" well I can definitely say, just check it out and be surprised.

The Bay

With new tricks up its sleeve, this found footage eco horror Mockumentary ( that's a mouth full), I think Levinson did a great job reinventing it, with a unknown cast and a small budget he pulls all the strings. I definitely recommend a watch if your fond of Found footage, and a few good scares with a nasty bloody dish on the side.


3.5/5




Movie

The Bay

Title

The Bay

Director

Barry Levinson

Country

USA

Year

2012

Cast

Kristen Connolly, Jane McNeill and Christopher Denham