Summary
Chroniclemight not have anything to do with the popular franchises of Marvel and DC, but that did stop it from becoming one of the greatest superhero movies in recent memory. The film, which adopts a unique found-footage approach to filmmaking, follows the exploits of three high school friends as they stumble across a force that gives them superhuman abilities. Where this story diverges from the typical formula, however, is in the friends’ inability to master their powers as they lose control of themselves. Irrespective of whetherChronicle 2is still happening,the original story is one of a kind.
Since most of the popular superhero movies released today are from Marvel or DC properties, it was refreshing to see a story that wasn’t already hugely popular play out on the big screen. It made the film more unpredictable, and since it couldn’t rely on familiar faces or returning characters, it had to use the story to suck the audience into this unique world.Chroniclealso had an excellent cast, with actors like Dane DeHaan and Alex Russell giving some of their strongest performances. It’s also one ofMichael B. Jordan’s best movies, as his character was arguably the standout.
5 Best Non-MCU Superhero Movies
The MCU has taken over the superhero genre in recent years, but there are plenty of other solid movies that aren’t under the Marvel brand.
Chronicle Is One Of The Best Non-Marvel/DC Superhero Movies
The Movie Doesn’t Need Recognizable Heroes To Be Great
In a world where Marvel and DC have essentially taken ownership of the superhero genre, it’s extremely rewarding when a project comes along and proves that new, unrelated stories can be just as exciting.Chronicledoesn’t have the nostalgia or sentimentalitythat keeps audiences coming back to Marvel and DC time and time again, so it was always going to be difficult for the film to make a name for itself - but it does so purely by merit. The story is engaging, the characters are fun, and the fantasy/sci-fi elements are genuinely creative.
Marvel and DC benefit from having instantly recognizable characters - as soon as Thor’s hammer or Captain America’s shield appears on the screen, it’s clear what direction the story is taking. ButChroniclemaintained an element of surprise by having characters that were just regular people, without their recognizable tools or outfits. Seeing established characters on screen is great, but having characters that audiences don’t immediately recognize can also be beneficial.
Chronicle’s Akira Inspiration Worked Better Than A Live-Action Remake Would Have
The Anime Could Never Be Represented Fairly In Live-Action
Although it’s fair to say thatChronicleis a mostly original story, that doesn’t mean it’s completely devoid of influences. In many ways, the narrative (and the visual style) of the film is very similar to theAkiramanga and anime, which follows a biker named Kaneda who tries to save his friend after falling into a top-secret government project. There are differences in the character names and dynamics, but the overall atmosphere and trajectory of the stories are very similar. While it’s easy to assume thatChroniclemerely copiedAkira,the film is much more than a straight adaptation.
Akirawas released in 1988 and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
Animation is very difficult to bring into live-action formats with the same dynamic liveliness - there’s a level of wonder and mystique that’s always lost when adapting manga and anime into live-action films. That’s exactly whyChronicleworks better as a standalone superhero story. Live-action anime TV shows can work very well because the episodic format allows for more time to develop the many characters and relationships, butAkirais simply too complicated to cover in two hours without the added freedom of animation.
Chronicle’s Found Footage Format Suited The Film’s Premise Perfectly
The Unique Filmmaking Style Gives Chronicle A Fresh Style
Another aspect ofChroniclethat allows it to stand apart from the competition is its found-footage approach.The movie is filmed as if from the perspectives of these friends, following them closely as they discover their powers, and later learn how to effectively harness them. This is a smart decision that really allows the audience to connect with the characters and understand their motivations, which is sometimes difficult in ensemble movies likeChronicle.It also removes much of the distance between the audience and the characters, which can sometimes be a problem when dealing with unrealistic superheroes.
The film immediately catches the audience’s attention by providing them with something new, and subsequently earns their focus with a powerful, engaging story that has twists at every turn.
The blend of found-footage and superhero spectacle givesChroniclea distinct tonethat’s never really been adopted before in this subgenre. The film immediately catches the audience’s attention by providing them with something new, and subsequently earns their focus with a powerful, engaging story that has twists at every turn. It’s surprising that more found-footage superhero movies haven’t been made followingChronicle’ssuccess, but perhaps it couldn’t be replicated quite as successfully.
Chronicle
Cast
Chronicle is a superhero film captured in a “found-footage” format similar to films like Cloverfield that follows three high school seniors brought together by a mysterious alien artifact. After stumbling upon a mysterious hole in the middle of the woods, they find a crystal that gives them inexplicable powers that grow as time passes. The movie records the teens practicing their newfound abilities, but when one friend begins to give in to the temptation of power and control, this quickly spirals beyond their control.
