The Fear Footage: 3AM Review (2021)

Synopsis

Dennis Rosen vanished while filming in Dark Bluff, an abandoned town. Authorities found his camera with footage during the search.

My Thoughts

Good Points

Dark Bluff Atmosphere

I loved returning to Dark Bluff, as it feels like a twisted version of reality, and the warped streets and empty buildings made every shot feel quite tense.

Stand Alone Accessibility

Even if you haven’t seen the previous films, 3AM still works on its own. The story gives just enough context to understand without bogging down the plot with recaps.

Creative Low Budget Solutions

The filmmakers prove that you don’t need CGI to craft effective horror, with clever lighting, angles, and timing being used to good use.

Gotcha Moments and Tension

The film nails short, sudden scares, with its claustrophobic interiors and dark corridors.

Cyclical Horror

The sense of being trapped in repeating danger is strong, where you feel the same frustration and helplessness as the characters, which adds a psychological layer to the horror.

Unpredictable Setting

Locations make every corner feel dangerous, and you never know what might be lurking around the next bend.

Engaging Story

The narrative flows naturally, and even as events grow chaotic, the tension keeps you interested.Suspense Over Gore

Consistent Visual Style

The found footage camera work fits the story and maintains the immersion, with the shaky cam being used strategically.

Bad Points

Lead Actor Limitations

The main actor struggles to convey the fear needed in some of the tense moments, which makes it feel a bit flat.

Minimal Sound Design

I wished there was more audio layering or distortion, which could have added something more.

Predictable “Gotchas”

A few scares were easy to anticipate, and while the timing was solid, they are easily telegraphed.

Uneven Pacing

You have to be patient before the story picks up.

Is The Fear Footage: 3am Worth Watching?

Fear Footage 3AM delivers a tense experience, and the movie shines in its creativity.

For fans of the franchise, it’s another worthy installment though, that uses some smart ideas and strong atmosphere that makes it worth a watch.

A really solid found footage trilogy overall!

The Fear Footage: 3AM Trailer
The Fear Footage: 3AM on IMDB
Watch The Fear Footage: 3AM

Check out my reviews for The Fear Footage and The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape, too.