Malibu Horror Story Review (2023)

Synopsis

A paranormal investigation team explore a sacred cave in Malibu, California, ten years after four high school boys vanished on graduation night. The team, using the teens original camera footage as a starting point, encounters supernatural events and uncovers a terrifying ancient curse tied to the disappearance.

My Thoughts on Malibu Horror Story

Good Points

The Found Footage Style Used Well

The film uses some classic techniques such as livestreams, IR cameras, and security style footage, which helps keep it fairly immersive at times.

Mythology and Setting

Shadowy figures, skinwalkers, and sacrificial imagery make the cave sequences in particular quite visually memorable.

Multi Perspective Structure

The film balances two timelines, and is done fine enough when it could have gone really horribly wrong, although at times it does go a bit wrong.

Builds Tension Well, Sometimes

Some of the slow burn investigation moments build some dread well, which keep you mildly invested.

Ambitious Narrative Ideas

The mix of mythology, history, and paranormal investigation does show some ambition at least, which you don’t often see in smaller found footage horror films.

Bad Points

Pacing Inconsistencies

The pacing fluctuates between chaotic and controlled, and overall has quite an uneven rhythm, which might bother some more than others.

Missed Potential

While the cave setting is visually appealing, the film doesn’t really fully capitalize on it, as in this setting, you want to feel that claustrophobia fear, such as in As Above, So Below.

Scare Attempts

Certain jump scare moments and creature reveals feel pretty underwhelming and bland.

Predictable Tropes

Lots of familiar horror tropes at play, and while some still work decently enough, it does also have that ‘meh’ feeling about it.

It’s Hard To Care Too Much

The characters aren’t really that developed, and some of the motivations could have been explored a bit more deeply to make you care.

Final Thoughts on Malibu Horror Story

I have mixed feelings on Malibu Horror Story, and while I do admire parts of it, but I didn’t think it really capitalized on it as much as it could have, and felt a bit too flat at times.

I thought it was OK though overall for a one time watch.