The Man with the Black Umbrella is a technically sound but emotionally distant film
Synopsis
On January 8th, 2015, a man with a black umbrella broke into 818 Hilltop Drive at 3:38a, committing a double murder. The investigation that ensued proved that some murders shouldn’t be solved.
My Thoughts on The Man With The Black Umbrella
Good Points
Interesting Premise
Blending true crime with supernatural mystery gives The Man with the Black Umbrella an intriguing setup, and the idea of a mysterious figure caught on camera ties nicely into found footage tradition and internet-era paranoia.
Steady Build-Up
The slow, methodical pacing in the first half works well at times, as we, the audience, uncover the clues with Ryan and Jack.
Final Act Energy
The last twenty minutes finally delivered some tension and urgency, where the camera becomes frantic, pulling you into Ryan’s panic, even if a bit predictable.
Consistent Visual Style
The film maintains a decent visual approach, with clean handheld shots, night sequences, and muted tones that fit the somber mood, and overall this part felt technically confident.
The “Umbrella Man” Symbolism
The mysterious figure with the umbrella is interesting as a recurring symbol, and it’s a clever visual anchor, even if underused.
Clear Direction
Decent framing, pacing, and lighting for a micro-budget project.
Smooth Editing
The cuts and transitions keep the story moving at a steady rhythm.
Bad Points
Too Polished for Found Footage
Everything feels quite rehearsed and staged, and the movie just feels too clean.
Flat Performances
The acting isn’t great and feels a bit unnatural.
Weak Emotional Core
Ryan’s grief never feels that raw, and the movie tells us he’s obsessed, but we rarely see that obsession take hold.
Uneven Tone
It never commits to being either a supernatural horror or a grounded crime story, as it straddles both, which leaves it feeling unfocused.
Missed Mystery Potential
The dual murders, suggest some sort deep conspiracy, but the film barely explores it.
Predictable Climax
The ending twist feels quite obvious long before it arrives, and it checks all the expected found footage boxes.
Lack of Raw Realism
Because everything feels so composed, it never feels like “found” footage, and the film looks more like a polished indie thriller pretending to be documentary-style horror.
Emotionally Detached Direction
For a story that is rooted in trauma, the film keeps a big distance from its characters.
Dialogue Issues
The script tens to overexplain simple moments and underplays the emotional ones, which was an odd choice.
Forgettable Impact
The film is competently made, but for a story that is meant to haunt, it is quickly forgettable.
Final Thoughts
The Man with the Black Umbrella is a technically sound but emotionally distant film, and the execution feels a bit too safe and scripted to connect.
It’s somewhat watchable, but it never quite becomes the haunting experience it could have been, and while I had heard good things about it prior to watching, I was left a bit disappointed personally.
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The Man With The Black Umbrella on IMDB
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