Atrocious Review (2010)

Synopsis

Atrocious documents the final five days of the Quintanilla family after they visit their rural summer home to investigate a local urban legend of a lost girl in the nearby woods. Teen siblings Cristian and July explore the woods with cameras, but their investigation takes a terrifying turn when their younger brother, José, disappears.

My Thoughts

Good Points

I Liked the Dual Cameras

Switching between Cristian and Julie’s cameras help keep things moving smoothly throughout.

Creepy Atmosphere

The night vision and green tint worked really well, with the forest and abandoned locations feeling eerie enough.

Hedge Maze Is Perfect

I never thought an old hedge maze could feel so dangerous.

Slow Burn Tension

I appreciated that the film doesn’t throw jump scares in constantly, and the suspense builds slowly, which is what I like.

Minimalist Storytelling Works

The focuses on the sibling with not much else going on, which made the story feel a lot tighter, and it never got messy.

Grim Twisty Ending

I didn’t expect a happy ending, and nor do you get one, and I really liked the twist ending.

Subtle Horror

The horror and suspense here is suggestive, which works better than flashy any effects would have, but it won’t be to everyone’s taste.

Visuals Are Clear Enough

Even with the shaky cam and night vision, the visuals are clear, which isn’t always the case in found footage movies.

Quite Immersive

You really feel like you are exploring the forest and maze alongside the siblings, and when a found footage movie does that part well, you know it’s worth a watch.

The Tone

Even the calm moments feel very uneasy, and I really liked how the film never let me fully relax.

Bad Points

Familiar Story

The plot isn’t anything new or revolutionary, so some moments feel a bit predictable.

Some Repetition

Watching the siblings wander through the maze multiple times makes the film drag a little. The quiet buildup is good, but sometimes it took a bit too long to get to the next tense moment.

Horror Tropes Show Up

Shadows, noises, and sudden movements were effective but didn’t surprise me, and I recognized the patterns immediately.

Budget Shows Sometimes

The effects were minimal and worked for the most part, but a few moments looked a little cheap.

Few Surprises

The story moves pretty linearly, and you won’t be surprised by much, even if the atmosphere is quite solid.

Niche Appeal

This film will only work for you if you like quite slow, creeping found footage horror.

Is Atrocious Worth Watching?

I quite enjoyed Atrocious, and while it’s far from perfect, the tension and atmosphere of the film is done quite well.

The pros outweigh the cons here, and overall it’s a solid found-footage horror experience.

Atrocious Trailer
Atrocious on IMDB
Where to Watch Atrocious