Behind the Sightings Review (2017)

Synopsis

Behind the Sightings follows married filmmakers Todd and Jessica Smith as they investigate the 2016 creepy clown sighting phenomenon for a documentary.

Their investigation leads them to locations in North Carolina, where they interview witnesses and an “expert” before venturing into the woods to confront the clowns, which results in a terrifying encounter.

My Thoughts

The Good

A Cool Premise

A movie based on the real “creepy clown” sightings is a great concept, and mixing viral internet hysteria with horror could have worked well.

Clowns

When they show up, they actually have presence, it’s just too bad the movie doesn’t use them well.

Decent Technical Quality

The cinematography and lighting are surprisingly solid for a low budget project.

Ambitious Idea

You can tell the filmmakers wanted to create a believable “real footage” experience, blending internet culture and urban legend, and the ambition’s there at least, even if the execution falls apart.

The Bad

Characters With No Depth

The main couple are just utterly bland and unbelievable.

Unused Subplot

The wife being pregnant should have probably added some weight or danger, but it’s mentioned once and never matters again.

Predictable Found Footage Beats

The second half falls into every cliché possible, and you can call every beat before it happens.

Poor Sense of Realism

Even though it’s supposed to be “found footage,” the movie just looks too clean.

Wasted Scares

The clown encounters are either too short or too repetitive, and you would expect big moments of dread or shock when clowns are involved, but they never come.

Missed Commentary

This could’ve explored internet hysteria, fear culture, or how viral stories spread, but it doesn’t even try, and it just copies the surface details of better found footage films.

Dragging Final Act

The ending goes on way too long, and is more exhausting than anything.

Final Thoughts on Behind the Sightings

Behind the Sightings had everything it needed to be interesting, but it wastes it all.

There’s a good concept buried in there somewhere, but this movie never finds it.

Behind the Sightings Trailer
Behind the Sightings on IMDB
Watch Behind the Sightings