Polaroid

Polaroid, a suspenseful horror thriller produced in 2019, is a gripping tale of high-school friendships, dark secrets, and relentless supernatural phenomena. Directed by Lars Klevberg and featuring impressive performances by Kathryn Prescott, Tyler Young, and Samantha Logan among others, the film amalgamates an eerie atmosphere with a captivating plot, providing a chilling and intense cinematic experience.

The narrative revolves around the introverted and kind-hearted high school outcast, Bird Fitcher, brought to life brilliantly by Kathryn Prescott. Bird works part-time at a modest antique store in her quaint little town. Her life takes a haunting turn when she stumbles upon an old Polaroid camera that harbors a terrifying secret. Untouched by the anecdotal horror stories that usually dress antique items, Bird begins to use the Polaroid for capturing moments she finds intriguing or heartwarming.

Prescott's performance offers a balanced mix of subtle and strong emotions, reflecting the character’s varying states of mind, from initial enchantment to growing terror. Her metamorphosis from a reticent teenager into a de facto investigator of paranormal activities is skillfully executed, which considerably amplifies the horror element of the story.

Tyler Young portrays Connor Bell, another high school student and Bird's close companion. He supports her during the tense situations and aids her search for truth behind the mysterious happenings. The romantic tension developing between him and Bird brings a tint of intimacy surely to be relished by the audiences. Young’s accurate teenagers' portrayal and the emotional connection he depicts with Bird renders a sense of authenticity to the narrative.

Samantha Logan’s character Kasey Miller is the sharp, intrepid best friend of Bird. Far from being a stereotyped supporting character, Logan’s performance endows Kasey with depth and uniqueness. The chemistry between Logan and Prescott gives the audience the essence of a thriving friendship between two different personalities.

Polaroid builds its horror framework on an interesting premise. As Bird starts using this newly found camera, she soon realizes that those who get their pictures taken by it have untimely deaths. The realization turns her world upside down, spawning fear, panic, and an unquenchable thirst for answers. Along with her friends, Bird embarks on a quest to uncover the story and the malice that lays within this camera.

The film’s setting only serves to enhance the chilling narrative. The quiet, almost isolating town serves as an eerie backdrop amplifying the uncanny happenings around Bird and her friends. Director Lars Klevberg draws upon this isolation, combined with the town's murky atmosphere and his characters' vulnerability to create a sense of impending doom around every turn of the plot.

The camera work of the film is noticeable, especially in building suspense with close-ups, swirling shots and distorted point-of-view patterns. The film's color palette, neon-lit scenes, and dark spaces play with the themes of light and shadows effectively, which contributes to the suspense and the horror aura. The graphic detailing of the victims' grueling fate is commendable and glues audience interest till the very end.

The movie excels in its atmospheric horror rather than relying on a constant stream of jump scares. Polaroid employs the classic "haunted artifact" trope but creatively adds its own spin to it. Besides outright horror and suspense, the movie also delicately touches on themes of friendship, courage, and the fight against fate.

Polaroid promises a suspense-filled ride, with its chilling mysterious element and an ensemble cast that delivers remarkably. The film's strength lies in its eerie setting, intriguing plot, and the intense performances by its lead actors. The supernatural horror element blended with the emotional dynamics of friendship and camaraderie, make it a captivating watch for horror and thriller enthusiasts.

Overall, the movie is an impressive addition to the horror genre, providing the chills and thrills that fans look for in such a film. If you are a fan of suspenseful, atmospheric horror, then Polaroid should be a must-see on your list. This film stands as a testament that within the horror genre, something as innocuous as an antique camera can turn into a nightmare when given the right, or in this case the wrong, circumstances.