One of the unending stream of faux-footage films, that tries for a unique setup, and wields great practical trickery, but doesn’t commit to the found-footage format and shackled to an absolutely derivative plot. You know where this film is headed the moment it begins, and despite one or two moments of humor and horror, there’s little soul here. The horror aspects do have some moments, but ludicrously telegraphed and predictable. The best parts of this film are the darkly comedic satire on the wellness influencer industry with an undercurrent commentary on the contradiction between those claiming to aspire towards the spiritual, and the grift, thirst and hustle for clicks, status and success. The lead actress is quite likable, even if her character is burdened with some ludicrously questionable choices in pursuit of ‘her authentic self’. I know a few individuals who, finding a secret creepy occult chamber and musty hand-written grimoire would leap at the opportunity to start reciting the strange passages within, but likely most have seen enough horror to be skeptical. Beyond the setup and performances, there’s little to elevate this film above the rest of its genre trappings, and likely you’ve already seen this film in another variant.
Mind, Body, Spirit (2024)