You know the drill - you've watched an enjoyable film and it's coming to a satisfying yet bombastic ending. You think, yes, lovely, that was a perfect way to spend a Friday night. But that's NOT the end.
No, rather than tying everything up neatly, there's an annoying coda setting you up for the sequel, some more subtly than others. Which shows a lot of gall quite frankly, unless your name is Peter Jackson or George Lucas. What makes you think I'd definitely want to watch a follow-up?
I watched the found footage "normal kids as superheroes" movieChronicle the other day and was thoroughly absorbed. It's familiar, yet feels original. Well-acted by almost-unknowns. Clever, but not smugly so. And exciting, especially the ending, which is also tragic.
The only black spot is a final scene suggesting Chronicle 2. I hope that's not the case. I hope director Josh Trank moves on (and this story suggests the young first-timer is/has). I hope the film company realises this was as good as it gets. I hope they realise, most of all, that the found footage genre is swiftly running out of juice. Using it to tell the story of teenage mutants feels like a good last hurrah.
But when has Hollywood ever listened to us?
In the meantime, check out Chronicle. It'll make you believe a boy (and a camera and lots of other cool stuff) can fly.
Chronicle is out now on DVD and Blu-ray.