I'll be honest: this is really the first time I've experienced the "found footage" movie for myself, as I haven't seen The Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activity. I know, I know. Don't worry, I plan to submit myself to the appropriate authorities for punishment right after this review.

The film begins when a teenager named Andrew starts filming his life in order to document his father's abuse. Soon, he starts bringing the camera with him everywhere, and we get a portrait of his very depressing life: the aforementioned abusive father, the mother who is slowly dying from cancer, his outcast status and bullying at school.

There are a few rays of light though: his cousin, Matt, who invites him out to a rave to help him meet people. There, Matt and his friend Steve persuade Andrew to accompany them to document a strange rock. After their encounter with it, they soon discover that they have developed telekinetic powers.

The three boys soon develop a close bond as they pull the usual pranks that you expect high school boys would pull. However, Andrew soon starts using his abilities for darker purposes, and he soon grows stronger than his friends. At first, he mostly does the wrong thing for sympathetic reasons, but soon he drops all pretenses. What follows is a real-world example of what can happen, when great power falls into the wrong hands. (Really, are there ever any right hands?)

The effects are impressive, and there's a lot of charm in seeing them on a more home video type of look that can actually handle them. The movie also never allows the characters' abilities to overshadow the characters themselves. They are all realistic and believable, and Andrew remains pitiable and sympathetic as he continues to spiral ever downward. Other movies with a lot more resources should take note.

REVIEWER RATING: A-