Frogman(2023)(Review)

Found footage films are a dime a dozen – they’re readily available, have a very familiar flavor, and are easy to miss. But once in a while, a gem does come across your radar that you can’t help but sing the praises for. This week we are taking a look at the brand new film from budding director Anthony Cousins – ‘Frogman’.

In the summer of 1999, a 12-year old boy named Dallas Kyle has accidentally filmed what allegedly shows the local legend of Loveland, Ohio – Frogman. A popular cryptid, he goes viral for being one of only two people to show real evidence (even if it’s very quick and out-of-focus.) But as Dallas grows older, he is practically cursed by the has-been narrative that surrounds him as the boy who seemingly filmed a hoax and failed to do much else with life. Cut to modern times where he wants to be a feature film maker and finally show indisputable proof of the legend that he’s touched the periphery of – and here we are.

Dallas is joined by his two best friends – Amy & Scotty – as they travel to Ohio to film a documentary about the beast. Amy is a very optimistic, charming character whose charismatic and believable, and Scotty is the loveable partner-in-crime with witty remarks and intelligence. They’ve worked together in the past, with Amy being the aspiring actress and Scotty as the tech-savvy cameraman. But when they arrive they are met with very tourist-like attractions, a mixing-welcome from the locals, and a strange mystique that fills the air as Dallas refuses to leave without acquiring his proof.

Naturally, things are not always as they seem. Is Frogman real? Is there more to the legend than the surface suggests?

Overall, this is probably the most fun & exciting full-length found footage film I’ve seen since ‘As Above, So Below’. It is genuinely creative, tense, and goes in directions I couldn’t have predicted. It features some fantastic chemistry between the actors, some gross makeup effects, and a very clever series of twists that disorient the viewer.

If you’re a fan of found footage horror, stories about cryptids, or anything in between those lines – I implore you to check this out. It’s a blast from beginning to end. And good Lord, just check out this beautiful hand-drawn poster!

4.5/5
“Frogman” is currently available to rent on VOD.

‘Til Next Time,
Mike Cleopatra

The Gruesome Gazette

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