Unearthed recorded video documents a group of New Yorkers as they try to survive and escape New York City while something huge wreaks havoc and lays waste.

The Good

Holy crap. I haven’t been into a movie in a while. This had me at the edge of my seat. There have been pure scenes of panic and suspense. There are actual jump points that totally catch you off guard. They take time to pace the rises and falls. The acting is great. The film wasn’t filled with hometown heroes, but with real people with real flaws and pay for their consequences for their flaws. Just a group of people with a camera. I’m glad they casted semi-famous people instead of known faces for this movie, because it would have taken away from the story. Even though I know some of you out there can handle the shaky cam (passes out the barf bags), it works really well for this movie, story and effects wise. I thing the thing that really gets two thumbs up is Sound. Not only is it crisp and clear, but there is no score whatsoever till the end. This makes the film all the more intense.

The Bad

What was bad about this? Despite that the characters are descendants of the 50’s drive in monster movie set (except it 20somethings playing actual 20somethings) and some lapses in logic (a camcorder battery can last 7+ hours?), I think the big negative was that it felt a bit short. I do think some lengthening could have been done or at least some fleshing out of scenes.

Conclusion

If Ishiro Honda were alive today, I think he would have given high praise to J.J.Abrahms and company. They brought a new facet to an almost forgotten genre. The point of view of an innocent bystander in the middle of the “big trouble”. And while there is a “big trouble”, the movie was focused on the dilemmas and sad outcomes these people have to deal with in that span of 7 hours. Abrahms has taken the essence of Gojira and translates in a way we can connect and relate to. And he does the job very well.

If you have the cash or if a ticket is offered, jump at a chance to catch this movie whenever you can. Be sure to carry your pills in case you get motion sick though.

Four stars.