Go Back To The 90s With Terror Films' Found Footage Movie “The Mitchin Murders”
One enjoyable thing about watching an old horror movie you have seen is the feeling of nostalgia. The joy of a cult classic that makes you feel as scared and entertained as you did when you first watched it is hard to replicate. Thankfully some horror genres have found ways to do so in recent horror movies, especially found footage horror. Found footage horror movies with a 90s nostalgia tend to blend the eerie, lo-fi charm of VHS aesthetics. They incorporate this nostalgia-driven narrative with the suspenseful, handheld camera style that defines the genre. Some of the most enjoyable things about these particular horror movies are how they evoke a sense of raw, unpolished fear, capturing the essence of 90s home videos and amateur filmmaking. For horror fans, they create an immersive experience that transports viewers back to a time of grainy tapes and analog suspense, leveraging the decade's technological limitations to amplify the tension and realism that brings so many fans to any found footage of horror.
Recently, we at Macabre Daily dusted off our VCRs to be transported back to a simpler and nostalgic age of terror as we watched Terror Films Releasing’s newest addition to the found footage horror genre, “The Mitchin Murders”. This movie is written and directed by Jamie Bolton-Debbage. It stars Georgie McGuigan, Robert Metson, Kate Winter, and Alistair Findlay. The synopsis for this movie is as follows:
“Two keen documentarians who enter the town of Mitchin to try and unravel a series of grisly murders carried out by what the locals call ‘The Boogie Man’.”
Writer/Director Jamie Bolton-Debbage had this to say in a recent press release by Terror Films Releasing about making this movie:
“This is the first in a series of films we are making that I would state as called ‘hipster horror’. With ‘The Mitchin Murders’, it is set in the 90s, so issues from the time are mentioned and the 90s film camera helps to create authenticity. It is very much female-led, and there are many twists and turns that the audience may not expect.”
This movie’s story not only takes the approach of hitting us who enjoyed growing up in the 90s with some of the references, but it also sets up a foundation of a great story that appeals to a lot of different audiences. It also appeals to those of us who love a good scary story, a potential supernatural element in our horror movies, and also appeals to those who may enjoy a bit of a true crime documentary feel.
Our main character and narrator Jessie (portrayed by Georgie McGuigan) sets the stage for what will be one hell of a ride with the truth that surrounds a town of mysterious deaths. Her journey through this film is hit with a lot of roadblocks due to the town’s sheriff, as well as the town locals who look at her as if she is an outsider intruding on the safe place they call home. She does get lucky with getting interviews from two survivors Sarah O’Reilly (portrayed by Philippa Dawson) and Maisie Winters (portrayed by Kate Winter). Both are different sides of the same coin. Maisie comes off as the tough, antisocial survivor while Sarah comes off as the bubbly “thankful to be alive” type hoping that the documentary could lead to her wanted fame.
There are a lot of things going on in this movie. It takes you on a wild ride of terror, suspense, and misdirection that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final moments of the movie. All this is due to the masterful writing and directing of Jamie Bolton-Debbage. He writes the story from a perspective of strength with his main characters wanting to do anything they can to uncover the truth while making sure his side characters get the proper attention; they need without being in any way obvious to what will happen in the end. His use of amazing exposition of each character’s back story, their importance to the story, and their impact on things to come make you feel very connected to getting to the bottom of things as much as our main character Jessie.
The directing and writing are not the only things that should get immense praise in this movie. A big part of that also goes to the amazing female lead cast of Georgie McGuigan, Kate Winter, and Philippa Dawson. Each one of them has an important part in this movie and an equally important piece of the puzzle revolving around the movie’s mysterious dealer of death. They work well not only on screen together but independently. Kate Winter and Philippa Dawson portray their roles as the tortured and attention-seeking victims very well with their range of emotions and facial expressions that draw you into the depths of the dark plot.
Not only do they do well, but Georgie McGuigan carries a lot of the movie on her shoulders as both the main character and the documentarian. She does so well in this role not only by being the hard-hitting investigator trying to make a name for herself but also as a clear outsider of the town, when all she wants to do is put the town’s fear at rest. It truly is an amazing experience to watch unfold on the screen as you watch it.
We would be crazy not to mention how well the cinematography of this movie is used. "The Mitchin Murders" brilliantly utilizes the found footage style, leveraging 90's technology to evoke a visceral sense of authenticity and nostalgia. The grainy VHS quality and analog imperfections enhance the eerie atmosphere, making the viewer feel as if they have stumbled upon a genuine piece of lost history. This stylistic choice not only immerses the audience deeper into the chilling narrative but also heightens the suspense, as the outdated technology restricts clarity and control, leaving a haunting sense of unpredictability. The result is a profoundly unsettling experience that transports the viewer back in time, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. It is because of this that “The Mitchin Murders” stands out among the many found footage horror movies that we love to rewatch many times over.
“The Mitchin Murders” from Terror Films Releasing and Jamie Bolton-Debbage will be released across multiple platforms on September 6th including Amazon, Tubi TV, PlayNow Media, UDU TV, Kings of Horror, and many more. For more in-depth reviews of all things horror, stay tuned to Macabre Daily.
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