Chronicle
Three Seattle teenagers gain telekinetic powers, but one lonely boy's abuse and desperation transform a thrilling experiment into a superhuman tragedy.
Overview
A group of teenagers discovers their extraordinary powers, but with great ability comes great danger.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- awkward
- witty
- tense
- late night genre viewing
- teen movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an emotionally engaging and fast-paced found-footage superhero story whose smart script and young performances transcend its formal gimmick.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Andrew documents his life with a video camera, while other cameras and recorded viewpoints expand the film's perspective.
Andrew's loneliness, bullying, family trauma, and newly acquired telekinesis become inseparable from his moral and emotional development.
Andrew's abusive home life, isolation, anger, and desperation shape the destructive uses of his telekinetic abilities.
The film grounds flying and telekinesis in high-school friendships, parties, money problems, and awkward experimentation.
Films like Chronicle, and why
Project Almanac
shares found footage filmmaking, teenage protagonists, emerging superpowers, and a darker coming-of-age arc
Super 8
shares adolescent alienation, superhuman abilities, escalating danger, and emotionally grounded science fiction
Brightburn
shares a troubled young protagonist, destructive power, superhero mythology, and psychological intensity
The Taking of Deborah Logan
shares found footage naturalism, teenage friendship, and science fiction built around extraordinary abilities
Movie Details
- Director
- Josh Trank
- Release Date
- 2012-02-01
- Runtime
- 84 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (5952)
Cast
- Dane DeHaan
- Alex Russell
- Michael B. Jordan
- Michael Kelly
- Ashley Hinshaw
- Bo Petersen
- Anna Wood
- Rudi Malcolm
- Luke Tyler
- Crystal-Donna Roberts
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Chronicle about?
- Three Seattle teenagers gain telekinetic powers, but one lonely boy's abuse and desperation transform a thrilling experiment into a superhuman tragedy.
- What is Chronicle like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Chronicle as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Chronicle violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Chronicle as moderate.
- What did critics think of Chronicle?
- Critics broadly found the film an emotionally engaging and fast-paced found-footage superhero story whose smart script and young performances transcend its formal gimmick.
- Which films are like Chronicle?
- Films with a similar feel include Project Almanac, Super 8, Brightburn, and The Taking of Deborah Logan.
- How long is Chronicle?
- Chronicle runs 84 minutes.
- Where can I watch Chronicle?
- In United States, Chronicle is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
