Channeling (2013) Reviews

• Looking on

  Prismark102015-06-26

  Channeling, also known as Death on Live has a premise that would work well as a television movie but its hampered by its low budget and unknown stars who fail to elevate its more emotional moments. The film offers an intriguing look at the corrosive effect of social media in the near future where people have contact lens cameras that streams their lives. However in order to achieve higher ratings and attract sponsors some people take more risks such as stealing cars. This how the film starts as a car chase leads to the death of Wyatt Maddox. His brother Jonah, a serving soldier decides to investigate his death. Others want recognition from their peers and have a video log such as Wyatt's little sister who starts a relationship but her boyfriend is unbeknown to her is also broadcasting, even their more intimate moments together. Then there are the underground casinos which makes bets on the various peoples lives, such us if the person is pregnant. If she is will she have the baby or abort? Some bets are longer term as the punter's only know of the outcome some months later. Its not that far removed from real life. We already have crazy stunts on YouTube, revenge porn and gambling has moved on from just betting on the final results of a soccer match. However the low budget means the final product falls short and some of the acting is plain and even below par. Kate French is the standout star in a film that should had delivered more.

• Review from screening at Bath Film Festival

  sarah_venn2013-12-17

  First film from writer/director Drew Thomas set in the not too distant future where people have taken social media to a new level and broadcast their lives in real time through contact lenses which transmit to an app on their smartphones. The film opens with an amusing advert in the style of real Google adverts. The below video was used in a viral marketing campaign and is not the actual one used in the film, but will give you an idea of what the film is centred around. Doesn't seem so science-fiction now, does it? Maybe the not too distant future could even be next week! It does seem like the next logical, if not even more personal step up from blogs, youtube channels, reality TV and sharing of life moments on twitter and facebook. The film starts with a car chase in which Wyatt Maddox (Taylor Handley) is driving accompanied with Tara (Kate French). We then later learn that this car chase ends fatally for Wyatt. The story then continues with Wyatt's soldier brother Jonah (Dominic Devore) returning home for the funeral. On discovering his brother's online existence under the channel name Wyld_Life, Jonah decides to pose as Wyatt and reawaken his channel in order to lure his killers. Meanwhile, while the main story is unfolding there is a sub story in the form of Ashleigh Maddox (Skyler Day) the little sister of Wyatt and Jonah. She is at that impressionable high school age where having recognition and admiration from your peers seems like the most important thing to give you a sense of belonging. She is also a channeler and has her own fashion vlog. Here you see how she uses the vlog for online attention as she sits alone talking to herself in a mirror, but actually casting to thousands. She begins a relationship which she talks about and broadcasts through her channel. She later finds out that her boyfriend has been casting without her knowledge and during intimate times too. Another sub story is about what people do to increase ratings, and therefore get sponsors to give them earning potential. Wyatt's angle was stealing cars, heightening his risk and also simultaneously boosting his ratings. Behind this are the sponsors which sell the advertising space on the casting channels to companies with a relevant product. Furthermore, this bred underground casinos where we saw the shadier side of being able to watch every moment of people's lives. Gamblers betted on people's life events in real time and long-term bets such as if a girl's pregnancy test would be positive or negative, and then if this led to abortion or keeping the baby. This was an interesting film which shows the direction that social media could go and has gone in the past. From 2005 when Andrew Fischer auctioned his forehead for advertising space, to viral celebrity sex tapes, and the increased popularity of reality TV there definitely would be a market for what Channeling proposes the future of entertainment to be and our willingness to share more and more of our lives in order to get our 15 minutes of fame. A Q&A session followed after the film, the distance between audience and director was approximately 5000 miles but through the wonders of Skype we heard the American accent of Drew Thomas as he sat in his car by a mountain in the glorious sunshine in California. Taking questions from the audience Drew said that he didn't feel that social media was to blame but that together with people it can be evil and pervasive. He showed this through the character of Ashley where he wanted to make the audience sympathise with her, however one festival audience member found her character annoying! But then I think that's how some people view social media, I find it particularly annoying when 'friends' of mine post every minute detail of their life – I definitely don't think I'll be tuning into livecasting channels in the near future, well, not unless they are doing something exciting…..

• Visionary retro Sci-Fi that makes you think!

  Tokiwood2014-05-28

  I've seen this movie at Fantaspoa festival in Porto Alegre in Brasil. I didn't know anything about it and I was more than pleasantly surprised. Very interesting and visionary premise about a new social network, in very close future, about live streaming videos of people's lives. They have contact lenses camera that shows everything people see. A rebel streamer is killed and his brother takes over his avatar in order to find the killers. A lot of car chases, very well executed, a lot of exciting scenes. The cast is very interesting. They all have some 60s look and reminded me of Steve McQueen movies and James Dean. But it's very modern in ideas and style. Main actress - Kate French - is awesome. Would like to see more stuff with her. Beautifully shot, well directed, good writing, visionary ideas, exciting chases, interesting characters. Subplot with sister is a nice addition to the universe of future that is around the corner. It makes you think... I was missing a spectacular car chase climax, but I feel that the director wanted to make it more personal and direct closure. Check it out!

• A Vision Of A Future That May Not Be That Far Away...

  stephenabell2017-05-15

  Once upon a time, there was Google Glass, which allowed you access to social media via a headband and a projector just above your eyes. It also allowed you to take photo's and shoot videos. The story that writer and director, Drew Thomas, gives the audience is one of the possible progressions of that technology. He crafts an interesting tale that not only shows the positives but some of the many negatives for this type of tech, as it is directed more towards social media. What would you do to increase viewers, ratings, and sponsorship? Especially when more viewers gives the user more sponsorship money... Wyatt Maddox (Taylor Handley) is out to have fun. He and his partner Tara (Kate French) "Borrow" cars for races, which are aired live through Wyatt's eye-cam. During one of these races, something goes wrong and Wyatt ends up dead. This prompts the return of Jonah (Dominic DeVore), Wyatt's older brother who was serving overseas. It's not long before he realises that all is not right with his brother's death and starts to investigate, by pretending to be Wyatt. Though the story is intelligent and gripping there are times when the film falls flat. These are mainly when the movie changes from action mode to drama. I'm not saying that Thomas cannot film dramatic scenes as one of the best scenes stars Skyler Day as Jonah's and Wyatt's sister Ashleigh who has an epiphany about her use of the tech and her followers. Skyler Day is also the strongest actor in the cast, definitely someone to keep an eye on. However, Thomas is clearly more at home directing the action sequences as these are more powerful and controlled, as the trailer proves. I also loved the opening sequence of the fake advert, which would really work well if you were watching on telly. The acting is above average and most of the actors get behind their characters, though there are times when Kate French seems bored and uninterested at being there. This along with the inconsistencies in pace does wound the movie. However, it's worth at least one watch should you like mysteries, science fiction, or action thrillers.

• mix between fast and furious and sci-fi

  trashgang2016-08-18

  Mediocre flick that combines Sci-Fi with Fast and Furious. I can't say that it bored me but the story is a bit of a wacky thing. Then it's pure Sci-Fi and then it's pure a chase flick between muscle cars. Steeling cars is the job they have to do but there are also lenses used to be placed in your eye so you can see what is happening with your friends. It's the combination of both worlds that makes it a bit weird to watch. The acting is above mediocre and especially the beginning with the Mustang and the motorcycles is worth watching. From there on it's the same story like Fast and Furious and the forbidden love thing. It's worth seeing for the muscle cars being used, if you dig Sci-Fi forget it, there are better things out. Gore 0,5/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 2/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5