by Henry Pham
Just letting you viewers know that the title serves as a foreshadowing reference to the main characters using small body cameras tied to their shirts, which are seen throughout the entire movie. Also, try not to be confused with the 2020 film of the same title that features Mary J. Blige and Nat Wolff. The main plot of this film centers on two police officers, Jackson and Bryce, who show up to investigate a domestic dispute, which leads to a startling escalation to a tragic accident. Not wanting to be crucified by the public, the officers attempt to cover it up – only to reveal that their body cameras aren’t the only things watching them.
Acting duo Jaime M. Callica and Sean Rogerson are fun but nervous to watch. They excel as leads, playing ambiguous cop characters, Jackson and Bryce. Callica compromises his ethics to protect his partner, while Rogerson, initially villainous, is humanized despite his cover-up. Catherine Lough Haggquist is great as Ally, Officer Jackson’s sister. The homeless people (possibly extras in the background) are unsettling, which evokes the film, while the realistic performances are ideal for this style.
Having been co-written with Ryan Christensen, Brandon Christensen, known for directing Night of the Reaper, Still/Born, Z, and The Puppetman, handles his directing duties in this found-footage horror film. The first act of the film is straightforward. However, the film’s central point is slow and dragging before catching up fast in the final act. Even though the film runs about 75 minutes long, which is awfully short for a horror movie, there are some scenes that will make you feel cringey and could have been reworked, for that matter. Likewise, it is brutal and scary to watch with all the blood and gore coming out. What’s great about this story is that the found-footage scenes look surreal and immersive, giving the feel as if you are watching a movie that is part of either the Paranormal Activity or V/H/S franchise, which are the main influences on this film.
Bodycam takes the strong, yet horrifying turns thanks to Brandon Christensen’s direction. It’s not bad, but not perfect. Though I really wanted to see more of this to get more entertainment in my system. Sadly, that’s all I get to see. The jump scares will also make you tremble and carve themselves into the brain, so when you’re alone in the night, those images will come back to bite. If you’re a horror fan or love horror movies, this is worth checking out. However, if you have kids, I suggest you take them to a different room. The film will be on Shudder and AMC+ on March 13th, which is a perfect (and fitting) way to celebrate Friday the 13th.
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