2022 was a year in horror, where studios, mainly smaller genre studios, took some bold chances. A24 let Ti West create two mega slasher films with X and Pearl, gave some Australian YouTubers a platform with Talk To Me, and even made Pete Davidson somewhat likable in Bodies, Bodies, Bodies. Shudder and Screambox officially went to war (I’m being hyperbolic). But for the first time since the inception of Shudder, there’s finally some competition in the field. Shudder was able to give a platform to films like Skinamarink, V/H/S/99, Christmas Bloody Christmas, Deadstream, A Wounded Fawn, Scarepackage II: Rad Chad’s Revenge, Kids Vs. Aliens, and Allegoria. Meanwhile, Screambox got their hands on Terrifier 2, The Outwaters, All Jacked Up And Full Of Worms, and Jethica! That list might not be as long as Shudder’s, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
The Standout Found Footage Horror of 2022
Out of all of the found footage films of 2022, the one that stuck out most to me, again, is a mockumentary film. And, again, this one also nails the formula while still being able to make itself fresh and different from the myriad of found footage films. It should be stated, that my favorite found footage film of 2022 is The Outwaters, but there was something so refreshing about Everybody Dies by the End that I couldn’t NOT talk about it. What happens if you get a Tarantino-esque cult filmmaker who wants to make their tenth and final film, who has nothing to lose, with a cult of crewmembers ready to give their all to make one final film? Well, Everybody Dies by the End.
Writer/director/cine-magician Ian Tripp, and co-director/star Ryan Schafer, tell the tale of a self-centered, narcissistic, charismatic ‘cult’ leader Alfred Costella (Vinny Curran) who ventures to make one final film. Al hires Calvin (Ian Tripp), and by proxy sound guy Mark (Joshua Wyble) to film the behind-the-scenes of his movie, which is also titled Everybody Dies by the End. It’s a chamber piece! What transpires through this hour and 30-minute film is funny, tense, scary, sad, and an absolute riot. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun watching a found footage movie.
Unsettling Set Design at Camp Costella
The two selling points of Everybody Dies by the End are unquestionably the acting and the set. Let’s start with the set. Al currently resides on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, which he has monikered Camp Costella. Not only does the compound feel lived in, but it does an excellent job of making us feel isolated as well as making us feel immediately unsettled. In Camp Costella, no one can hear you scream—props to the location scout who found this spot.
Okay, there are actually more than two selling points for this film. The practical effects look gnarly, and except for a specific moment, it doesn’t seem as if there are any digital enhancements whatsoever. If there are, kudos on making them look as realistic as possible. Another impressive aspect of Everybody Dies is not only the shot composition but also just the care put into each frame. With this being a mockumentary, it’s fair to compare it to Horror in the High Desert. High Desert plays it a bit too safe, never trying anything really interesting with the camera (it’s still visually engaging though). Conversely, Everybody Dies tries and succeeds at finding new and interesting things to do with a camera; things found footage films usually don’t worry too much about. There are too many times in Everybody Dies where I had to rewind and just appreciate the composition of the shots. Tripp, and cinematographer Oscar Perez, really do something special with this film.
Stellar Acting Led by Vinny Curran’s Charisma
The last thing we would need to touch on is the acting. Nary a bad actor graces the screen. Even when the actors are purposefully acting badly, it’s still…good. Lead actor/king of comedy/young Kurt Russel Vinny Curran steals the show in Everybody Dies by the End. Vinny exudes charisma in a way I haven’t seen an actor do before. He’s so compelling that I wanted to join his cult. Watching Curran chew up the scenery makes it feel like he’s your, the viewer’s, friend. This film has sort of become a comfort movie for me. Seeing Curran on screen makes me feel safe, it makes me feel like I have a friend right next to me. Every mannerism, every line delivery, and every choice Vinny makes works way too well.
Everybody Dies by the End would make a perfect double feature with Horror in the High Desert. The juxtaposition of how mockumentaries can differ in function and form is on perfect display in these two films. Plus, both films have stellar finales. You really don’t want to sleep on Everybody Dies, especially if you’re a fan of Symbiopsychotaxiplasm.
