The Man-Cave: Exhibit A (2010) review

Monday, November 7, 2011

Exhibit A (2010) review

Your witness, Man-Cave…

"Thank you, your honor and most esteemed jury. I would like to present to the courtroom a found footage subgenre film that requires no ghosts, no goblins and no exorcisms to leave you feeling unnerved while being shot on the most anorexic of budgets. It explores the real life horror of financial desperation which affects millions of people worldwide and how sometimes that level of stress can make people perform extraordinary acts that they would never do otherwise. Allow me to enter the first exhibit into Evidence, Dom Rotheroe’s Exhibit A"

Posed as the viewer watching submitted video tape evidence labeled “murder scene”, this U.K.-based film follows exploits of the seemingly happy King family: hokey patriarch Andy (Bradley Cole), wife Sheila (Angela Forrest), sweet daughter Judith (Brittany Ashworth), and crazy son Joe (Oliver Lee). The footage picks up with Andy giving Judith the camera as a present with news that he is receiving a promotion. Adding to the excitement and cause for Andy to further ham it up to the camera is news that they will be selling their current home in exchange for the family’s dream house in the near future.

Everything is coming up roses for the Kings, until Judith’s voyeuristic tendencies using her new recording gadget reveal that Andy might be hiding something due to his erratic behavior. On the outside, he is always joking around with his family and friends, but late nights are spent smoking and having secret phone conversations in his garage. Things get worse when Andy decides to manually install an in-ground pool to drive up the price of the current house, even though the damaged yard’s condition will do nothing more than delay any offers on the home. As each day passes, cracks appear in Andy’s overly happy exterior as Judith peels back the layers of his secrecy.

Even though the evidence title card in the beginning tells the viewer what is about to happen, it is still a fascinating ride to the destination, filled with swerves. It is refreshing to see this type of film leave an impression on you without the assist of the supernatural and sans jump scares. Exhibit A feels almost too real due to the superb acting and natural positioning of the footage without feeling staged. The real standout differentiator lies in the fact that the camera does not remain with one user the entire time, thus changing the dynamic of the film once the switch occurs. Another nice touch is that Judith’s voyeurism leading to the truth is solidly justified without her being the usual news reporter or documentary film maker that populate these flicks. Not only does she record her father so she can help him see his actions from another perspective, but she is a closet homosexual with an affinity for spying on the cute neighbor’s daughter Claire. This essentially leads to her peeping on Andy in the first place.

Exhibit A has multiple U.K. film festival accolades, a short running time and an ending that is nothing less than genuinely disturbing. You should give it a watch for free on YouTube at this link while you still can.

RATING: