Death of a Vlogger
With its Scottish premiere in the late slot on the preview night of the FrightFest strand of the Glasgow Film Festival, the response to Death of a Vlogger is directly relate to the viewer’s tolerance for micro-budget found footage horror which is principally the director’s obsessive self-recordings of his every waking moment in hopes of capturing something interesting on the damp streets of his home town.
Written, produced, directed and edited by Graham Hughes, he also stars as (surprise) Graham, the titular vlogger in search of internet fame for whom no subject or stunt is too outlandish or extreme: “I’ve never met anybody who can dedicate so much time and energy to doing something stupid,” his friend observes.
A series of videos shot in his flat showing objects moving mysteriously, they attract online attention which Graham is obviously keen to capitalise on, engaging the services of “ghost hunter” Steve Mitchell (Paddy Kondracki) who with wide-eyed enthusiasm becomes convinced the significance of “the Maryhill Haunting” will change their lives.
With Hughes in almost every frame of Death of Vlogger there is little distance or objectivity between him and his film; perhaps with a collaborator behind the camera or co-writing the script the shortcomings would not be so pronounced, but little can change that both he and Kondracki are playing tiresome, self-serving characters desperately convinced of their significance.
The scariest thing about Death of a Vlogger the hideous shirts worn by Steve and that Graham’s DVD collection is organised by colour, the aim may be a home grown Paranormal Activity but that is not a high aspiration, and nor does a telegraphed guest appearance by budget Sadako during the awkwardly filmed séance scene raise the tension.
Where the film is more interesting is in its commentary on internet celebrity, the elusive and ephemeral goal which drives Graham and Steve, their obsession seemingly a justification of their exercises in deflection in the competitive virtual world where lying is second nature and truth belongs to those who shout the loudest, but running to an hour and half the exercise is as pointless as their pursuit of both fame and ghosts.
The 2020 Glasgow Film Festival concluded on Sunday 8th March
