In its opening scene, Man Finds Tape asks us about some of the most famous cryptids, showing footage of the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot. But it is not talking about the reality of them: Rather, its scope is what is real against the backdrop of the lore of these phenomena.

The found footage and mockumentary genre of horror has been steadily growing since The Blair Witch Project. As technology has advanced, so have the formats of these stories. With Man Finds Tape set in a modern world, we get more than just POV footage or CCTV. Zoom and TikTok make appearances, as well as Reddit, deepening the story by giving the filmmakers a chance to have additional footage to tell the story. Though there is stiff competition for it to go up against, Man Finds Tape finds its footing.

Man Finds Tape – The monster that has been terrorizing the small town

Following the story of a monster that has been terrorizing the small town of Larkin, Texas, for decades, brother and sister Lucas (William Magnuson) and Lynn (Kelsey Pribilski) are reunited when Lucas says he has discovered something that he needs help with. Lynn, who had long since moved out, is reluctant to come back, but ultimately does.

Larkin is entrenched in an expected Texan religious mindset, where a man of the cloth, no matter what shape or color, has the most sway. And while that is hardly a new facet to the horror genre as a whole, the way Man Finds Tape handles it allows it to stick out just a little further than its competitors.

Man Finds Tape

What the story really hinges on is the relationship between the siblings, as well as their ability to connect with the audience. We spend most of our time with them, and with Lynn, especially, as the documentary progresses. Lucas is withdrawn, and Lynn is the only person he opens up to. You can see glimpses of the bond they used to have, which is right at the heart of the film.

Creepypastas in the modern horror world

The unknown entity that has been haunting Larkin is referred to by Lynn early on as a creepypasta, tying back to the film’s initial themes of cryptozoology. As we go from Reddit threads to 911 calls, it seems like that might be the case. Creepypastas are a modern version of a tulpa; in the sense that they retain their tangibility by being imagined and passed along from person to person. If you talk about it enough, it has to be real. Unfortunately for Larkin, it is very much real.

Screenwriters and directors Paul Gandersman and Peter S. Hall do a wonderful job of creating and maintaining an atmosphere dripping with dread. With every new piece of information revealed and every new CCTV angle, you come no closer to knowing the true shape of this monster. Their pacing plays a huge part in the success of the story, as the reveal comes at such a perfect time that you are as caught off-guard as if you were there witnessing it yourself.

The creative decision to keep the exposition to a minimum is also a strong choice. The less, the better, especially for a movie like this. It strengthens the pervasive eeriness, that unsettling question of what will happen next.

Man Finds Tape premiered on June 8 at the Tribeca Film Festival. Make sure to check out all of our movie reviews at thathashtagshow.com.

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