Hunting Matthew Nichols
The brief
Director Markian Tarasiuk (who also stars) builds genuine dread through the found footage format without relying on cheap jump scares, letting the mystery of a decades-old disappearance slowly corrupt what starts as a straightforward documentary investigation. The film maintains an unsettling sense that something is fundamentally wrong even during quiet moments of family interviews and archival footage review. Miranda MacDougall anchors the story as the determined sister whose growing obsession with finding answers becomes increasingly unnerving to watch. Perfect for fans of Lake Mungo or The Poughkeepsie Tapes who want their horror psychological and patient rather than gory and loud.
The verdict
If you have the patience for slow-burn psychological horror that builds dread through atmosphere rather than gore, this is a genuinely unsettling found footage film that earns its scares. If you need constant action or quick payoffs in your horror movies, you'll find this too methodical and quiet for your tastes.
Watch with
- 👥 Horror fans who appreciate psychological over gore
- 👤 Those seeking patient, atmospheric scares
- ⚠️ Viewers who dislike found footage may struggle
Heads up
- Missing person/disappearance themes (frequent)
- Psychological distress and obsession (moderate)
- Found footage filming style (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Markian Tarasiuk
- Cast
- Markian Tarasiuk, Ryan Alexander McDonald, Miranda MacDougall, Christine Willes, Susinn McFarlen, Izzy Bull Bear, James Ross
Official synopsis
Twenty-three years after her brother mysteriously disappeared, a documentary filmmaker sets out to solve his missing person's case. But when a disturbing piece of evidence is revealed, she comes to believe that her brother might still be alive.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Both explore fractured investigations where reality blurs with psychological horror.
Total runtime: 1h 29m + 1h 29m = 2h 58m
