Panic Fest 2022 Review: ‘Dascham’ is a Found Footage Horror Comedy About The Worst Person In The World
When watching horror movies, there is often a complaint that a character, often the lead, is making all the wrong choices due to stupidity or their own loathsomeness. Dashcam is a movie that takes this trope and pumps it up to 11.
The story follows Annie Hardy (Played by Annie Hardy, a more exaggerated version of herself) a vapid Youtuber, live streamer, and ride share driver with many right wing, conspiratorial, and offensive views and lacking any sort of filter aside from getting a rise from everyone and anyone around her. Deciding to leave the COVID lockdown restrictions for the relatively more free U.K. she hooks up with an old bandmate of hers named Stretch (Amar Chadha-Patel) who she reacquaints with by surprising while he’s still in bed asleep while she livestreams it. Neither friend or foe are safe from Annie’s obnoxiousness. While accompanying Stretch on his job as a deliveryman, Annie decides to take a well paying gig, only to discover too late she is in way over her head as she livestreams it to a hungry audience…
Image via IMDB
Dashcam won’t be for everyone, I can say that right off the bat. People can like a character who is evil or fiendish, but someone who is vile and annoying is a far deeper challenge. But its one I hope audiences will meet because this is another outstanding found footage film from director/writer Rob Savage of HOST infamy! Going from a more Paranormal Activity leaning supernatural found footage story over zoom to a madcap found footage horror comedy that feels in line with something like The Evil Dead. I don’t want to spoil anything and I want to keep as many surprises as possible, but Dashcam veers into all manner of wild directions that I simply did not see coming.
But if you’re in the market for madness and gore, the movie has you covered. As for the cast, Annie Hardy is our POV character since this is essentially her malicious musical ride share livestream show taken far off the rails. And her character is about as loathsome as it can get. But providing an answer for why someone would keep filming in a found footage movie despite the danger. She wants those clicks and the attention! Also, she is incredibly shortsighted. Often having to be held back by Stretch who acts as a figure of reason to her even as she’s about to throw hands with a fast food restaurant manager. Frankly, though it should stand out that we have a horror movie where the lead character is a colossal asshole.
The story almost follows a Tales From The Crypt style approach where a lot of the danger and madness unfolds not because Annie is in the wrong place in the wrong time or because she made one little mistake. She screws up constantly and brushes off responsibility until it’s too late. Not unlike many social media influencers.
Dashcam is a hell of a ride, and if you have the stomach for it, I hope you’ll give it a shot.
4 eyes out of 5