A very chilling and effective mockumentary that has a decent story and slow build of suspense and tension. Usually with these films, telling a compelling and thoughtful narrative isn't the real focus but this film does that really well. Though the acting is a bit shaky, the production of it feels very authentic. Those grainy black and white photographs are so incredibly haunting and just uncomfortable to watch. It's even more enthralling with its strong political aspect, which I honestly didn't expect going in. It strikes a perfect balance between that and the horror aspect and I really like how it doesn’t feel forced. I fully recommend it.

A bit of a slow burn, but creepy enough to keep me engaged and interested. Good acting, at least better than the usual found footage or mockumentary finds. Overall well done.

2015’s Savageland tries to be a sharp commentary on how some Americans view immigrants, but it mostly drags. The documentary style is just okay — a bit tiring — and the pacing is slow, making the already long runtime feel longer. Creepy photos and the need to piece together your own conclusion are interesting touches, but they aren’t enough to save it. Overall, a “meh” film — solid 5/10.

Savageland is, at its core, a fairly average mockumentary that follows the story of a Mexican illegal immigrant who finds himself in a twisted stroke of luck (or perhaps misfortune?) as the sole survivor of a mass murder that turned a small town into a ghost town overnight. The film skillfully incorporates a social commentary on immigration, racism, and prejudice. However, what truly sets it apart is its inventive use of the found-footage subgenre in a way I've never seen before. Instead of shaky video clips, the found-footage here is composed entirely of black-and-white photographs taken by the survivor during that fateful night. These photos are both haunting and breathtaking. They capture the grim reality of what transpired, and while it eventually becomes clear what wiped out the town’s residents, the eerie brilliance of the images initially gave me the sense that someone had opened the gates of hell.