The Life of Belle is a no-budget film that bodes a mixture of POV and found footage as it moves along the runtime. The title is written and directed by Shawn Robinson, who before this creepy film, was the cinematographer for a short film called Parting Song (2022.) Opening scenes serve as an in-media res, with a police officer attending a home with three bodies before announcing that one member of the household is missing. The camera cuts to a news announcement that explains what happened in the house. Provisioning the audience with a small amount of detail it’s confirmed that what police can reveal is that Belle is missing.
For a micro-budget film, what is immediately noticeable is that the cast for The Life of Belle is quite large in the first quarter of the film. An unfortunate byproduct of a big cast with a small budget is that immediately performances are hit-and-miss. News reading especially is a tricky thing to master in cinema. Fortunately, the storyline runs along a track I particularly enjoy. Think Paranormal Activity spliced with the likes of The Sean Miller Story and you have a basic idea of how The Life of Belle might go.
The title soon flashes back in time to Belle’s birthday, beginning on the 10th of July 2018. With her parents talking in the background, it’s revealed that Belle has big dreams of being an internet star before being graced with her very own video camera. The Life of Belle movie soon settles into its niche with key cast, consisting of a family of four all creating a believable and relatable atmosphere of family life in the suburbs.
Life of Belle Movie
It doesn’t take long before the film delivers the first clue that something is not quite right. In the middle of the night, Mom (Sarah Mae Robinson) is captured on home security cameras releasing a single scream into the night before being comforted by her husband (Matthew Robinson.) Cinematography generally only shows this family unit from afar except when Belle is filming small segments here and there. Most of the time she is seen giving voiceovers and reenacting dramatic scenes through the lens of a young kid. The tension is palpable, combined with the anticipation of knowing how these lives end up.
Life of Belle Trailer
By July 11th, snippets of hushed conversations about Mom’s medication and Dad’s upcoming work trip create a smelting pot of uncertainty. By July 12th, Dad had left filled with worry about his wife’s mental health.
The next we see of this family is Mom, Belle, and Link at the park. Here cinematography comes in low-angled camera shots. Short doses of distant drama unfold from the view of two siblings but only when Link is by his sister’s side as she films what is happening around her. The different vantage points of looking in create a disconcerting feeling.
While it often feels like The Life of Belle movie lingers too long when not a lot is happening, the film is only 73 minutes so the payoff for patience is swift.
By July 13th the anticipation is almost unbearable given the outcome of events shown at the very beginning of the movie. There is enough reward, however, to satiate most lovers of both found footage and paranormal cinema.
The Life of Belle climax doesn’t leave you hanging when it comes to answers. There is no doubt about what happened to Belle by the end of the film. It’s creepy and scratched the itch I had for something new to watch in the found footage niche. For another found footage recommendation, watch Mind Body Spirit 2024.
The Life of Belle is rated
3.5 hide and seek is only fun when there is nothing to be scared of out of 5
Life of Belle Where to Watch
The horror movie is being distributed by Terror Films and is streaming from the 2nd of February, 2024.
For direct ways to watch this title and many others, Mother of Movies like ReelGood.com to find the cheapest platforms to see movies. See the Facebook page for The Life of Belle and for more great reviews and news.
The Life Of Belle 2024, What Happened To This Ideallic Family?
Director: Shawn Robinson
Date Created: 2024-02-02 19:08
3.5
Pros
- Low budget found footage with great production values
- Main cast gave excellent performances
Cons
- Generic storyline for the found footage niche
