"Hunting Matthew Nichols" (2024) [FilmQuest]

by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden

In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s director Markian Tarasiuk’s Canadian mystery thriller Hunting Matthew Nichols, which screened as part of FilmQuest’s 2024 edition.

Synopsis

Twenty-three years after her brother vanished, a filmmaker (Miranda MacDougall) investigates his disappearance. Uncovering evidence, she suspects he may still be alive, fueling her quest to unravel the mystery.

The Good

Joseph: Director/cowriter Markian Tarasiuk and cowriter Sean Harris Oliver craft a film that is a valentine to, tribute to, and innovative play on The Blair Witch Project (1999). The two teenage boys who have disappeared in Hunting Matthew Nichols were obsessed with that controversial, groundbreaking independent movie, and it seems that Tarasiuk and Oliver have spent more than a little time thinking about it too. They have done so in a creative way, combining true-crime documentary-style filmmaking with found footage horror elements and delivering a suspenseful effort loaded with mystery and drama. The approach eliminates an issue that hampers many a pure found footage film: it’s usually just a lot of wandering around until a sudden burst of high action near the climax. Miranda MacDougall gives a superb lead performance as the titular missing boy’s sister Tara. Quite often in faux documentary films, the performers are obviously Acting with a capital A. Happily, that is not the case here, as MacDougall and Tarasiuk — who plays himself as he helps Tara document her search for what happened to Matthew — give believable performances, as do the majority of the supporting players.

Mike: First, let me say that I think Netflix has some of the most polished and well produced true crime docs available today, so it’s with the greatest of compliments that I say the first act of Hunting Matthew Nichols plays out like one. It seems that a lot of detail went into getting this look and feel just right and it pays off by luring the viewer in with a captivating premise and set up.

Saying too much about the film may spoil where it eventually leads, although since co-writers Oliver and Tarasiuk bring it up themselves, I feel safe in saying that comparisons to The Blair Witch Project will be plentiful, but where BWP zigs, this zags and vice versa and honestly, aside from happening in the woods and there being the folktale of a supernatural entity in said woods, they are very different films.

Miranda MacDougall, as Tara - the sister of the titular Mr. Nichols, is wonderful in her role which encompasses a wide range of emotions, from lively and energetic to brooding and depressed, doing so with a strong air of believability.

The Bad

Joseph: My quibbles are few and small, such as another issue with found footage movies, shots seemingly from a camera other than the ones characters are carrying. Tarasiuk and company obviously worked hard to dispense with elements that hinder found footage and docudrama films.

Mike: There’s really nothing to put here. The film maybe could have been edited down by ten minutes or so. Elements that I’d fault other found footage style films for are thankfully glossed over or explained here or are even non-existent - a rare feat when so many of those tropes are traps that stumble-up many a filmmaker.

The Verdict

Joseph: Hunting Matthew Nichols is a fine effort that balances realistic-feeling true crime drama with fright-fare elements. The result is a gripping work that deserves to find a wide audience on its film festival run and inevitable wide release.

Mike: Markian Tarasiuk and Sean Harris Oliver have crafted a chilling story that is equal parts horror and true crime drama that evokes some of the best aspects from both genres and delivers a package that is as captivating as it is believable.

Hunting Matthew Nichols is recommended for fans of The Blair Witch Project, folk horror, and true crime documentaries.