“Man Finds Tape,” the debut feature from co-writers/directors Paul Gandersman and Peter Hall, arrives today on On-Demand and physical media via Magnolia Home Entertainment’s Magnet Label. While it’s being marketed as found-footage horror, that label might not accurately describe this unsettling mystery.
The film follows Lucas (William Magnuson, “SKAM Austin”), the creator of the viral YouTube channel “Man Finds Tape.” After discovering a childhood video of himself that he has no memory of filming, Lucas begins documenting a search for the truth. His investigation leads him to surveillance footage of a local murder, prompting him to reach out to his estranged sister, Lynn (Kelsey Pribilski, “Landman”), to help make sense of what he sees on screen. What begins as a homicide investigation quickly spirals into a confrontation with a town’s dark past.
Though the film features “found footage” in the literal sense, it’s more accurately described as a mock documentary. While Lucas’s discovery drives the plot, it is Lynn who anchors the journey. Narrating much of the film with a voice perfectly suited for public radio, Pribilski brings an authentic, “Serial”-esque gravity to the storytelling that makes the mockumentary format feel incredibly grounded.
The narrative introduces several ambitious concepts. At the center of the town of Larkin’s problems is Reverend Endicott Carr (John Ghoulson), a televangelist who has found a nefarious way to tap into the community. However, the stakes escalate when a mysterious stranger (Brian Villalobos) arrives, looking to exploit those gains for himself. His presence eventually unveils a cosmic evil affecting everyone in Larkin, which is where the film’s true horror lies (albeit mild).
Unfortunately, while these plotlines form the backbone of the film, their resolution remains somewhat ambiguous. We receive a conclusion to Lucas’s personal investigation, but the “what” and “why” behind the long-standing peril facing the town of Larkin and the mysterious stranger are left largely unexplained.
That said, Gandersman and Hall have crafted something genuinely compelling. The performances are strong, and the mismatch of various media clips feels remarkably authentic. Viewers will find themselves as invested in this fictional investigation as they would be in a real-life true-crime documentary, even if the ending leaves them searching for a bit more closure.
“Man Finds Tape” is available now on-demand across major digital platforms, including Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play, and DirecTV. The Blu-ray and DVD releases are also available starting today.
Where to watch “Man Finds Tape”:
