When two police officers show up to investigate a domestic dispute, a startling escalation leads to a tragic accident. Not wanting to be crucified by the public, the officers attempt to cover it up–only to reveal that their body cameras aren’t the only things watching them.
Bodycam is a decent found-footage film that balances the occult and substance abuse as its two primary entry points. The film follows the hostile reactions of an unspecified cult towards what the film veils as police brutality. Our partnered police officers then have to deal with the consequences of their actions, though—in all fairness—this is one of the very few instances that I have ever sided with a cop. ACAB, except for the Brooklyn 99 crew!
As far as found footage films go, Bodycam is as generic as you get. This is not necessarily a negative, as generic films exist for good reason and—if done well—make a tidy profit. It’s generic in the sense that a lot of the film has the typical “I don’t know what’s going on, but I am running through dark, claustrophobic places and dealing with horrors beyond my comprehension” story style. Still, it does wrap it all up neatly in new packaging—a buddy cop film!
It is decently scary, especially the first act. The film kind of becomes less terrifying the longer it runs, as it is the unknown that truly terrifies us, and the more we know about what’s happening, the less it terrifies. The scares come from what can only really be described as crack dens and fentanyl addicts, which may not seem all that terrifying, but if you’ve ever been in a shady place with unhinged addicts, you’ll understand the vibe the film is going for.
There is obviously the whole plot of police brutality, accountability, cover-ups, and the refusal of law enforcement to take accountability for their actions. While this would usually be my bread-and-butter hyperfocus, I was instead drawn more to the subtle spotlight on addiction. Having been there and done that, I appreciated the portrayal of the addicts as worshipers of a power greater than themselves. This all-powerful creature, with its ability to dominate, subjugate, and bend others to its will, was a perfect metaphor for potent drug abuse. It hit hard.
Others have suggested that the film expresses Lovecraftian or eldritch tones, specifically with the film’s entity being something unknowable in nature. I did not get that vibe. Yes, I understand why some may draw parallels, and while the entity is similar to a diluted version of Stephen King’s IT, it is no Yog-Sothoth or King in Yellow. The film’s tone is more akin to a haunting or possession flick than it is a cosmic horror.
Sitting here with my clipboard in hand, Bodycam does many things right. It has an exhilarating pace, clever cinematography—especially with the car scenes, great acting, good scares, and a narrative that both left and right can follow, which is an insane flex. Imagine us agreeing on things. It has the production value, well-crafted sets, convincing talent, and a compelling story. But it is lowercase good, not uppercase great. It has a lot of highs, but nothing to really elevate it out of the 6-7 out of ten range.
Thanks for reading, and as always, stay sordid. Bodycam comes to AMC+ as well as to Shudder on Friday, March 13th. If you enjoy found footage titles, this is one of the better ones. Give it a watch. Artwork and Trailer are below.
