By Jacob Cameron

Muffled is a found footage horror film in the same vein as similar films such as Strange Harvest. The style of docu-horror that was pioneered by Lake Mungo. The film had a great idea on paper, but it is squandered by a lack of scares.

Muffled was directed by Stephen McNamee, who is making his directorial debut. It starred Katya Martin and Catharine Daddario. The film tells the story of Nora and Harper, played by Martin and Daddario, respectively, who are investigating the strange disappearance of a childhood friend. Said friend disappeared under mysterious circumstances and, before said disappearance, would talk about seeing The Muffled Man. Nora and Harper dive into the disappearance while documenting everything from interviews to their own attempts at communicating with The Muffled Man.

Katya Martin and Catharine Daddario are the best parts of the film. Their friendship felt authentic, and their banter was enjoyable in bursts. They take up nearly every minute of the film, and their reactions feel as authentic as you could get for material like this. The two are a part of an online detective agency called Sleuths on Ice, and their relationships with their colleagues felt authentic as well.

There are admirable attempts made to try and build tension. The interviews conducted aim for uneasiness and unreliability. With some of the interviews bordering on awkward; the interviewees either are apathetic or scared with having to discuss The Muffled Man. There’s even a couple of attempts to communicate with The Muffled Man. All of this ultimately leads to nothing substantive.

A definite disadvantage of the film is that it takes place at a house with an interesting backstory and atmosphere that are both never utilized. Because both Nora and Harper have to document everything they do, there are many scenes of meals and mornings after that become monotonous and repetitive. Even the rituals to call on the Muffled Man are not interesting; along with having instructions that seem needlessly complicated. The lore behind the Muffled Man seems ambiguous and inaccessible. And any scares that could be had are not present here; one of the Sleuths on Ice dies while on a Zoom call with Nora and Harper, and the death is forgotten by the next scene. 

That seems to be a running theme in the film; a good idea or a good setup for a scare, then forgotten by the next scene. Which is especially interesting considering that the movie is 89 minutes long. There seems to be a complete lack of interest in the story at certain points in the film. The film has barely enough story to keep things moving but doesn’t seem to do anything with that good concept. Seemingly losing interest in these characters and the lore of the Muffled Man by about 20 minutes in.

In the end, this was a very disappointing watch. It’s a good concept, but it is not even close to being used to its full potential. 

🌟 1/2 stars