Poor Andrew (Dane DeHaan) has more problems than any movie teenager deserves. He's bullied at school and abused by his father at home. Plus, his mother is dying and he's never been laid. Naturally, he records everything on video. One day he and his cousin Matt (Alex Russell) and Matt's pal Steve (Michael B. Jordan) explore a hole in the ground. They emerge with bloody noses and telekinetic abilities, and no sooner than you can say "with great power comes great responsibility," they're messing around like mini-Magnetos, with Andrew tempted to use his new talent for picking up girls and seeking revenge. The Cloverfield-like found footage device almost redeems the clichés, with first-time director Josh Trank employing the camera as a character in its own right, underscoring the film's self-consciousness. But such cleverness doesn't save the film from predictability and contrivance; it's a triumph of mindlessness over matter.
