This blog post examines the inner transformation of Andrew from the movie Chronicle, exploring why he turned into a monster despite gaining superpowers.
Chronicle Plot Summary
Andrew lives with his father, who quit his job as a firefighter after an accident, and cares for his mother who is bedridden with an illness. His only friend is his cousin Matt. One day, Andrew follows Matt to a party and, along with his friend Steve, hears a mysterious, deafening roar. Driven by curiosity, they enter a cave. After touching a strange red-glowing object there, Andrew and his friends gain telekinetic powers. Starting with minor abilities like moving Legos, their powers gradually intensify—eventually allowing flight—and begin to shake Andrew’s inner self. Conflict with his father and a humiliating experience at a party gradually transform Andrew into a violent being, ultimately leading him to self-destruction.
Why Chronicle is appealing to me
What makes this sci-fi film particularly appealing to me is its honesty. I don’t usually care much for superhero stories. Most superhero narratives rely on fictional elements rather than authenticity to paint the ‘hero’ image. Heroes like the Bio-Men or Vector Man I watched as a child defeated evil, saved the world, and were cheered. As a child, I was captivated by their heroic qualities and cheered them on, but as an adult, I’ve come to realize that such heroes don’t exist in today’s world. The heroes we remember are mostly remembered only after their deaths, rather than being recognized during their lifetimes.
The kids in Chronicle don’t use their powers for others. This honesty actually resonates. There is no absolute ‘evil’ in the world; even good people harbor ‘evil’ aspects. How many truly wicked people exist? Most live carrying both goodness and darkness. Like high schoolers who make others run errands for snacks and steal money, yet cry watching love requests on TV.
The protagonist’s turbulent inner world over superpowers
Another reason I was drawn to this film is the story’s structure itself. The ‘telekinesis’ in Chronicle is merely a tool to express the protagonists’ psychological changes. This film is not a typical superhero story but rather a narrative weighted with social commentary. The story begins when something anyone might imagine becomes reality for these kids. While typical hero narratives feature protagonists who gain special abilities and fight evil to save the world, the kids in Chronicle use the powers they acquired out of sheer curiosity solely for themselves. They choose the ability to fly not for others, but for their own happiness. This honest portrayal feels more realistic and compelling.
Control and Its Loss
Have you ever experienced being controlled? We face various forms of control in school and society. From parental nagging to situations where we must endure anger, controls both big and small exist. However, excessive control turns into oppression. For Andrew, control is especially horrific. His father’s control escalates into violence, threatening Andrew. School and home are no longer safe havens for him, and he lacks the strength to resist this violence. Then, a tremendous power emerges within him, and the situation begins to shift. Andrew no longer endures the violence; he now possesses the strength to confront it.
This is also the root of the conflict between Andrew and Matt. As his power grows stronger, Andrew descends further into a state of uncontrollability, believing he must become the predator. He instinctively realizes he has now become the predator. Andrew, who has nurtured resentment under this oppression, eventually transforms into a beast. He tries to control everything around him but loses the ability to control himself.
Andrew Communicating with the Camera
In the film, Andrew becomes obsessed with his new camera. The camera captures Andrew’s daily life, and Andrew seeks to communicate with it. After gaining telekinesis, he freely manipulates the camera to capture his own face, and in this process, he senses the possibility of communication. Yet he still cannot communicate properly with people. His powerful ability, contrasting with his introverted nature, makes him arrogant, but achieving genuine communication with others remains elusive. His lack of connection ultimately fades like a bubble, and Andrew, having given up on communication, ends up crying out to others.
Another Camera
Another intriguing element in the film is Casey’s presence. Casey appears holding another camera. Though she doesn’t play a major role in the film, the director added her character to create a more dynamic visual experience. Even without Casey, the various camera angles—convenience store CCTV, broadcast cameras—show how meticulously planned this film is. These elements use the one-way communication inherent in the camera medium to make Andrew’s inner world stand out even more.
Chronicle Movie Review
After watching the film, I wondered if it really needed the label ‘struggling teens’. People of all ages struggle. Not just teens, but those in their 20s, 30s – everyone navigates life with uncertainty. Chronicle doesn’t define immaturity solely by age. The world is futile regardless of age, and people are beings who wander within it, whether young or grown.
In today’s increasingly selfish world, true heroes are rare. Unlike the heroes we commonly know, Andrew in Chronicle uses his powers for himself. He can’t be blamed, but he fails to control himself and meets his downfall. Past wounds and repression explode, transforming Andrew into a monster. In truth, even without his powers, Andrew’s environment was enough to turn him into a monster. It wasn’t his abilities that made him a monster; it was the people around him. Ultimately, we can only watch his downfall in silence.
