Stephane is a found footage thriller from France that does things a little different. The movie is about an aspiring filmmaker named Timothée who is working on a short film for an upcoming film festival. While shooting a scene he meets a a helpful man. This random encounter soon has Tim rethinking his plans for the fest. Stephane turns out to be a larger than life character that is the perfect subject for a documentary. But in the world of the titular character, few things are ever as they seem.
Filmmakers Timothée Hochet and Lucas Pastor go in a slightly different direction with their film. Found footage is one of the most popular sub-genres in horror. Stephane is filled with suspense and can be uncomfortable at times, but it is not a horror movie. It is more of a character study that explores its two main characters. Since the majority of time is spent with just Tim and Stephane as they talk about their plans for the future, audiences get to know both characters very well.
This is where most of the enjoyment in Stephane lies. As more is revealed about each of the leads, it becomes clear they are more like each other than they realize. There is an obsessive quality that makes them both oblivious to what is happening around them, but there is also a loneliness that allows their working relationship to blossom. Both qualities make the pair pitiful, but also engaging. There is a train wreck quality that makes all of their exchanges captivating. Though never of them seem to realize it, they are each leaning on each other to get the most out of life.
The story manages to convey a high level of suspense even though it makes it clear early and often that something is very wrong. Unlike similar movies, it is not a matter of whether someone has more sinister intentions; it is a question of what they plan on doing and why. This brings added tension to every comment, action, and even location in Stephane.
Unfortunately, things go off the rails in the final twenty minutes. The careful and methodical pacing of the first hour is tossed aside for a number of reveals that feel out of place. Some things work better than others, but everything that happens will lead to the type of questions that take away from Stephane. Overall, it is a unique watch that ends up getting too clever for its own good.
Stephane makes its World Premiere at Beyond Fest October 7
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