The Challenge is a short found footage movie from 2022. The plot is this challenge, I’m not sure where it originates from, I don’t think that’s explained at all in the movie. But the goal is to go to this abandoned hotel and film themselves while they progress to the 4th floor.
Rumors have it that the toughest boy in school only got to start the challenge before he fled. So these teenage girls need to prove themselves to be tougher than him. It’s kind of told in the dialogue but if it wasn’t, you’d understand the driving force for the girls anyway. I guess that there’s always a driving force when you prove to yourself that you dare and are capable anyway.
It starts off with the usual stuff with the girls filming themselves while planning the trip to the hotel. At one time or another it seems like one or the other wants to back out, but are encouraged by the other one to continue.
At first nothing much is happening. They find a few mysterious things. The front door to the hotel seems to be open while the doors to the rooms are all locked, or at least most of them. There are some artifacts that feed their curiosity, a painting looking exactly like one of them and mysterious doors slam shut etc.
At this time I think it’s quite believeable. It’s a little too “yelly” at times, but on the other hand I understand why teenage girls high on adrenaline must sound that way.
Anyway, as they progress to the high floors more and more mysterious things start to happen. At first it’s only shown to us – the audience, but after a while it’s very obvious to the girls as well, that something about the place isn’t normal. It’s shown with a pretty standard technique. Things you see, and then you don’t and that kind of stuff. But even if it’s horror 101 – it works! Sometimes less is indeed more. If it had been overdone it would have ruined the effect.
I usually don’t get scared of horror movies unless they revolve around a subject that is very close to reality. This is a bit too supernatural to be attached to the real world. Yet, I found myself kind of sitting on needles. It’s exciting and I want to know what is going to happen next, if we will get any jumpscare cuts and so on. It’s not that I’m scared, it’s just the suspense that has taken hold of me.
There are a couple of scenes that bothers me though. Things that are obvious mistakes and things that are a little too clické. But as a whole I think this is a very effective film and I also think that it’s a good thing that it’s short. I don’t think the tension could have kept up for very much longer.
And, make sure to watch to the end. It’s a mysterious film from when the hotel comes into the picture and when it ends, you’re still not clear about what actually happened. That’s a strength. Films that let the audience decide for themselves what the meaning of it all is, are the best. Is it a plain ghost story, a haunted house, or even mental suffocation or insanity?
You can see the film here: The Challenge.
