--- title: "Chronicle: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/chronicle/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/chronicle" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 21 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Chronicle (2012): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 21 reviews: 15 positive, 6 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like Chronicle, and the praise clusters around two things: the found-footage approach, which several reviews say turns a tired device into something inventive once the camera floats free of the boy holding it, and the flight and climax set-pieces. Dane DeHaan’s Andrew is the performance most often singled out, with Michael B. Jordan close behind. The Guardian and Empire are among the warmest, calling it a fresh take on the lonely superpowered teenager. The reservations gather at the end. Several critics find the final stretch rough, saccharine or off the rails, and a few think the film’s ideas about power and bullying are older than its camera trick. Slant is the firmest dissenter, calling it a stale morality play that frames Andrew’s violence too sympathetically, and Paste thinks the cast outshines the script. The spread is narrow: nobody dismisses it, and the mixed verdicts mostly concede it is fun before noting what it is not. ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Rating 5/5. 31 January 2012. Harley gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, calling it an inventive, satisfying challenge to superhero conventions. He especially praises the energized found-footage approach and its thrilling climax. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/chronicle-1-review/) ## Empire — Mark Dinning Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 January 2012. Dinning finds the film fresh, exciting and memorable, calling it an essential leftfield experience. He especially praises its spectacular climax and the director’s astonishing set-pieces, while noting that the teenagers’ delayed temptation to abuse their powers strains credulity. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/chronicle-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2012. Bradshaw calls the film crackingly good and says it refreshes the lonely-superpowered-guy story. He particularly praises its confident pacing and the way the floating camera turns found-footage limitations into inventive out-of-body scenes. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/feb/02/chronicle-film-review) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 February 2012. Brody finds the film a nearly unmitigated delight, despite a slow start and its ominous turn. He praises its exhilarating airborne camerawork and its psychologically resonant portrayal of a frustrated intellectual’s growing violence. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/chronicle-teens-and-their-pepys) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating B+. 2 February 2012. Tobias finds the film a remarkably effective, grounded take on a dark superhero story. He praises how its found-footage approach makes supernatural events feel human, while noting the contrivances required to keep every moment on camera. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/chronicle-1798171381) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 2/4/3. 1 February 2012. The review finds the film inventive and energetic, though ultimately more novelty than lasting achievement. It praises the smooth, headache-free camera work and the leads’ charisma, while criticizing the saccharine ending. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/chronicle) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2012. Ebiri finds Chronicle an effective, unusually grounded take on superpowers and adolescent temptation. He singles out its provincial focus and Andrew’s wish-fulfillment revenge as the film’s strongest elements. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2012/02/chronicle-movie-review.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2012. Sharkey finds the film smart and fresher than its found-footage premise suggests, though it becomes rough and somewhat off the rails near the end. She especially praises the inventive framing and the lead actor’s energetic portrayal of teen repression and rage. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-feb-03-la-et-chronicle-20120203-story.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2012. McCarthy finds the film clever and better than average, though its final stretch undermines its impact. He praises the seamless effects, especially the trio’s exuberant flight through the clouds. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/chronicle-film-review-286829/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2012. Debruge finds the film a clever, plausible take on found footage and a chilling story about bullying. He praises its inventive visual approach, while noting that Andrew’s arc limits the other characters and the story’s scope. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/chronicle-1117946985/) ## Screen Daily — Brent Simon Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2012. The page identifies this as a review, but its text is hidden behind a registration prompt. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint are not available. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/chronicle/5037331.article) ## Time Out — Cath Clarke Rating 3/5. 7 March 2012. The printed three-star rating indicates a mixed verdict. The review questions the familiar found-footage setup while focusing on schoolkids in Seattle with superpowers. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/chronicle) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film fun, though it falls short of comparable found-footage films and does not quite earn its franchise potential. They single out the shy, camera-obsessed boy’s early use of his powers as particularly effective. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/chronicle-review-7439758.html) ## Slant Magazine — Andrew Schenker Rating 2/4. 1 February 2012. Schenker finds the film a stale morality play that ultimately fails to deliver enough genre thrills. He praises the exhilarating flight and urban-destruction sequences, while criticizing the film’s overfamiliar ideas and its sympathetic framing of Andrew’s violence. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/chronicle/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 5/5. 19 January 2012. Lambie gives the film an enthusiastic endorsement, calling it a must-see and praising its intelligent, character-led storytelling. He especially singles out the inventive use of cameras as an integral part of the film’s storytelling. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/chronicle-review/) ## NME — Owen Nicholls Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2012. The critic strongly recommends the film, praising its balance of character development and inventive superhero spectacle. They single out Michael B. Jordan’s charismatic performance and the affecting relationship between Steve and Andrew. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/chronicle-film-review-779416) ## Eye for Film — David Graham Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 February 2012. Graham finds the film an immensely enjoyable, engrossing take on familiar themes, praising its direction, script, and performances. He especially singles out Dane DeHaan’s nuanced portrayal of Andrew, while noting that the coda disappoints and women have marginal roles. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/chronicle-film-review-by-david-graham) ## /Film — Russ Fischer Rating 8/10. 3 February 2012. Fischer finds the film compelling and worth seeing, despite some doubts about the realism of its effects and the pace of one character’s downfall. He praises how the found-footage style creates expressive camera movement and sustains the story’s emotional highs and lows without a score. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/518898/chronicle-review-superpowered-teenage-riot/) ## Digital Spy — Mayer Nissim Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 27 January 2012. The critic finds the film an engaging, distinctive debut whose unlikely mix of realism and superhero spectacle works. They especially praise Dane DeHaan’s convincing performance and the naturalistic acting that makes the fantastical story feel possible. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a362462/chronicle-review/) ## Paste — Shannon M. Houston Rating 7.2. 14 February 2012. Houston finds the film uneven: its character-focused approach has promise, but clichés and an unconvincing transformation weaken it. She praises the cast, especially the trio’s enjoyable ensemble dynamic, while noting that the performances outshine the script. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/chronicle) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2012. The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-teens-superpowers-are-a-volatile-mix-in-refreshing-clever-chronicle-20120202/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/chronicle.md