33
Metascore
5 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 42The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloThe A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloFirst-time director Justin Barber, who cowrote the screenplay with T.S. Nowlin, builds his narrative around the Phoenix Lights, but sticks so close to formula that they might as well be called the Blair Lights.
- 40VarietyJoe LeydonVarietyJoe LeydonAfter 40 or so minutes of teasing hints that its makers may have hit upon a fresh approach to found-footage thrillers, “Phoenix Forgotten” indicates the genre may be having its last gasp on life support as the movie devolves into yet another threadbare patchwork of mounting hysteria, faux cinéma vérité, and shaky-cam visual clichés.
- 40The Hollywood ReporterJustin LoweThe Hollywood ReporterJustin LoweThe performances in the 1997 scenes are relatively low-key, relying more on the dramatic development of personal relationships than the shock value of unexpected events. The contemporary storyline offers little of particular interest, however, serving more to contextualize earlier developments.
- 38Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreDirector Barber makes the period video look exactly like misplaced family home movies — rolling picture, static, shaky, the works.
- 30Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovAustin ChronicleMarc SavlovPhoenix Forgotten is borderline generic, desert-set found footage that apes the aforementioned Witchiness and genre constraints to a snooze-worthy T.