The Dirties (2013) Review – A Chilling And Hilarious Found Footage Masterpiece

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Full disclosure, the film we are looking at today, The Dirties (2013), really isn’t a horror movie. I mean, sure, the concept is horrifying but the execution leans far more towards being a comedy thriller. The truth is, however, I just couldn’t not talk about this movie. It’s one of my favourite movies and, in my opinion, one of the best found-footage films of all time.

One of the best of its kind

Directed by Matt Johnson on a shoestring budget and distributed by Kevin Smith’s (of Mallrats and Clerks fame) movie company, The Dirties follows a pair of frequently bullied high-school students whose friendship is put to the ultimate test when it is revealed that one of them isn’t merely joking about committing a school shooting.

“One of my favourite movies and, in my opinion, one of the best found-footage films of all time.”

The 2000s spawned a number of thriller movies based on school shootings. Sadly, coming off of the Columbine High School Massacre, the subject was, very much, ingrained into the minds of everyone old enough to understand what was taking place.

The fact that something so horrifying could happen in an environment that young people should be able to feel relatively safe in was haunting. The reality that this now happens multiple times a year, in America, is shocking to say the least.

Naturally, if something happens and it is harrowing, filmmakers will go about recreating it for the big screen. Two of the more notable examples are Gus Van Sant’s Elephant and Ben Coccio’s Zero Day. While Van Sant took a more artistic approach to the subject in Elephant, Coccio went for the throat in a movie that felt eerily reminiscent of the videos recorded by the Columbine Massacre shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

Hilarious and, ultimately, shocking

In 2014’s The Dirties, Matt Johnson does things completely different. Johnson mixes humour with relatively mundane, everyday high-school drama to draw you in, before hitting you with the harsh realities of bullying and the impact it can have on certain types of people. It is a fascinating character study of a person hiding dark world views and what can happen when that person acts out on these views.

“The likeable nature of the characters makes the bullying scenes all the more impactful.”

Despite the subject matter, The Dirties is legitimately hilarious. Johnson places a strong focus on improvisational humour to endear you to the characters and it works wonders. Matt and Owen (Owen Williams) are both, legitimately, likeable guys and their friendship seems entirely believable. Much of the movie seems to consist of the pair trying to make each other laugh.

Matt, in particular, is funny throughout, almost to the movie’s detriment. It is somewhat hard to believe that this dude’s fellow classmates wouldn’t like him. Class clowns often get a pass when it comes to bullying. Still, there is an evident dark underside to the character, an underside that he quickly begins to become more in tune with.

The likability of the characters makes the bullying scenes all the more impactful. You genuinely feel for them and their reactions seem completely organic. It’s brilliant stuff. Matt and Owen are natural performers and, thanks to the school setting, their fellow cast members also share this trait.

Despite the strong comedy focus, The Dirties is utterly believable. Especially the decline of the character’s mental state, something which happens in a manner which makes both the characters in the movie and the viewer question whether the thoughts being uttered are from a place of humour or reality.

Found footage excellence

The Dirties is filmed in a found-footage style. Something which, obviously, facilitated the production of the movie on a small budget, but, also, something which adds to the horror. It’s very clear that the videos of the Columbine killers influenced Johnson in his production of this movie. Something that is alluded to often and something that people who are well informed on the case will recognise throughout.

“Due to the strong focus on humour throughout, the final scenes almost feel like an unexpected gut punch.”

The characters are filmed by a person we never see, placing the viewer as something of a voyeur to what is taking place. Found-footage is at its best when this is the case. We see everything as if we are a friend of Matt and, indeed, a co-conspirator, if you will. It’s incredibly effective and makes everything feel so much more raw. Particularly the final scenes of the movie which pull no punches at all. Due to the strong focus on humour throughout, the final scenes almost feel like an unexpected gut punch.

Acting is excellent, throughout. This movie was filmed in an active, fully functioning, high school and the actors posed as students to help blend in. It gives every scene a feeling of authenticity that many similar movies lack. This feels like a real school. Corridors are busy, kids mingle with each other, people are going about their daily business.

It all adds to the feasibility of this situation. I honestly don’t know how they managed to get permission but the movie benefits greatly from it. Cinematography and direction are excellent, especially given the found-footage medium. Some of the shots here are absolutely brilliant. Much like the one shown in the screenshot above, Johnson does a hell of a lot with so little. It’s very impressive.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

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