Trailer Review: End of Watch (Red Band)

By Kris Cuaresma

I won't lie, I have a soft spot for the "found footage" genre. Regardless of how cheesy and brainless it turns out, it always manages to add that sense of realism that "regular" movies can never achieve. But like with any other genre, there are good and bad examples. For myself, I put films like the first Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield, and Chronicle in that good category, mainly for trying a different approach on a genre that has been beaten to death. 

End of Watch has a chance to be put into that group. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena, it tells the story of two LAPD cops who patrol one of the most dangerous areas of Los Angeles. This film has potential based on the fact that it boasts two of the higher profiled actors to ever be in a found footage film, and that its story involves an actual and realistic premise. Police normally document events, so that's one less thing to convince the audience of.

Trailer Breakdown:

The Good:

- The dry humour that's laced through the trailer. This isn't one of those "If you enjoy what you're doing, you never have to work a day in your life" kind of jobs, and the comic relief should be appropriate.

- Decapitation and knives through eyes? It's a red band trailer done right.

- The car chase sequence. Think of those "Craziest Police Chases" TV shows that everyone enjoys, then ramp it up 100 times.

The Bad

- The all out assault at 1:31. Was that Gyllenhaal and Pena getting lit up by bullets? 

- The Call of Duty first person shooter POV camera.

- What looks like Pena in a fist fight while Gyllenhaal practices his video taking skills. 

The We'll See

- The decision on the protagonist group/plot. 

- The fact that we get found footage of members of the drug cartel. 

End of Watch will be released on September 21, 2012.