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100
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San Francisco Chronicle Amy Biancolli
If the characters weren't so well drawn, if the effects weren't so convincing, and if the upshot weren't so ghastly, the moral component wouldn't carry any weight. But Trank tells his tale with an emotional and visual crispness that gives the superhero genre its best crack at naturalism so far.
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91
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Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
The most original and excitingly executed wow-factor-meets-handheld-video feature since "Blair Witch" itself. It's also a movie that rebuilds the power of special effects from the ground up.
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88
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Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
John Trank's Chronicle grows into an uncommonly entertaining movie that involves elements of a superhero origin story, a science-fiction fantasy and a drama about a disturbed teenager.
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88
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Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea
Chronicle is full of smart writing that isn't too smart.
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80
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Los Angeles Times Betsy Sharkey
This mind-and-fork-bending sci-fi saga comes from the freaky imaginations of director Josh Trank and screenwriter Max Landis, who've packed their feature debut with smartness.
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75
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Rolling Stone Peter Travers
Despite a gimmicky premise, Chronicle fuels its action with characters you can laugh with, understand and even take to heart.
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75
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USA Today Claudia Puig
Bolstered by the natural performances of a trio of little-known actors, the very watchable Chronicle keeps us captive throughout.
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70
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The New York Times Manohla Dargis
Mr. DeHaan, whose vulnerability and physical awkwardness here can evoke the young Leonardo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," is invaluable. Mr. Russell and Mr. Jordan are as likable as their characters, but it's Mr. DeHaan who pulls you uneasily in.
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63
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Boston Globe Ty Burr
Chronicle will never be mistaken for an artistic breakthrough, but it has a solid gimmick and pieces of it are brilliant.
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50
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Washington Post
A few more bucks (or a little more thought) for the script would have been a better investment than faking Seattle. The characters are introduced so quickly, and their personalities are so thin, that what happens to them has little weight.
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company.