Hunting Matthew Nichols Review: Super derivative... but looks good!
I got to see this film a couple of weeks early at a Monday night secret screening, and I didn't really know what to expect. I wasn't ecstatic to see this film, but I was still planning to see it, so I was pretty happy with the theater's choice. So, was this a surprise and one of the best horror films of 2026 so far? Or was it just a disappointingly mediocre experience? That's what I'll be diving into in today's Reel Ranker review. Thanks for joining me today, and I hope you enjoy!
My favorite part about this film had to be the cinematography and camerawork! Blending found footage, mockumentary clips, and standard footage, this film was a visual treat. From a scene where we watch the main characters witness the most horrifying thing of their lives but get none of the footage, to the interview shot from behind a wall, to the spooky climax shots, the camerawork never disappointed. I enjoyed watching the film approach these different scenes in different ways, and this was easily the film's best element and the biggest reason I'd recommend it.
Outside of the cinematography and camerawork, the performances here were pretty solid as well. Nothing that will win any awards, but still commendable. The script was also solid, and I didn't have any complaints about any of the film's dialogue.
However, unfortunately, this is one of those instances where the bad far outweighs the good for me. This is one of those films, like the worst of the Paranormal Activity series, that's only horrific or interesting in its final moments. Yet instead of ratcheting up the tension throughout, it's mostly just characters wandering around solving a benign mystery throughout its runtime.
Simply put, the story here has no substance. The mystery is as basic as can be, and there's nothing that I felt truly invested in throughout the story. The climax has some scares and pays off the build-up sufficiently, but it doesn't feel worth following the whole film just for a couple of minutes of bombast. That type of film only works for me if the tension is terrifying and tangible, and the payoff also has to be incredible. Regrettably, neither of these is executed with enough flair to feel like anything but a well-shot yet generically derivative reskin of The Blair Witch Project.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Unreel
The Reel Ranker Score: 38%
Letter Score: D
Star Ranking: 2 out of 5
Hunting Matthew Nichols will satisfy those who love cool camerawork and found-footage fare, but its story, climax, and characters feel immensely derivative of better genre films. It may be competently made, yet it's unfortunately not quite recommendable.
Want to check out some of my other recent horror reviews? Check them out below!
Brighton Nelson
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