When Elias Matar made the Lebanese found footage film What Is Buried Must Remain, he set out to make not just a genre film, but one that reflected the experience of Syrian refugees. Via his organization Lighthouse Peace Initiative, his cast and crew was made up almost exclusively of Syrian refugees, many with little to no experience. That story alone makes this hybrid found footage worth seeking out. It’s a perspective virtually never seen in horror, regardless of subgenre or technique. While it isn’t entirely successful in crafting scares and a cohesive narrative, What Is Buried Must Remain is still a fascinating film with an important vision.
Alaa (Hassan Alkhlefe), Shadi (Hamza Zahab), and Lara (Asma Jumaa) are three young filmmakers living in a Lebanese settlement camp for Syrian refugees. In an attempt to get famous and find a way out of the camp, the three decide to make a documentary about a supposed haunted house on the outskirts of town. The house belonged to a French colonist who supposedly murdered his family. Since then, it’s remained abandoned and the subject of local legend.
The group thinks if they can capture the supposed ghosts that haunt the property, they’ll go viral and become famous filmmakers. Alaa especially is hyper-focused on the project, taking it too seriously as he sees this as his one-way ticket out of Lebanon. But, the longer they spend in the house, the more reality seems to warp and collapse around them.
It’s a fascinating premise, especially in tying in the impacts of colonial violence into the typical haunted house tale. However, as the film progresses and starts to flip between found footage and traditional narrative, the story begins to fall apart. The simple yet effective ghost story becomes convoluted and difficult to follow. I commend Matar for swinging for the fences with the story, but unfortunately, the film ultimately strikes out.
Alkhlefe, Zahab, and Jumaa are talented performers, especially for their first film and foray into acting. While dialogue sometimes feels forced, their individual descents into madness are terrifying. As the horrors begin to really manifest, all three actors have their chance to shine and show their emotional range.
While the story behind the making of What Is Buried Must Remain is incredible, what’s presented on screen lacks the narrative cohesion necessary to truly pack an emotional punch. Matar tries new things, especially when it comes to combining found footage and traditional narrative techniques. But it ultimately creates a confusing film with only a vague justification for breaking the in-world camera perspective. It may not have the wide appeal to non-found footage fans, but for those who love the subgenre, it’s worth a watch for a fresh new perspective on the use of first-person POV.
Summary
While the story behind the making of What Is Buried Must Remain is incredible, what’s presented on screen lacks the narrative cohesion necessary to truly pack an emotional punch.
Tags: Unnamed Footage Festival 2023
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