Chronicle

Chronicle has built a real following in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the UK on Disney Plus among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. With 5,783 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Dane DeHaan's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Chronicle earns its spot. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Chronicle through its more ambitious moments. Three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over. Dane DeHaan and Alex Russell lead a cast that keeps the bigger ideas grounded in something human. It hit screens in 2012. What separates Chronicle from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Chronicle fits the bill. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch for Dane DeHaan in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.