Body Cam (2025) Summary and Review - Two Officers. One Lie. No Escape.

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Body Cam is the latest film from director Brandon Christensen, whose early work greatly enjoyed. His more recent outings (Puppet Master, Night of the Reaper) didn’t quite have the same impact, but putting that aside, I waslooking forward to see what he would do with this new story of two police officers responding to a domestic disturbance that spirals into something far darker than either of them is prepared for.

A Nightmare With no Escape

When officers Bryce and Jackson arrive at a rundown property to attend to a routine domestic distubance, a volatile confrontation escalates into a tragic shooting. Faced with the consequences, the pair agree—after heavy persuasion from Bryce—to manipulate their body‑cam footage and engineer a cover-up. But as the night unfolds, something far more unsettling is revealed and what starts as a desperate attempt to hide the truth quickly descends into a nightmare, as the officers realise that whatever they’ve tried to bury may not stay hidden—and may not be human

The story is told almost entirely through the lens of the body‑cam footage, with very few breaks from the main narrative. Unlike other found‑footage films that weave in charcter camaraderie or quieter refelctive moments, this one keeps the viewer locked in the officers’ perspective and after a while, this restriction becomes noticeable and a little wearing. Overall, the premise itself feels familiar yet manages to retain enough uniqueness to elevate the whole thing somewhat, though the execution doesn’t always meet the potential.

Resembling a First‑Person Video Game

Whether by design or not, Body Cam often resembles a first-person horror video game, with its body cam perspective placing the viewer in the role of an active participant in the action rather than a passive observer. The external shots look like a rendered game cityscape and there is a great deal of 1st person shooter views with a torch beam throwing a circle of light in the darkness and a hand gripping a hand-gun, switching this way and that, to pick out unseen targets. There’s a nostalgic novelty to this approach, but it becomes repetitive—especially when the tension doesn’t always pay off. 

On the subject of nostalgia, the CGI monster effects have a distinctly 1980s Alien vibe. The retro look is comforting, but the execution isn’t particularly convincing or frightening. Like Strange Harvest (review here: Strange Harvest Review), the film moves into cosmic horror territory—a genre that isn't one of my favourites—and this outing doesn’t change my mind.

Prisoners of Public Scrutiny

The film dips into social commentary, exploring the dual themes of the poor being kept conveniently in their place through addiction and the mounting pressures placed on law enforcement. A character even remarks, “The police become prisoners of public scrutiny,” suggesting that one problem feeds the other. But rather than being woven into the fabric of the narrative, these ideas are overlaid rather than integrated. As a result, it’s unclear whether the film wants us to focus on the social issues or the cosmic‑horror nightmare lurking beneath the city. 

The performances are solid overall. Jaime M. Callica stands out as Jerome, the moral counterpoint to an increasingly desperate Bryce, played by Sean Rogerson, whose performance feels a little more contrived. Catherine Lough Haggquist brings a welcome intervention as Mrs. Jackson; I only wish the film had given her more room to develop, though she makes a clear impression in the limited number of scenes she has.

Other critics seem to have enjoyed the film more than I did. Perhaps my expectations were higher because I’ve admired Christensen’s earlier work, or maybe cosmic horror just leaves me cold. Still, there’s probably enough here for fans of of the niche to get their fix. As for Christensen, I’m still waiting for him to return to the heights of his early promise.

★★⯪☆☆

Characters & Production Details

Bryce: Sean Rogerson
Jerome Jackson: Jaime M. Callica
Ally Jackson (Mrs. Jackson): Catherine Lough Haggquist
The Underman: Luke Moore

Writer: Brandon Christensen & Ryan Christensen
Director: Brandon Christensen
Year of Release: 2025
Runtime: 1h 15m




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