Hunting Matthew Nichols – Movie Review (4/5)

HUNTING MATTHEW NICHOLS is a horror mockumentary that works extremely well. To me, this just may be the best in this subgenre since The Blair Witch Project (1999). It stays true to its dogma while delivering a solid plot and efficient entertainment. Read our full Hunting Matthew Nichols movie review here!

HUNTING MATTHEW NICHOLS is a found footage horror movie made as a documentary, so we’re in the mockumentary subgenre. Yes, the very same that became a mainstream hit with The Blair Witch Project in 1999. Of course, back then, much of the hype was focused on whether that was in fact real or well-crafted horror. Now, we know it was the latter and can enjoy it for that.

This new horror mockumentary is also honest about being fiction, but it delivers exactly the same power that I remember experiencing with The Blair Witch Project more than 25 years ago. Actually, Hunting Matthew Nichols has been playing film festivals since 2024, so its original premiere was in the 25th anniversary year of The Blair Witch Project being released.

Now, this movie is finally getting a much-deserved wider release, and you should definitely check it out!

Continue reading our Hunting Matthew Nichols movie review below. Find it in theaters from April 10, 2026.

Hunting down childhood trauma

With Hunting Matthew Nichols, we’re getting a very entertaining mockumentary that gives you the best from both worlds. It plays out like a well-made true crime documentary while also utilizing all the gorgeous shots from well-made filmmaking. Because it’s supposed to be a professionally made documentary, we’re not having to deal with shaky or subpar cameras.

I love that we’re getting both while also being spoiled with plenty of behind-the-scenes footage as we follow the crew exploring the true crime.

It all begins with the aspiring documentary filmmaker, Tara Nichols (Miranda MacDougall), wanting to do a deep dive into the very mysterious disappearance of her brother. He disappeared two decades earlier, when Tara herself was just a kid, and it broke her in many ways. Now, in a better place, she’s ready to get to the bottom of what happened.

Perhaps even more importantly, she’s ready for the answers to be strange or even supernatural. Not that she necessarily expects this, but there was an element of Satanic Panic surrounding the disappearance, so she must look into this as well.

For the record, Hunting Matthew Nichols ends up uncovering so much Vancouver Island lore that I’m ready for more horror mockumentaries to cover this. Just sayin’.

Such a gorgeous production

Whenever something is found footage, there’s a chance that it may not look or sound very well due to the circumstances surrounding the footage. While Hunting Matthew Nichols has some 8mm footage (made by Matthew and his friend, Jordan, who also disappeared that fateful night), most of this mockumentary is made to look like a professionally produced documentary.

I loved how this resulted in such a gorgeous production that never goes against the found footage dogma. When you’re shooting a documentary and need to document things, it’s natural (necessary, even) to have multiple cameras. Sometimes, even shooting things you don’t expect to use.

As a result, the camera can catch things in excellent resolution and lighting (even the sound is great) that we’re not usually blessed with in this subgenre.

Watch Hunting Matthew Nichols in theaters

I love how this independent debut feature was shot on location on Vancouver Island, using a BC-based team. That’s how you do independent filmmaking. I was surprised to learn that Hunting Matthew Nichols is a feature film debut. Director Markian Tarasiuk, who also plays the director in the actual mockumentary, does a stellar job!

So does Sean Harris Oliver, who wrote the screenplay for Hunting Matthew Nichols. The movie has already rattled audiences at festivals after its world premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival. It’s also screened at Blood in the Snow Festival, was nominated for the Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature Film at the Whistler Film Festival, and at Fantaspoa in Brazil.

Overall, its run on the festival circuit resulted in rave reviews and numerous awards internationally. It’s also been out as a treat for those who took a chance on the “Monday Mystery Movie” (or “Scream Unseen”) on a whopping 1400 screens in major theatre chains, including Landmark, Regal, and AMC theatres across North America. When you get the chance, jump at it. This is a real genre treat!

Hunting Matthew Nichols is out in wide theatrical release in North America from April 10, 2026.

Details

Director: Markian Tarasiuk
Writers: Sean Harris Oliver, Markian Tarasiuk
Cast: Miranda MacDougall, Markian Tarasiuk, Christine Willes, James Ross, Trevor Carroll