If any movie will make me relentlessly research some random conspiracy theory, it’s found footage mockumentaries like this Screambox exclusive. Tim returns to his family’s home after his younger brother Sean’s suicide, vowing to make one last movie with him. As he plunges head first into Sean’s troubling last few months, Tim becomes entangled and paranoid in what Sean referred to as Project MKHEXE.
As Tim explains, Project MKHEXE is similar to other supernatural-centered government conspiracies like MKULTRA and Project Montauk. Project MKHEXE — stemming from the words “Hex” meaning curse in English, and “Hexe” meaning witch or hag in German — is said to bring about horrendous nightmares to its victims, lead to violent outbursts, and full on mind control. Project MKHEXE is so secretive that nearly everything about it is scrubbed form the internet immediately after posting. As Tim parses through Sean’s personal items, he digs deeper and deeper into the conspiracy, growing ever more suspicious of everyone and everything around him. Could these machines and distorted video tapes prove a government coverup, or will they lead to the realization that Sean was just mentally unwell… or worse?
Project MKHEXE has perfect timing, because it is feeding my “malevolent conspiracy flick” binge right now. As found footage movies do, we see a multitude of media, from VHS tapes to polaroids, ditigal tapes, audio clips, handwritten documents, and more that all add to the mysterious flair that is Project MKHEXE. With just enough information to take our minds wandering, this film grips you with both hands and begs you to stare into the void, listening and waiting for the horrid creatures lurking in the digital scramble on screen. Sean’s story is effortlessly exciting, watching him piece together equipment to try and solve the mystery. Tim’s research adds yet another layer over that. Pretty much every character has something to add, making it seem not only like a government mind control program gone wrong, but a series of family and friends letting a loved one waste away and die. We’re pulled back and forth wondering what really killed Sean, and why. Project MKHEXE wraps all of that paranoia up into a nice little streaming package for us.
But that’s not all. If you’re a fan of movies reaching out into the real world, this movie comes with its own website that adds to the overall creepiness. What is Project MKHEXE? mirrors some of the taken-down sites in the movie itself, detailing the lost documentary and the makings of a modern urban legend. Even if you’re not fooled by found footage tomfoolery, you’ve got to give it to the MKHEXE marketing team for taking the storyline that much further.
As far as found footage films go, MKHEXE hits all the beats in just the right spots, with an added twist or two. The visuals and videos hold just enough static without being overbearing, and the legend behind it is fairly believable (if you take into account those other government projects I named above). Even if you’re not into found footage, Project MKHEXE might surprise you with its story and wow you with its attention to detail. It’s almost as if this is propaganda not to look too deep into this “urban legend…”
Project MKHEXE is available to stream exclusively on Screambox on April 29th! Want to learn more? Follow Projext MKHEXE on Instagram.
Glad you liked it!!
Of course! Found footage, faux doc, conspiracy theories — it’s got it the stuff I like to see!