States Evidence

Plot summary

When 16-year-old Scott Byers decided to bring a camcorder to school, none of his schoolmates ever imagined what was to come. Only Scott's five closest friends and followers have the insight on his master plan. He is on a quest for the ultimate thrill, as he documents the day's events, anticipating the grand finale: Scott plans to commit suicide on camera. His friends become fascinated by his idea and decide to join the action for various reasons; home problems, romance and even boredom. They pull behind their leader and set out to make history. The rush is instantaneous. Emotions run wild. Pressure mounts as shocking details are revealed. The search for the final adventure takes an unexpected turn down a dark road. This journey turns out to be much more than what Scott and his friends had ever anticipated. The film is shot in Blair Witch Project style handheld.

Created in 2004, State's Evidence traveled around the film festival circuits until it was picked up by distributor Terra Entertainment, and released on DVD on November 7, 2006.

Plot

The movie begins with Scott telling in front of the camera about his intentions to kill himself and say goodbye to the friends and relatives and to shoot it at his camera. After coming to school he tells about his intentions to five best friends (Brian, Rick, Patrick, Trudi, Sandy), which are trying to reassure him. But then they all decide to kill themselves too and buy few cameras for everyone, aiming to upload complete video to the website. Through the movie comes the story of Patrick, Sandy and Trudi explaining the reasons of their decision. Once Patrick occasionally filmed a local bully Taylor Johnson with his girl and was beaten by him for that. From this moment Patrick starts his own plan wishing to kill some students who irritate him before killing himself. Once he films a video where he makes a list of such students and shows it to his friends, explaining it as a joke. But some friends don't believe him and begin suspecting him.

Sandy (Alexa Vega) and Scott slowly fall in love with each other, Trudi and Brian become close friends, while Patrick is planning a real punishment. At night before common suicide Patrick shows a tape where he strangles an innocent little girl in a supermarket. The girls punish him calling him a murderer. Though the guys regret, they decide not to tell anyone about that case except of saving it on a camera, which they call "State's Evidence". They all arrange to meet at school at one time in same place and go to sleep.

However Patrick and Rick get up earlier and go to school. In the hall Patrick charges the gun telling Rick to follow him and show everything he does. When he comes around the corner he starts shooting some students (among them are "a greedy fatman" and "religious girl" whom he was planning to kill in one scene). Then he looks for Taylor and his friends.

At this time other friends come to a corridor and see killed and injured schoolmates. Scott hurries to stop Patrick realizing that it was his fault. He finds Patrick threaten and abuse Taylor who is crying on his knees and Rick still filming everything. Scott offers Patrick to let Taylor go and "take him instead", but Patrick injures Scott and then kills Taylor from one shot. Rick realizing that Patrick is serious throws the camera and runs away.

Then Patrick takes the camera and pulls wounded Scott to a science room where he says on a camera that it wasn't a random killing and aimed to attract the attention of American people. He hopes that his act will stop teenage suicides and bullying at school and makes a shot in his head. Scott crawling to a friend takes a camera and tells in crying tone that it was a mistake. Then the police bursts into the room finding both of guys dead and switch off the camera.

The movie ends showing Scott's mother crying near the TV-set.