I Have Proof

Extraordinary claims, it is often said, require extraordinary proof. Alex (Larsen Deane) believes that he has proof, and over the course of this found footage film, he will show it to you. As he does so, there will really be two question for you to consider: is it true, and does he believe that it is?

Whatever else may or may not be happening, Alex does not seem well. He communicates entirely in written messages – if he speaks, he explains, it can see him – and he uses his own blood as ink, which has left him covered in injuries. Even if he feels that using his blood is essential, there are obvious better ways to extract it, so this is an early indicator of his tendency to run with whatever idea comes into his head first, without much analysis. What is unclear is how much his generally disordered thinking is a product of exhaustion, fear, or an underlying condition. Later events suggest schizophrenia, and this is where the film intersects with much more commonplace real world horror, as it reminds us that there are sadly a lot of real people out there experiencing similar distress at any given time.

No matter the reason for them, panic and paranoia are not easy things to be around. When the film begins, you may laugh at Alex’s outlandish behaviour, and there are moments like that throughout – it’s not an unreasonable reaction – but the tone quickly gets darker. Deane is impressive in his ability to connect with viewers despite this. The film could probably stand to be a little bit shorter in order to avoid straining audience patience, but given the subject matter and the necessity of showing just how much strain its protagonist is under, it does a pretty good job.

There is a degree to which one is tempted to support Alex’s quirky behaviours even if they are delusional, if they help him to manage his distress, but just in case you get too comfortable, we are soon presented with footage of him stalking a young woman (Lilly Van Der Meer), with whom he seems to be obsessed. Although other people interpret it as such, this isn’t a sexual obsession. Rather, he is trying to convince us of a secret he has discovered about who she is, but he’s unable to articulate it clearly. What stands out to him as important is not always the same kind of proof others might look for. There’s a disconcerting section in which he uses his camera and a mirror to explore his body before announcing –without further explanation – that his skin reacts if it sees him.

Alex’s chosen medium for recording his testimony is VHS. This accords with its use in other recent films, like Custom and Death Of A Yellow Bird, in that is physicality is seen as giving it a special quality unmatched by digital options – an interesting development in light of the emergence of generative AI. This and other aspects of Alex’s approach raise questions about exactly what we can consider proof in this time. As the value of truth itself becomes contested, his subjective experience is perhaps the most reliable thing about this narrative, and whichever way we look at it, it speaks of tragedy.

An interesting choice for Fantastic Fest 2026, alongside documentary Gimme Truth and conspiracy thriller Compliance, I Have Proof asks how we can navigate in a world in which less and less of what we are surrounded with can be considered reliable. It is brutal throughout and culminates in a particular violent act of a type which has been known to make viewers run out of cinemas or vomit. This does not come across as gratuitous, however – more as a warning.

Reviewed on: 22 Sep 2026