End Of Watch is easily one of the best examples of the 'found footage' film, a film-making technique that is usually utilised in the horror genre. Here, the movie is presented with footage filmed by Jake Gyllenhaal's character, who is recording he and partner Michael Pena's day-to-day activities as street police officers in South Central L.A. They tangle with a group of Mexican gang members, who (somewhat coincidentally) are also filming their more nefarious activities. Written and directed by David Ayer (Street Kings), the film paints a remarkably immediate portrayal of the dangers of life policing the streets, but also the camaraderie of the officers, who are so close that they are more like family than work colleagues. Gyllenhaal and Pena have some of the best on-screen chemistry ever seen, aided no doubt by the intensive preparation Ayer insisted on before filming began (they both trained in policing for five months, went on ride-alongs with the LAPD and also lived together for a period). The found-footage aspect actually draws the viewer in, making the events of the film feel incredibly raw and real, even as the story moves away from such realism in the bullet-strewn finale.
