Since the inception of the internet, and social media, along with our growing reliance upon it, bullying has never been easier. Millions of people can troll through the world-wide web and in minutes completely destroy the self-confidence of someone else. This proclivity inspired Writer and Producer Nelson Greaves (My Bloody Madeline: The Making of Swann’s Blood 2009, Sleepy Hallow 2014-2015), to pen latest Horror movie release, Unfriended, also known as Cybernatural. The film debuted on March 13, 2015 at SXSW festival, and had a theatrical release on April 17, 2015. The relevant subject matter attracted Director Leo Gabriadze (Lucky Trouble 2011, Yolki 2013) to the film, which had a budget of $1 million, grossing over sixty-two million commercially.
- Still from Unfriended
The story is told completely via a computer screen, more particularly a MacBook. This is an unusual way to tell a story, and by far pushes the Lost Footage genre into another realm. A year ago, Blaire’s (Shelley Hennig: Days of Our Lives 2007-2011, The Secret Circle 2011-2012) best friend, Laura (Heather Sossaman: Days of Our Lives 2011-2012, Fairy Tales 2014), killed herself after a humiliating video was spread over the internet. The video of her suicide continues to be viewed.
Blaire has continued to move on with her life, as do her friends, Jess (Renee Olstead: Still Standing 2002-2006, The Secret Life of the American Teenager 2008-2013), her boyfriend Mitch (Moses Jacob Storm: About a Boy 2014, Correcting Christmas 2014), as well as friends Ken (Jacob Wysocki: Interns 2014, Key and Peele 2015) and Adam (Will Peltz: Entourage 2010, CSI: Cyber 2015). They regularly engage in video chats as a group, with each other. During one such conversation, they are interrupted by an uninvited user, only identified as ‘billie227’. Initially billie227 comments, sends random messages, or directs Blaire to other pages. Soon enough, billie227’s behavior takes a turn to the more destructive.
- Still from Unfriended
The group immediately suspect fellow classmate Val (Courtney Halverson: General 2013, True Detective 2015) of creating the trouble, who they all hate. They invite her to their chat, and confront her. She of course denies everything. The group chat continues through the entire story, occasionally interspersed with Facebook pages, messages, and internet searches. Billie227’s intentions take a darker turn, and the user begins posting videos of each friend in the group in clandestine and provocative situations. This turns the friends on each other. Then, one by one, Blaire’s friends die, and she discovers the shocking truth behind billie227’s identity.
- Still from Unfriended
Given the influx of Lost Footage films, telling a story completely via computer screen could be a risky move. Greaves innovation certainly pulls it off. The unique perspective enables the viewer to be an active participant in the story, almost as if the viewer is themselves directing the screen. The small cast do an outstanding job at allaying a great amount of emotion into short scenes. Special effects are minimal, with most of the blood and gore, swift and impacting.
The film maintains an even intensity and pace, with realistic dialogue and character reactions. Unfriended delves into the dark side of the web and social media, bringing the viewer into the worse case scenario. Unfriended is a must watch, and Greaves is one to watch out for. CrypticRock gives Unfriended 4 out of 5 stars.
- Universal Pictures
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