Unfriended (2015)

A.K.A. Cybernatural

Directed by: Levan Gabriadze (as Leo Gabriadze)

Starring: Heather Sossaman, Courtney Halverson, Shelley Hennig, Moses Jacob Storm, Will Peltz, Renee Olstead and Jacob Wysocki

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Supernatural, Found Footage

Rated: R

It has been exactly one year since Laura Barns committed suicide; over a year since a humiliating video of her was released on the internet, leading to the constant bullying that drove her to such a drastic end. Now, six friends engaged in a video chat with each other are in for a night of terror as an anonymous caller joins their chat and begins tearing them apart. Secrets will be revealed, friends and lovers betrayed, and people will die as the anonymous user seeks the truth behind Laura's suicide.

While this isn't the greatest horror film in the world, I have to give it points for creativity. This film was shot entirely from the point of view of Blaire as we watch her computer screen. The viewer sees everything as Blaire sees it happening and I feel it puts the viewer in her position, feeling her tension, her fear, her helplessness. There is nothing she can do but watch as her friends are slowly picked off one by one.

I also liked that this film tried to be more than just a scary movie. It also tackled the issue of cyberbullying, something we as a society have been debating for the last few years now. I liked the message that if you are someone who would do and say such horrible things to another person over the internet that you should and will be punished. The bullies claim it was "only a joke" but, clearly, it was not a joke to Laura, who took their words very seriously.

While I found the movie tense and enjoyed the idea of it, the characters really brought it down in my opinion. Not a single character, including Laura, is very sympathetic, although Mitch and Ken seem a bit better than the rest. What is revealed about each of these characters as the film rolls on made me  hate the majority of them and I couldn't wait for them to be taken out.

There is very little to no gore, and what gore there is is shown in quick jump cuts so the audience barely sees anything at all. Each kill is accompanied by a loud boom in the score which creates a lame jump scare to accompany minimal gore and abbreviated death sequences. With the creativity that went into the format of the film, I would think that something would have been saved for the kill sequences, but they are relatively tame and a bit of a letdown from all the tension in the rest of the scenes.

Overall, this film is creative and interesting. The format is original and it has a good message against cyberbullying. This film definitely had potential, but unlikable characters, lame jump scares and a lack of gore weigh it down.

6/10