Unfriended. Rated MA15+ (strong themes, violence and coarse language). 83 minutes. Directed by Levan Gabriadze. Screenplay by Nelson Greaves.
Verdict: This ingenious little film packs a seriously big punch.
Having risen from anonymity to become the go-to horror flick of the year so far, Unfriended is a nerve-shattering cinematic experience that breaks all the rules in a way that hasn’t been done this brilliantly since The Blair Witch Project (1999).
Taking place entirely on Blaire’s (Shelley Hennig) laptop screen, Unfriended begins with Blaire watching a YouTube video of her good friend Laura Barns (Heather Sossaman) taking her own life. Laura had suffered extraordinary levels of online abuse and bullying, and the final, fatal decision she makes is brutally shocking.
In an effort to distract herself from the horror, Blaire hooks up with her boyfriend Mitch (Moses Storm) on Skype for a video chat. Their private conversation is soon interrupted by their friends Adam (Will Peltz), Jess (Renee Olstead) and Ken (Jacob Wysocki), and the group engage in some light-hearted banter. But when an anonymous caller joins the conversation, it quickly becomes apparent that this catch-up is not going to end at all well.
As the extent of the fear, panic and almost unbearable levels of tension and horror mount, Blair darts chaotically between the Skype video conference call with her friends, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Google in an effort to find out why the intruder is targeting them. Gabriadze’s is a supremely effective (and ridiculously simple) way of telling the story, and his ensemble of previously little-known talent respond with outstanding performances.
Powered by the devastating effects of cyber-bullying, Greaves’ screenplay refuses to side-step the issues associated with this disturbingly common phenomenon. That Unfriended is aimed squarely at the audience most likely to experience it makes Unfriended more than a terrific horror movie. It also makes it a timely and important one.
Lifeline 13 11 14 (24-hour telephone service)
crisischat.lifelinewa.org.au (online chat service)
Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800 (24-hour telephone service) www.kidshelp.com.au
This review was commissioned by the West Australian Newspaper Group.
Unfriended. Rated MA15+ (strong themes, violence and coarse language). 83 minutes. Directed by Levan Gabriadze. Screenplay by Nelson Greaves.
Verdict: This ingenious little film packs a seriously big punch.
Having risen from anonymity to become the go-to horror flick of the year so far, Unfriended is a nerve-shattering cinematic experience that breaks all the rules in a way that hasn’t been done this brilliantly since The Blair Witch Project (1999).
Taking place entirely on Blaire’s (Shelley Hennig) laptop screen, Unfriended begins with Blaire watching a YouTube video of her good friend Laura Barns (Heather Sossaman) taking her own life. Laura had suffered extraordinary levels of online abuse and bullying, and the final, fatal decision she makes is brutally shocking.
In an effort to distract herself from the horror, Blaire hooks up with her boyfriend Mitch (Moses Storm) on Skype for a video chat. Their private conversation is soon interrupted by their friends Adam (Will Peltz), Jess (Renee Olstead) and Ken (Jacob Wysocki), and the group engage in some light-hearted banter. But when an anonymous caller joins the conversation, it quickly becomes apparent that this catch-up is not going to end at all well.
As the extent of the fear, panic and almost unbearable levels of tension and horror mount, Blair darts chaotically between the Skype video conference call with her friends, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Google in an effort to find out why the intruder is targeting them. Gabriadze’s is a supremely effective (and ridiculously simple) way of telling the story, and his ensemble of previously little-known talent respond with outstanding performances.
Powered by the devastating effects of cyber-bullying, Greaves’ screenplay refuses to side-step the issues associated with this disturbingly common phenomenon. That Unfriended is aimed squarely at the audience most likely to experience it makes Unfriended more than a terrific horror movie. It also makes it a timely and important one.
Lifeline 13 11 14 (24-hour telephone service)
crisischat.lifelinewa.org.au (online chat service)
Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800 (24-hour telephone service) www.kidshelp.com.au
This review was commissioned by the West Australian Newspaper Group.
No comments:
Post a Comment