Unfriended

Unfriended is a movie that plays with a bold concept: telling the entire story through a computer screen. It’s an innovative approach that captures the modern digital experience, but it’s also limiting. The first act does a solid job setting up tension and showcasing realistic online interactions, but as the story transitions into supernatural horror, it loses some of its grounding. The ghost revenge angle feels less convincing, leaving the movie somewhere between a chilling cautionary tale and a far-fetched slasher. The acting works well for what it is, especially if you see it as a revenge prank gone wrong. However, the supernatural elements don’t fully sell the scares. That said, the integration of music, complete with playlist visuals, is a clever and enjoyable touch. While Unfriended deserves credit for trying something different, it’s missing the depth needed to elevate it to a truly great horror film. I didn’t hate it, but it’s not quite there either.

Online, your memories live forever... but so do your mistakes. A group of online chat room friends find themselves terrorised by someone or something using the account of their dead friend. For someone like me who is way out of the age sphere for such things like the social media world featured here, Unfriended is a fascinating and unnerving experience. When your on line experiences are simply message boards and discussion forums etc, where twitter, skype, facebook and their like are alien to them, then one can only praise when an innovative and fresh idea is brought to the horror realm of film making. And lets face it, horror always needs new splinters to off set the ream of numerical sequels and remakes from hell. Unfriended is not scary on conventional terms, where it's not about to jolt you out of your seat or have you hiding behind the sofa. It is, however, scary how technology has advanced, how the millions of world wide web users so willingly commit to baring their innermost to all and sundry. Then there's the dark half, those who use the platforms for venal and nefarious means, bringing very real terrors into our world. I can't personally vouch for how genuine the tech aspects are in this film, but Unfriended definitely taps into a frightening realm, and that is to be applauded. Oh I will not be watching it again, I mean what would be the point? But I'm glad I did take the plunge, and simultaneously I'm glad I'm one of those who is happy just texting and using email... 7.5/10

Actually pretty alright, maybe the format has been utilised better elsewhere, but you still have to admire _Unfriended's_ dedication, especially for all the way back in 2014. That dedication does have some drawbacks though, the devotion to the realism unfortunately also means realistically low quality webcam video & audio, as well as the realistic wait times I've using a computer. It felt like for **so** much of _Unfriended_ I was just sitting there waiting for a page come up, or a file to download, or a response on an IM, and yes of course any computer user will absolutely have to wait for these things, but it's not what you go to the movies to see. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._