UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB
US, 2018, 93 minutes, Colour.
Colin Woodell, Stephanie Noguera, Betty Gabriel, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Andrew Lees, Conor del Rio.
Directed by Stephen Susco.
This is a sequel to Unfriended, which was quite a popular horror film, focusing on computers and the twentysomethings who spend their time looking at computer screens – but with a touch of the supernatural.
Audiences responded well to the original film but even better to this sequel. The supernatural elements have been eliminated. Rather, a group of twentysomethings spend their time at the computers, the camera focused on the computer and all the action taking place on the computer screen, all the familiar details, icons, page layouts… As well as chat rooms and divided screens.
The young man finds a computer and takes it home, connecting with his friends. He is also in love with a young woman, hearing impaired, communicating with her by computer. However, as the title would indicate, there are sinister aspects of what is on the found computer, echoes of the original owner, significant characters who do more than threaten. The group is tempted to experiment in Bitcoin deals which leads them further into debt and to mystery.
This is one of those “Enter the Void� films – dire consequences for each of the characters, no redemption, no hope.
1. The impact of the original, Unfriended? The device of twentysomethings and their computers? The introduction of the supernatural? This sequel, better received, the elimination of the supernatural elements, the focus on manipulation of the dark web?
2. The focus on the screen, the fixed camera, the action taking place on the screen, multi-images, the range of the participants, the mysterious other characters? And the constant focus on the screen and the various changes, the cursor, options…?
3. Audiences identifying with watching the computer screen, the familiarity with the various options and styles, chat, communication? Alarm at the interruptions, disruptions, dangers?
4. The 20-something characters, the men, the women? Matias and his finding the computer, using it, communication, his relationship with Amaya, her hearing impediment, sign language? The interchanges, the relationship? The friends, AJ and his cavalier attitudes, Damon and his controls, Nari and Serena and the relationship, Lexx and her participation, her disappearance?
5. The background story of the stolen computer, Erica and her loss, the photos of her and her family? Charon and mysterious presence, hooded, the attack on Kelly, the threats to Amaya? Matias saying it was a game, covering the reality, spied on, the hooded figure and the manipulation of his face?
6. The world of the dark web, the participants, the introduction of money, Bitcoin, the deals, the risks, wanting the computer back? The threats to go to the police? Matias restraining people?
7. Amaya, on the subway, the threats?
8. Vengeance, AJ and his going upstairs, being shot? Damon, the confession note, his being hanged? The two young women, the visualising of their story, their deaths? Nari on the platform? Amaya, Matias coming to the rescue, the vote about his living or dying, the hit run truck?
9. The pessimism of the narrative? No escape? As a warning about the dark web?
