There’s no connection to 2015’s
Unfriended, except that they adhere to the same format—unfolding in real time entirely on someone’s computer screen via their Skype sessions, Facebook chats and so forth. This time, it’s a young man named Matias (Colin Woodell) having game night on Skype with his friends while also contending with the fact that his new laptop formerly belonged to a creator of snuff films who wants it back NOW. The unseen villain—part of the Internet’s black market and one of those movie hackers who can make computers do anything—knows where all of Matias’ friends are IRL, will kill them if they log off, yada yada. Writer-director Stephen Susco depicts computer interfaces and usage accurately (which is surprisingly rare), and everyone in the cast is committed to the high tension of the scenario. We’re meant to be freaked out by the horrific things trafficked on the “dark web,” but we never take the movie seriously enough to be truly disturbed by it. It’s fun to go along with the bit, though.
By
Eric D. Snider