The found/reality footage led movies such as Paranormal Activity which have dominated the thriller/horror market so successfully over the last number of years have been stepped up a notch further with the introduction of Unfriended. The public at large have an intrinsic voyeur hunger and the explosion of social media platforms has fed that appetite.  Unfriending someone on Facebook is seen as the ultimate insult in the digital age.

Unfriended hearlds a new dawn in movie making. It’s directed by Leo Gabriadze and produced by Timur Bekmambotov and Jason Blum. Blum is the CEO of Blumhouse Productions which has brought us Paranormal Activity, The Purge and Insidious.   The innovative method in which the movie is shot i.e. presented entirely via computer screens, is quite revolutionary and I would imagine it will be of great appeal to a younger digitally addicted market.

The story opens with a flashback to a cyberbullying case where Laura Barns takes her own life.  It follows with a cast of characters who knew her, chatting online amongs themselves via Skype. An unkown party known as ‘billie227’ has joined their chat and they can’t seem to get rid of their new friend.  But who is ‘billie227’ and what does he/she want with them?

The characters, many of which may be unknown to a larger audience outside teen dramas and day time TV are excellent. They include Blaire (Shelley Henning) from Days of our Lives, Ouija and The Secret Circle, Jess (Renee Olstead) from The Secret Life of an American Teenager and Ken (Jacob Wysocki) from Fat Kid Rules the World and Pitch Perfect.   The production allowed them the freedom of  improvisation which comes across as clever and realistic.  The disintegration of their initial, popular teen’s persona, into hysterical terrified kids is very well played out on screen, or should I say, on many screens.

It can sometimes feel disorientating while watching, which is perhaps intentional to heighten the tension and add to the sense of confusion the characters are living through.  In a way it draws the audience into the experience. The opening titles have also been cleverly distorted somewhat which sets the audience up for what is yet to unfold.

Despite the movie holding a 16 rating I suspect it would be a large hit with the 12-16 demographic. The focus on social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube make it relevant and topical. While an older audience may not buy into the concept and find the way its shot annoying at times it will give people food for thought.   Parents watching it will find it unsettling and the cyberbullying aspect will no doubt hit close to home for many.

It’s thought provoking for sure and bound to be a talking point among many. Whether that is good or bad remains to be seen.  I’m giving it a 3 out of 5 for pushing the boundaries of film making and some great improvisation.  Check out the trailer below.

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