Unfriended

This was one I was not looking forward to at all since rarely does a found footage movie with unknown actors succeed. This however, was pleasant surprise. When I first read that the whole movie would consist of the characters on Skype it seemed like a desperate ploy to be different. Surprisingly enough, this is one of the movie's strengths as I can't see it succeeding as well as it did without the viral environment. Due to the movie taking place fully over the internet, it provides a claustrophobic, almost cave-like atmosphere adding a layer of menace considering you can't see what's fully going on until it's too late. Even though I doubt anything like this will ever occur over the internet anytime soon, I loved how this movie emphasized the evils of the internet and how easy it is for a good person to be something completely different when not face to face with the person they are tormenting. Even though the movie does feature a few bloody scenes, the tension mainly relies on internal menace. What will you do to stay alive? Even if someone is your friend, does that matter when you are in the face of danger? Unfriended realizes that sometimes the deadliest threat comes in the form of a close friend, not just a deadly, pissed off spirit hellbent on the emotional trauma that she received through social media.

3/4