Unfriended (2014)

I've been waiting to see this one...and as it often is with films that you can't watch NOW! NOW! I just want to see them even more!

So actually, even though the concept was something that I was a bit iffy about, it was worth the wait.

Unfriended (also known as "Cybernatural) is sort of a found footage but not, it all takes place on a computer screen through the eyes of one user talking to a group of close friends. Looking as if it is filmed all as one shot the camera never leaves the screen and instead we have our heroine clicking between Skype, Facebook, YouTube and Google. When I come to think about it now, it's one of the only films that I can think of that use the actual names of these platforms instead of invented ones (Finder-Spyder etc).

The action takes place on the one-year anniversary of the suicide an ex-friend/school mate of the group. She was a victim of cyber-bullying which is thought to be the cause of her suicide.

With all friends on screen, communicating via iMessage, Skype and Facebook the deceased friend starts to communicate to them through her old accounts, revealing hidden secrets about the group of friends and the events that led to her suicide.

Add to this the viral posting (we've all seen them) of a website claiming that if you are contacted by the dead on the internet, not to ignore them as they can possess you to commit suicide. Sort of a "if you don't share this...." thing.

As more is revealed the tension rises and suddenly the viral warning doesn't seem quite so silly.

It's a horror movie so of course we get scares, gore and suspense. There are several things that lead me to giving Unfriended a good score in my books.

The way it is shot gives you front row action, as most people would be watching on some sort of laptop or device it would actual take "first person" to another level. I've not seen a film made quite like this before but I'm certain that there will be more to follow. It really does glue you to the screen.

It makes valid points about some very real things, mostly Cyber-Bullying but also things such as: that you can be who you want on the internet, that people who appear perfect often hide secrets, that bullying is often done out of low self-confidence and that sometimes your best friends are not who they appear.

Rumour is that a sequel is in the making, going to be hard to top that!

8.5/10 Masks

Director: Levan Gabriadze
Writer: Nelson Greaves
Stars: Heather Sossaman, Matthew Bohrer, Courtney Halverson