Watch Unfriended
- R
- 2015
- 1 hr 22 min
-
5.6 (82,841)
Unfriended is a found-footage horror movie from 2014. The film takes place entirely on a computer screen, which may sound a little odd, but it works incredibly well. All the action takes place in real-time within a single take, which makes the film feel tense and immersive. The film starts by showing a video of a girl named Laura Barns killing herself. The rest of the movie takes place one year later, on the anniversary of her death. A group of her friends, Blaire, Mitch, Jess, Adam, and Ken, all get together on Skype to chat and catch up. Things start to get strange when a mysterious user named "billie227" joins their conversation. They initially think it's just a glitch, but soon, they realize this intruder knows a lot about Laura's death and may be the cause of other unsettling events happening on their computers.
The group becomes increasingly panicked as their internet connection is mysteriously cut off, and their Facebook and Skype accounts begin acting strangely. As they try to figure out what's going on, they discover that Billie227 claims to be the ghost of Laura, seeking revenge on those who bullied her and ultimately caused her suicide.
The film does an excellent job of building tension and creating believable characters. The audience becomes invested in their stories and relationships, which heightens the stakes as the movie progresses. The characters are all flawed and have secrets, which Billie227 exploits to drive a wedge between them.
The use of social media and other computer screens is what sets this movie apart. The entire film takes place on one computer screen, but it uses various windows and software to tell the story. Characters chat on Skype and Facebook, search for information on Google, and use Spotify to play music. This use of technology feels authentic and helps make the movie more relatable to a modern audience.
The film tackles issues such as cyberbullying and the consequences of actions online. The characters are all guilty of bullying Laura in some way, and they must face the consequences of their actions. The film is a cautionary tale about the dangers of online behavior and how it can have severe consequences both online and in the "real" world.
The performances by the cast are all solid, considering they had to act in front of a computer screen for the entirety of the film. Heather Sossaman gives a standout performance as Laura, the girl at the center of the story. Even though she is only seen in flashbacks and through her computer screen, her presence is felt throughout the movie.
The film's pacing is excellent, with tension building steadily throughout the runtime. The use of jump scares is minimized, with the film relying more on atmosphere and tension to scare the audience. This makes the scares feel more earned and effective.
Unfriended is a rare example of a found-footage horror movie that works incredibly well. The use of social media and technology to tell the story feels fresh and relevant, and the performances by the cast are solid. The film tackles important issues about cyberbullying and the consequences of actions online, making it a cautionary tale for a modern audience.
Unfriended is a 2015 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 59.