Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Unfriended: Dark Web strays from its Predecessor.
A laptop has been left in the lost and found of a cyber café for weeks. Frequent costumer to that cyber café, Matias (Colin Woodell), decides to claim it as his own. The first night he has it he uses it for a Skype Game Night with his group of friends. The night quickly takes a dark turn when Matias begins receiving messages from the owner of the laptop. When suspicions arise about the owner of the laptop, Matias decodes a file on the computer. Soon him and his friends are thrust into the sinister world of the dark web.
Even though Unfriended: Dark Web is told through the point of view of a computer screen, it doesn’t feel like it’s the sequel to Unfriended. That’s because this Unfriended isn’t supernatural in any context. It’s about people working within a dark web, and what they’re capable of. Therefore, creating a story of real-life horror that first time Director and Writer Stephen Susco relishes in. What Susco does best is create fear without using buckets of gore. Instead he uses a steady build of anxiety mixed with moments of horrific violence that’s highly-unsettling. Susco does this all while giving a frightening insight into the possible depths of the dark web.
However, no one would feel anything for the horror the characters are faced with if not for the Cast. This is all thanks to the First Act which gives each character enough time to flourish. We are first met with Matias who is trying eagerly to build an American Sign Language app so he can better understand his girlfriend, Amaya (Stephanie Nogueras). Then we are introduced to the funny, caring and vulnerable group of friends. The chemistry between the entire friend group is strong although they are never in the same place together.
If you’re heading out to see Unfriended: Dark Web, keep in mind there are two different endings being shown in cinemas. The one I was faced with had a grim ending that left shock and continued with the theme of violence and fright.
Universal Pictures Canada will release UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB on Friday, July 20, 2018.
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