Note: The following contains spoilers for Unfriended.
This article originally appeared on Den of Geek UK.
Unfriendedis one of those horror films that becomes less effective the noisier it becomes.
The entire movie takes place on the flickering laptop screen of its protagonist, Blaire (Shelley Hennig).
Could it be that some kind of ghoul haunts the web, seeking justice for its victims?
Unfriendedexposes the duality of our modern, interconnected culture.
The drawback is that particularly dedicated bullies can torment their victims at any time of the day or night.
Social media means we can create networks of like-minded friends.
Its important to talk aboutCyberbullyat this point, the Channel 4 drama starring Maisie Williams.
First airing in January 2015, it explores the duality of anonymity on the web.
They know what food we like, what clothes we buy, and what songs we listen to.
And they sell them back to us.
And what do we get in return?
Theres something unsettling about it all.
We were made for deep bonds, for intimacy, for family not WhatsApp chat groups.
Then theres the scariest aspect of bothUnfriendedandCyberbully.
Inevitably, perhaps,Unfriendeddescends into more traditional slasher fare towards the end.
The screaming begins, the deaths mount up, and some of its digital chilliness is lost.
Val appears on a chat screen, her eyes unblinking, her expression impossible to read.
The web can keep us connected to people tens, hundreds, even thousands of miles away.
