Ben Travis (Empire Magazine) and James King (Radio 2) return to Flixwatcher remotely to review Ben’s choice Unfriended.
Unfriended is a 2014 video-meeting footage supernatural horror film (yes that is a genre!) told entirely through a screencast of a MacBook. High school student Laura Barns commits suicide following the abuse she receives after being filmed drunk and passing out at a party in a clip that went viral. One year on, Laura’s former best friend Blaire and her friends – Mitch, Jess, Ken, and Adam are chatting online when a mysterious user called “billie227” enters the chat and things begin to get weird and creepy.
Unfriended is unlikely to become a cult film classic – despite being released in 2014 the use of Skype ages the film more than its years – and it will probably be eclipsed by the Zoom focussed Host that came out in 2020. Unfriended is ambitious in its attempt to bring together teen bullying revenge and supernatural horror together – over Skype.
Where Unfriended falls down is when it doesn’t quite follow through with its setup – the ending is a bit weak and the ghost spirit capable of anything feels a bit meh and some of the deaths are questionable. The issue of cyberbullying however remains topical and explores the multiple platforms where bullying and abuse can take place.
Scores
| Recommendability | Repeat Viewing | Small Screen Score | Engagement | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James | 4 | 3 | 4.5 | 4 | 3.87500 |
| Ben | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3.75000 |
| Helen | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3.50000 |
| Kobi | 4 | 0.75 | 5 | 5 | 3.68750 |
| 4 | 1.6875 | 4.875 | 4.25 | 3.70313 |
With a runtime of 83 minutes, there are definitely worse uses of your time than giving Unfriended ago. Unfriended scores pretty highly on recommendability, less high on repeat viewing, and for the first time ever we highly recommend viewing on your laptop and scores 3.70 overall!
What do you guys think? Have you seen Unfriended? What did you think? Please let us know in the comments below!
Episode #187 Crew Links
Thanks to Episode #187 Crew of Ben Travis (@BenSTravis) from Empire Magazine and James King (@jameskingmovies) from Radio 2.
Find their Websites online at https://www.empireonline.com/
And https://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-More-Keanu-James-King/dp/1529110327/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PBQGVU2AF9LT&dchild=
And https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_two
Please make sure you give them some love
More about Unfriended
For more info on Unfriended, you can visit the Unfriended IMDb page here or the Unfriended Rotten Tomatoes page here.
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Films New On Netflix
As well as this week’s episode we think you should know some of the best new films on Netflix UK this week. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest news.
Despite past turmoil, a stifled songwriter must write a song for a country star when he meets a struggling singer who could be more than just a muse.
Added to UK Netflix: 15th December 2020.
While exploring a cave system in Northern Australia, five friends find themselves fighting to survive rising water levels and a murderous creature.
Added to UK Netflix: 14th December 2020.
Fleeing from the Decepticons in 1987, Bumblebee hides out on Earth. But after he befriends a sad teen, the battered Beetle’s foes are hot on his trail.
Added to UK Netflix: 13th December 2020.
When an elderly neighbor in good health unexpectedly dies, New Yorker Carol Lipton is convinced that the woman’s death was no accident.
Added to UK Netflix: 13th December 2020.
After a violent assault shatters an artist’s mind and memory, he creates a miniature world to process his trauma and to learn how to live again.
Added to UK Netflix: 13th December 2020.
Films Leaving Netflix
Unfortunately, not all of the films stay on Netflix for ever,
Liam Neeson stars as a man who regains consciousness after a car accident, only to discover that another man is impersonating him.
Leaving: 17th December 2020.