Chatroom (2010)

5 teenagers are introduced to each other in a chatroom called "Chelsea Teens!", all with different personalities. But when one shows its darker side, it threatens the life of the others.

Director:

Hideo Nakata

Writers:

Enda Walsh (play), Enda Walsh (screenplay)

Stars:

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Imogen Poots, Matthew Beard

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Aaron Taylor-Johnson	...	William (as Aaron Johnson)
Imogen Poots	...	Eva
Matthew Beard	...	Jim
Hannah Murray	...	Emily
Daniel Kaluuya	...	Mo
Megan Dodds	...	Grace
Michelle Fairley	...	Rosie
Nicholas Gleaves	...	Paul
Jacob Anderson	...	Si
Tuppence Middleton	...	Candy
Ophelia Lovibond	...	Charlotte
Richard Madden	...	Ripley
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matthew Ashforde	...	Jim's Father
Dorothy Atkinson	...	Emily's Mother
Greg Bennett	...	Police Constable

Storyline

5 teenagers are introduced to each other in a chatroom called "Chelsea Teens!", all with different personalities. But when one shows its darker side, it threatens the life of the others.

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Plot Keywords:

psychopath | suspected paedophile | internet | deception | suicide | 

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Taglines:

Control. Alter. Delete.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing violent content, some sexual material and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook [Japan] Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

Chat room

Filming Locations:

Camden Lock, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ruby Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hideo Nakata's second English-language film after The Ring Two (2005).

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Quotes

[last lines]
William: Now!

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Alternate Versions

The film was altered based on advice given by the BBFC at the script stage to avoid a potential 18 certificate. Several lines of sexual dialogue were altered, and the filmmakers were also advised to avoid "novel detail" when it came to shoot the suicide scenes.

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Connections

References Bugsy Malone (1976)

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Soundtracks

Bubble
Performed by Riva Starr
Written by Stefano Miele (a.k.a Riva Starr)
© 2007 Expanded Music srl, Italy
Master Recording Courtesy of Dirtybird Records

User Reviews

Stagey but clever, thought provoking cyberworld teenage drama thriller

Saw this at a London hotel preview screening today.

Top marks for effort in trying to translate internet chat rooms onto the screen. It did take me quite a while to adjust to the visual interpretations of online cyberworld chatting but having said that, it was very cleverly done if a bit stagy. This is not a horror film. Despite the surrealistic online interpretation, this was first and foremost a dark teenage drama that quite effectively highlights the dangerous mental traps that socially withdrawn youngsters can face online in real life. Maybe parents of teenagers who spends all their time on the internet, may well find this to be a horror film and start taking away their kids computers, then push a football into their hands.

Of course this being cinema, liberties need to be taken with plausibility to turn this intriguing drama into a dark thriller. But it works. Its just that it took a heck of a long time to really get going with the main plot. The dialogue also felt very sluggish. The young actors however, were very good and did well to emote their feelings convincingly.

I was very bewildered at the inclusion of a couple of stop motion animated cartoons which I get the impression were supposed to be darkly funny but I did not find it in the least bit amusing. Maybe that was the idea but it served no purpose in the flow of the movie for me. Also, this being a British Film Four production, it feels so, and you wont find any money spent on special effects apart from a change of wallpaper in the chat rooms.

Overall though, this is a very good thought provoking film with decent performances from the young cast. It is an effective thriller but very sluggish until it really picks up momentum in the 3rd act.