danbigeesmalls

Unfriended (2014)

Immensely Satisfying! Hikes back to why we fell in love with such original slasher films such as Scream, A Nightmare On Elm Street, Halloween and the first Final Destination

A clever and innovative schlock slasher film, one that redeems the possibility of original slasher films. Granted the praise for it's desktop webcam display was first utilized in the likes of V/H/S and The Den (The Den also being a thoroughly enjoyable, well acted horror film) it is original for giving us an ensemble of youths whom whilst being killed off one by one take us through an engaging, intelligent horror story that touches well on the nihilistic nature of modern teenagers and the tools they equip to harass. Amongst the flood of new superhero shows and the like of the past few years I had come across a genre show which had held up to the likes of genre great; Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and that new genre show was Teen Wolf. Teen Wolf bore an exceptionally talented, interesting and beautiful actress named Shelley Hennig who portrays our final girl in this well executed teen horror movie. And upon first hearing of Unfriended my initial thoughts it would hunk up to the same, flat, monotone and poorly executed Ouija which she also previously starred in. This however did not disappoint, all the characters from Hennig to the additional victim Courtney Halverson were extremely well done, accessible, relatable, likable and enjoyable. The humiliated, beginning victim and focus of the story Laura Barns posed an intelligent, genuinely gratifying and unnerving threat to our teenage characters. The film also unravels as a well done mystery as we come to discover the deceit, lies and truths behind our victims and Laura working up to an effective close. A great complimentary (brilliantly worked in) soundtrack and for slasher film fans and horror loving teenagers, young and older adults visceral, bloodlust satisfying executions that also work on an emotional level of dispatch (akin to the victims of All The Boys Love Mandy Lane). This was my first original slasher film viewed in a theater and I was not in the slightest disappointed. Also hats off to the performance of Renee Olstead and Moses Storm for their captivating performances which during the story add extra tension. After seeing this movie I am eager to see what else the 2010's have to offer in terms of original slasher horror movies and what other movies we can find our ensemble cast (including the briefly appearing, actual Laura Barns Heather Sossamon).