Movie Review: Unfriended: Dark Web - #BEWAREDARKWEB

Unfriended: Dark Web
Directed By: Stephen Susco
Written By: Stephen Susco
Release Date: July 20th, 2018 (Nationwide)
Running Time: 88 minutes
Rating: R
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#UNFRIENDEDDARKWEB #BEWAREDARKWEB

Unfolding in real-time UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB​​ is ​the most terrifying horror yet from the producer of GET OUT, HAPPY DEATH DAY and THE PURGE, and the ​makers of UNFRIENDED. When a 20-something finds a cache of hidden files on his new laptop, he and his friends are unwittingly thrust into the depths of the dark web. They soon discover someone has been watching their every move and will go to unimaginable lengths to protect the dark web.Written and directed by Stephen Susco (THE GRUDGE), UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB is produced by Timur Bekmambetov, Bazelevs Productions and Jason Blum, Blumhouse Productions

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Unfriended: Dark Web, like its predecessor, is a movie takes place entirely on a MacBook screen, switching back and forth of FaceTime, iMessage, Facebook, and Skype, and following a group of teenagers as they get picked off one by one. As they die, their friends watch via webcam, with a lot of crying, yelling, and disbelief.

Programmer Matis (played by Colin Woodell) has recently obtained a laptop from a lost and found, so he can build ASL translation software faster in order to help him communicate with his deaf girlfriend Amaya (played by Stephanie Nogueras). The film begins with him trying to login into a computer. He manages to login, and apps such as Facebook, Skype, Spotify, and several others suddenly open all with the original Owner’s login information saved. Every time he encounters the login screen of Norah C. IV, he erases it, and enters his own information in. Curiosity, however, takes the better of him and he takes a peak into Norah's Facebook account and this is where things begin to get a little weird. Several instant messages begin appearing. however, one user stands out, and the user is demanding to know who is using the computer. The mysterious user becomes increasingly violent and threatening.

We finally get to meet the other characters in this story when Matias logs into a Skype session with his friends for their game night. We meet tech-savvy Brit Damon (played by Andrew Lees); conspiracy theorist AJ (played by Connor Del Rio); Nori (played by Betty Gabriel), Serena (played by Rebecca Rittenhouse) and musician Lexx (played by Savira Windyani). During a game of Cards Against Humanity, Matias subsequently stumbles upon a mysterious Dark Web portal called “The River,” as well as a folder full of made-to-order snuff films. He finds strange chat messages which suggest that someone is paying money for these murder videos. Questions begin to arise on who exactly Matis got his laptop from and who it belongs to.

Things escalate quickly when the owner of the stolen laptop starts threatening Matias in Facebook Messenger. Matais must try and protect his innocent girlfriend Amaya, his friends who are trying to figure out if what they are seeing is real, or if Matais is making it up, and out-whit the secret society of people calling themselves “Norah”.

I have also read there are two endings to the movie! There are reports that you have no way of knowing which ending you will see in the theater. The movie is entertaining and keeps a steady pace of events which keeps you on the hook wondering what will happen next. If you liked the first one, definitely make a trip to the theater and check it out.