The Den (2013) Review – A Chilling and Effective Screenlife Slasher
The Den: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A lean, mean, and surprisingly effective entry into the screenlife sub-genre that remains chillingly relevant over a decade later. The Den succeeds by grounding its slasher tropes in the very real anxieties of internet anonymity and the dark corners of web-chat culture. While it occasionally falls victim to the “super-hacker” logic that plagues similar films, it compensates with a relentless pace and a standout lead performance by Melanie Papalia. The film transitions from a curious social experiment into a brutal, detached nightmare with remarkable ease, culminating in a finale that is both nihilistic and genuinely unsettling. It is a 3.2 star effort that works as a punchy, low-budget thriller for those who enjoy the voyeuristic tension of Unfriended or Searching. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it uses its medium to create a sense of claustrophobic dread that traditional filming often struggles to capture. Well worth a watch for fans of digital-age horror.
Details: Director: Zachary Donohue | Cast: Melanie Papalia, David Schlachtenhaufen, Matt Riedy | Runtime: 1h 16m | Release Date: 2013
Best for: Viewers who enjoy techno-thrillers, fans of the screenlife format, and those who appreciate “mean-spirited” horror with a focus on cyber-security fears.
Worth noting: The film was one of the earliest to fully commit to the “everything on a computer screen” format, preceding Unfriended by a year and helping to define the visual language of the genre.
Where to Watch: Tubi (Free), Amazon Prime Video, Vudu
Rating: 3.2/5 Stars
(A fast-paced and unsettling digital thriller with a bleak ending, though it relies on some questionable hacker logic.)
Welcome back to Knockout Horror and to our review of The Den (aka Hacked).
Table of Contents
It’s formulaic but not in a bad way
The Den released in 2013 to a fairly positive reception. It follows the story of a university student who aims to study people on video chat websites for an end of year exam. Getting the go-ahead from her teachers, she begins interacting with all manner of strange people, little realising that she is opening a door that she may never be able to close.
“The Den is keen to point out that the internet is a dangerous place full of weirdos. It explores themes of online dependence and cyber paranoia that are still timely today.”
It’s best to go into this movie with your expectations correctly aligned. It’s somewhere between a traditional slasher and stalker horror movie but with a tiny difference. Nearly everything is presented through video chats and a computer screen. If it wasn’t for this style, the movie would feel enjoyable but quite ordinary.
Our protagonist’s venture into the world of online chat rooms is used as a way to explore some very interesting themes. The horror takes something of a back-seat initially so we can examine some of the strangest people the web has to offer. Online dependence, cyber paranoia, and internet security are all topics that are still timely today. This is a movie keen to point out that the internet is a dangerous place full of weirdos. Can’t really argue with that.
An interesting process
Actor Melanie Papalia claims that she actually spent time in video chat-rooms talking with strangers while researching for this role. The results of which further confirmed, for her, the message The Den is trying to get across: people who feel there are no consequences to their actions will let their amoral selves run wild.
The social experiment aspect of the movie makes for a fairly compelling foundation. It offers an opportunity to explore the darker side of the internet while also offering opportunities to inject a little humour here and there. That is something The Den does fairly well; it can provoke a chuckle or two.
The web chat element can be really engaging, as well. Elizabeth never knows who will be on the other side of the camera. This affords the movie numerous chances to subvert expectation. Naturally the novelty wears off after a while, particularly when the movie starts repeating itself with men jerking off and dick jokes, but it is very enjoyable for a decent amount of time.
When the horror finally arrives, it’s in the form of minor inconvenience that eventually manifests into some seriously shocking subject matter. The film is so light that when it finally decides to turn up the scares, it can be quite surprising. The ending is legitimately shocking, too. While I wouldn’t say The Den is scary, it is unsettling. Especially when you consider the reality of the situation at hand.
It’s a bit silly at times
Much like Unfriended: Dark Web, The Den falls into many of the same patterns of computer-based silliness. While not being quite so ridiculous as the aforementioned, much of what takes place in this movie doesn’t make much sense.
“It’s all very rote for this type of subject matter. The story has to take some giant leaps of logic to accommodate the horror, too.”
Once again, master hackers able to penetrate any security system, people who gain full access to a computer through seemingly magical means, a group of side characters that have no faith or belief in our protagonist. It’s all very rote for this type of subject matter. The story has to take some giant leaps of logic to accommodate the horror, too.
With that being said, The Den does try fairly hard to keep things making sense. Elizabeth leaves her camera on all the time. Her laptop is always open meaning it is always connected to the net. She seems relatively naïve when it comes to the internet. Some of the things that happen are, at least, somewhat plausible.
It is when the movie involves other characters that it really loses traction. Again, falling foul of scenarios that seem utterly unbelievable. Elizabeth can seem a little nonplussed by what is going on. That’s all despite how harrowing it is which can take you out of the moment a bit.
Still fairly easy to watch
The Den is still a pretty easy movie to enjoy. Thanks to its novel presentation, it isn’t particularly demanding. It’s interesting to see how the filmmakers are going to get around the limitations of the medium. The story progresses at a nice clip. The movie’s slasher leanings feel like a good fit with its visual stylings. At its core, this is a familiar, old-fashioned horror, just presented in a slightly different way.
Despite being predictable, some of the events that take place are fairly compelling. It is easy to follow and a non-traditional ending deserves plenty of praise. The latter part of the movie can feel a little disjointed. Things really pick up and the movie visits a few destinations that it doesn’t get much from. It is pretty high-paced and the action can feel quite taut, though.
“There is a cold and detached manner in which The Den presents its violence. It fits the theme well and can be quite shocking, in much the same way as movies like Hostel.”
As I mentioned earlier, scares are minimal. Some of the kills are pretty brutal, though, focusing on themes of snuff movies and murder for entertainment. There is a cold and detached manner in which The Den presents its violence. It fits the theme well and can be quite shocking in parts. It’s kind of reminiscent of movies like Hostel. The Den can fill that urge for something a bit different without forcing the viewer to delve into something too strange. It is both familiar and novel at the same time.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Melanie Papalia: Her performance is incredibly naturalistic, anchoring the film and making the “webcam” interactions feel authentic and unscripted.
- Novel Format: As a pioneer of the screenlife genre, the film uses the limitations of a desktop screen to create unique tension and unexpected jump scares.
- Bleak Ending: The film refuses to pull its punches, delivering a nihilistic conclusion that fits the dark themes of internet snuff culture perfectly.
The Bad
- Hacker Logic: The antagonist’s ability to remotely control everything through “magical” hacking feels a bit silly and dates the film slightly.
- Slow Start: The first act spends a significant amount of time on repetitive chat-room interactions that may test the patience of some viewers.
- Sceptical Side Characters: The standard trope of friends and family who refuse to believe obvious evidence is present here and remains as annoying as ever.
The Ugly: The Snuff Theme. The film’s transition into the world of industrial-scale murder for entertainment is cold, detached, and genuinely disturbing.
Should You Watch The Den?
Yes. It is a solid 3.2 star film that manages to be both fun and unsettling. If you are a fan of modern tech-based horror like Unfriended, you will find The Den to be a more grounded and meaner predecessor. It’s tight, well-acted, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Just make sure you cover your webcam before you start the movie.
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