Unfriended: Dark Web (2018) Review – A Sinister and High-Stakes Sequel
Unfriended: Dark Web: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A surprisingly effective and much-improved sequel that trades ghostly revenge for the grounded terrors of cyber-crime. Unfriended: Dark Web succeeds by leaning into a far more visceral and realistic threat, utilizing the “dark web” as a backdrop for a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. While the film requires a massive suspension of disbelief regarding the “super-hacker” abilities of its antagonists and the remarkably poor decision-making of its protagonists, it remains a consistently gripping experience. The older, more diverse cast brings a level of maturity that was lacking in the original, and the inclusion of a deaf character adds a unique and tense layer to the communication-based horror. It is a 3.2 star effort that functions as a dark, mean-spirited techno-thriller, proving that the screenlife format still has plenty of narrative potential when stripped of its supernatural trappings. It is absurd, often silly, but undeniably fun for fans of digital-age suspense.
Details: Director: Stephen Susco | Cast: Colin Woodell, Stephanie Nogueras, Betty Gabriel, Andrew Lees | Runtime: 1h 32m | Release Date: 20 July 2018
Best for: Fans of the screenlife genre, viewers who enjoy high-tension techno-thrillers, and those who found the original Unfriended too juvenile.
Worth noting: The film was originally released in cinemas with two different possible endings, a gimmick that reflects the unpredictable and chaotic nature of its dark web theme.
Where to Watch: Amazon🛒, Tubi (Free)
Rating: 3.2/5 Stars
(A fast-paced and mean-spirited sequel with a more interesting cast, though it relies on some truly ridiculous hacker logic.)
Welcome back to Knockout Horror and to our review of Unfriended: Dark Web.
Table of Contents
Less supernatural, more sinister
This movie is a sequel to 2014’s Unfriended so you can expect more screenlife horror shenanigans. Unfriended: Dark Web follows a group of friends chatting over Skype. We kick things off with Matias (Colin Woodell) logging in to a laptop he has just purchased off of Craigslist. Apparently choosing not to wipe the laptop, he logs out of the previous owner’s accounts and logs into his own.
Matias has been having a relationship with a young woman with hearing problems. Struggling to communicate with her, he creates an app that translates his words into sign language, enabling the pair to chat online. After logging on to Skype for game night with his friends, it becomes clear that there is something sinister with this laptop. An uninvited guest will soon show up, changing Matias’ life forever.
Unfriended: Dark Web forgoes many of the plot elements found in its predecessor and ditches themes of the supernatural entirely. This is an altogether more visceral and human affair. I actually think it’s a lot better, too. Debut director and writer Stephen Susco focuses on a far more realistic threat. That of online snooping, the seedy underbelly of the web, and the very real world of murder for entertainment.
A very timely theme that still resonates today
The dark web theme feels extremely timely for 2018. In fact, this is a subject that still fascinates people even now. Seen as a forbidden underworld full of hitmen for hire and untold hedonism. The fact that the majority of the dark web comprises of website back-ends and admin pages is something that many story writers are keen to ignore.
“Unfriended: Dark Web ditches themes of the supernatural entirely. This is an altogether more visceral and human affair. It focuses on a far more realistic threat: online snooping and murder for entertainment.”
With that being said, the stuff that happens in Unfriended: Dark Web is beyond ridiculous. We see a group of friends tormented over the space of an hour or so by people that are capable of doing things that are simply impossible. Sure, talented hackers are more than capable of making your life hell but this movie takes it to extremes.
We see hackers manipulating Facebook chats to remove messages, complete with fancy animations and unique “dark web” sound effects. We see them interfere with security cameras, causing them to glitch like Magneto is trying to join the chat. And we also see them gain full access to people’s computers, even the computer of someone who is well protected and spent much of the movie declaring himself to be hack-proof. It’s all rather silly.
The characters are oh so dumb!
Jesus, these characters are stupid. I often talk about scream at your TV decision making in horror. Let’s be real, it’s one of the staples of the genre. If you were to carve horror rules on a stone like Moses, having characters doing completely the wrong thing would be near the top. But Unfriended: Dark Web takes that to a whole new level. If you think too hard about why certain characters are doing certain things your head will spin. They must be the dumbest group of idiots this side of Skype.
As the movie goes on, Matias seems like he is actually dropping IQ points in front of our eyes. His decision making becomes worse and worse. This, in turn, provokes the other characters to act stupid as well. Matias manages to do the complete wrong thing at every turn to a point of frustration.
“Matias seems like he is actually dropping IQ points in front of our eyes. His decision making becomes worse and worse, provoking the other characters to act stupid as well.”
As the movie goes on, this only heightens, with each character becoming dumber and dumber. It’s like a long form dark web version of the Three Stooges only with more people and slightly less slapstick humour.
But I still kind of enjoyed it
It’s true, I actually kind of enjoyed Unfriended: Dark Web. I certainly enjoyed it a lot more than Unfriended. The strange thing is, I can’t even put my finger on why. I just did! The friends are not as unlikable as the cast in Unfriended, there is less squabbling and its nice to see more diversity. Representing LGBT characters and differently abled people is a good step for horror. The plot is paced a lot better, the movie is far less likely to resort to web searches and IM chats for story exposition, and there are some genuinely decent moments of tension.
Matias is stupid but his dumb decisions continually push the plot forward. The dark web elements, though completely farcical, play out rather well, offering some scenes that are ridiculously fun. The dynamic between Matias and his hearing-impaired girlfriend actually leads to some decent tension.
The interactions between the group can be quite funny and the fact that the movie is more grounded in reality offers up more scares. It’s just a better movie than Unfriended. It feels far more watchable and far easier to enjoy. I think having an older cast helps immensely, as well. These guys all have specific skills and unique things they bring to the table, offering the movie far more opportunities to subvert expectation. It can be pretty gripping at points.
Decent acting
Acting is fine, for the most part. Again, this is basic stuff, the actors aren’t asked to do much. They do okay with the source material, though. Stephanie Nogueras, who plays Matias’ girlfriend Amaya, has described herself as being born profoundly deaf but has never let her disability hold her back. Achieving a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences from Rochester Institute of Technology, acting in numerous movies, as well as tutoring people in American Sign Language and deaf culture. She does fantastic here and I am glad the role was given to someone differently abled.
Colin Woodell, as Matias, does a nice job. He manages to make the character’s decisions seem genuine, never really hinting at anything other than Matias being a bit of a dumb ass. You may recognise Nari’s actor, Betty Gabriel, here; she plays Georgina in the horror mega-hit Get Out. She is equally as great here in an understated role.
“Acting is fine, for the most part. Again, this is basic stuff, the actors aren’t asked to do much. They do okay with the source material, though.”
Australian actor Andrew Lees offers a nice break from the rowdiness of the rest of the cast. Preferring, instead, to interject with quiet, considered statements and information. It’s a decent performance; he clearly had a good grasp on his role.
Not everyone is great. Rebecca Rittenhouse, as Serena, doesn’t quite manage to match the emotion called for by her situation. Connor Del Rio, as AJ, bites huge chunks out of the scenery on numerous occasions. I really feel like his performance needed reining in a little and he can get very annoying at times. Pacing is fine, cinematography is what you would expect. It’s not memorable or significant but it is bound by the constraints of the format.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Realistic Pivot: Moving away from the supernatural allows the film to feel more grounded and sinister, tapping into very real fears about online privacy.
- Stephanie Nogueras: Brings a fantastic presence to the film, and the inclusion of ASL adds a unique, high-tension communication barrier to the story.
- Improved Cast: The characters are far less grating than the teenagers in the first film, making their eventual fates feel more impactful.
The Bad
- Absurd Hacker Magic: The antagonists’ ability to manipulate live video and Facebook chats with instant animations is pure fantasy and defies logic.
- Character Stupidity: Some of the decisions made by Matias are so fundamentally foolish they threaten to pull the viewer out of the experience.
- Inconsistent Performances: While the leads are good, some of the supporting cast members struggle with the heightened emotional demands of the script.
The Ugly: The “Murder for Entertainment” Aspect. The film’s depiction of the dark web as an industrial-scale snuff ring is cold, cynical, and genuinely disturbing.
Should You Watch Unfriended: Dark Web?
Yes. It is a 3.2 star thriller that manages to be more engaging and polished than its predecessor. If you can overlook the “magic hacking” tropes and the dumb character choices, you will find a tight, well-paced horror that uses its screenlife format to great effect. It’s an easy, fun watch for a Friday night – just maybe think twice about buying a laptop from Craigslist afterwards.
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