By Dane Sarkovsky
CATFISH (2010)
Catfish is a compelling and surprisingly empathetic exploration of the relationship between virtual friendships and real connections. It follows 24-year-old New York photographer, Nev Schulman, who strikes up a relationship over Facebook with a Michigan girl after she sends him painted versions of his snapshots. He also gradually befriends the girl’s mother and older sister, Megan, with whom he begins a romantic relationship via online conversations, texts and calls. But when inconsistencies in the family’s story become apparent, Nev pays them a visit. Timely and provocative upon its release in 2010, the still relevant Catfish compels us to question whether social networking makes us more connected or more alone? And while it doesn’t offer any clear answers, there are unsettling insinuations at its core.
OPEN WINDOWS (2014)
Elijah Wood plays Nick, a blogger who wins a dinner date with his favourite actress, Jill Goddard (Sasha Grey). Whilst Nick sits on his laptop waiting for an update, he receives a skype call from a man named Chord (Neil Maskell), who informs him that Jill has pulled out of the deal. Fortunately, he’s able to offer Nick something much more personable from her in return for a few favours. Before long, Nick falls down a virtual rabbit hole, with each new demand from Chord growing more and more malicious, while Jill’s life is put perilously at stake. Writer and director Nacho Vigalondo tells his dark tale in real time, with the action never leaving Nick’s laptop screen as Chord takes control, using it to hack into mobile phones and even CCTV cameras.
UNFRIENDED (2014)
While video chatting one night, six high school friends receive a Skype message from a classmate who killed herself after being shamed on the web exactly one year ago. At first they think that it’s a prank, but when the girl starts revealing the friends’ darkest secrets, they realise that they are dealing with something from beyond this world…and something that wants them dead. Told entirely from the perspective of a young girl’s computer desktop, Unfriended redefines “found footage” for a new generation of teens. Developed and conceived by visionary filmmaker, Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch, Wanted, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), Unfriended is truly tech-based cinema.
NERVE (2016)
Nerve’s premise sees brainy-but-repressed high schooler, Venus “Vee” Delmonico (Emma Roberts), attempt to take a risk for once as she joins the popular online reality game, Nerve. The game is described as “truth or dare without the truth” and basically entails “watchers” encouraging “players” to commit to increasingly dangerous dares. The bigger the dare, the better the cash reward. Initially, Vee takes a fairly easy dare where she has to kiss a stranger. This brings her into contact with handsome young Ian (Dave Franco), and the pair hit it off. The watchers encourage them to play as a duo, much to the shock of Vee’s wild friend, Sydney (Emily Meade), and the chagrin of her mopey lovestruck pal, Tommy (Miles Heizer). According to Nzcasino.co.nz, internet game players enjoy expansive online universes, and Nerve pushes this to the limit.
SEARCHING (2018)
Much like Unfriended, writer/director Aneesh Chaganty and co-writer Sev Ohanian let their entire 2018 thriller Searching play out via computer and television screens in a truly contemporary tableau. While keeping the audience largely anchored to the perspective of John Cho’s David, we are given an all-encompassing view of the world around the disappearance of David’s daughter, Margot (Michelle La). This thriller takes a relatively familiar premise and, through a highly creative production style and outstanding performances, speaks uncomfortable but necessary truths about the Internet age in a way that forces the audience to pay attention.
