Unfriended

Sequel: “Unfriended: Dark Web” (2018)

It’s been a year since high schooler, Laura Burns, committed suicide after discovering herself in an embarrassing YouTube video someone posted. Even worse, somebody videotaped Laura Burns committing suicide and posted it on YouTube as well. Some people just don’t have boundaries.

One night, six friends—Blaire, Mitch, Ken, Jess, Adam and Val—decide to video chat each other on Skype. While chatting, they notice an unfamiliar user pop into the chat with them (no picture either). The user profile says her name is Laura Barns. “It’s obviously just a hacker,” the friends say. But as each of the friends try to hang up, each one of them ends up committing suicide, in some of the most horrific ways, I might add.

So the question remains, who is this user? A hacker or Laura, calling from beyond the grave.

Can you remember a time when Facebook, YouTube, or even the Internet didn’t exist? I can’t. The old, yet familiar cliché, “My gosh, what did we ever do before such and such” has never rung truer today. Let’s face it, we are glued to our technology, our TVs, our computers, our electronics. They can sometimes consume us.

Don’t get me wrong. Technology, when used appropriately, is a great tool (e.g., like reading this review). But there are times where it can be used in a more, shall I say, embarrassing or cruel manner.

“Unfriended” serves as a prime example of what can go wrong when cyberbullying occurs. While parts of this movie are fiction, the message is clear. Cyberbullying is just plain cruel and unacceptable. Don’t bully (cyber or otherwise) and don’t post things on the Internet you will likely regret later.

“Unfriended” isn’t so much scary, as it is a thriller, per se. While I appreciated the fact that “Unfriended” took its time to lead up to the scares, unraveling secrets in the process, it just took too long to get there. When the scares occurred, they were in a gore manner as opposed to “heart-racers.” Perhaps I was expecting something different walking in, or didn’t do my research properly as to what genre this was categorized as, but, to me, this film wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for, and, at the end of the night, it was a let down to its genre.

The performances were about average, with the exception of some humorous dialog thrown in every once in a while.

“Unfriended” had a lot of inappropriate content worth mentioning.

Violence: Heavy to extreme. Main characters are seen committing suicide in some very graphic ways (electrocution, shootings, and one involving sticking a hand in a blender). There’s a comment made about abortion. A picture is shown of someone hanging themselves.

Profanity: Extreme. The f-bomb is used in well over 100 instances. There are over 30+ instances of sh*t, a** (16), a**-hole (4), b*tch (9), Jesus’ name is used in vain once and God’s is used twice, hell (2), OMG (12), and OMFG. Other profanity includes c*nts, floozy, d*ck, p***ck, s*cked, b**bs, the n-word is used once as well as p*ssy and others.

Sex/Nudity: Heavy to Extreme. There is lots of inappropriate sexual talk. Blaire begins to undress but stops. We also see close shots of her legs and thighs. Blaire and Mitch make mention of their “first time” occurring at prom in the future. There is a reference made to pornography, as well as a male being “wet.” One character makes mention that someone sent pictures of another character’s breasts (we don’t see the pictures). Blaire implies (never fully types though) that Laura was raped by a family member as a child. During the embarrassing YouTube video of Laura, we see her in her panties and a shirt outside with blood coming out the back of her panties (close shot). Mitch is seen without a shirt. There are references to masturbation, and once a male’s private part briefly flashes on a girl’s computers.

As I said, the moral of the story is “don’t bully.” The bigger picture, however, deals with the idea of suicide. As a Christian, suicide is never an acceptable action, period. Committing suicide is like saying to God, “I’m not worth it.” This is contrary to the Word! We are worth it! God would not have sent his Son to save us if he didn’t think we were worth it.

“Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. —Ephesians 1:4-5

The Bible also makes it clear that when we find our life has no purpose or we feel our struggle is too great to bear, God will be close.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. –Psalm 34:18-19

As my sister and I left the theater this evening, she asked, “So, what do you give ‘Unfriended’? A yea or a nay?” My answer for this movie is, unfortunately, a “nay.” While “Unfriended” had some moments of true terror and a strong, clear message against cyberbullying (I must say that’s a first for a horror movie), I still feel it took too long to get to the scares, and, in essence, the point. Content-wise, it’s offensive: excessive profanity, graphic violence, and sexual content and dialog heavy. Don’t see it. But do remember this, our lives have purpose, have meaning, through the one man who made it all possible, Jesus the Christ.

Violence: Heavy to extreme / Profanity: Extreme / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.