By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Over the last few years and with good reason, the news, television, and individuals alike have focused much of their time in an attempt to end cyber-bullying. Dr. Phil has been one of the most outspoken people regarding the issue and has dedicated several episodes to teenagers who took their lives in effort to avoid the online harassment. Law & Order SVU tackled the subject with fictional accounts that hit too close to home for many. Thankfully, teachers and parents have banned together to find solutions to stop this awful trend.
A few months ago I saw Unfriended (2014), which was an attempt to show the ramifications of cyber-bullying while utilizing a supernatural force seeking revenge to do so. It wasn’t great. It failed in its attempt though it did use the unique setting of Skype for the whole film.
By the trailer, it appeared that #Horror (2015) was going to have a similar concept, but attempt a more artistic approach ala We Need to Talk about Kevin (2011). #Horror also used the standard “based on a true story” claim that makes every fan of the genre call bullshit. From what I have read, this movie is as close to reality as Ed Gein’s representation in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).
Apparently, the writer Tara Subkoff came up with the idea when her daughter stated that she was most afraid of being bullied online. Whether it is 100% fact or all imagination, it had the makings of a very movie.
First, the cast was topnotch. With so many kids, an initial worry as bad acting. Thankfully, each young woman carried their own in that department. As for the acting veterans and co-leads Timothy Hutton and Chloe Sevigny did sensational. It was great to see Natasha Lyonne though I wish she had a larger role as her presence is always welcome on screen.
The movie opens with a bunch of 12 year old girls who are supposed to be friends hanging out together. Alex (Sevigny) is running errands and her daughter Sophia (Bridget McGarry)is allowed to stay back with her pals and play dress up.
Despite their “friendship,” they trash one another and poke fun in a way similar to Mean Girls (2004) but the words are much more realistic and hurtful. Every girl in some way seemed guilty of negativity. Whether they based their insults on income, weight, their own sexuality, or who the sexual partners of their parents, each of the girls went for the jugular.
When Cat (Haley Murphy) goes too far and refuses to stop picking on Georgie (Emma Adler) about her weight, Sophia kicks Cat out. She begs to stay but leaves and starts walking through the snow. She calls her father Dr. White (Hutton) who rushes out to find her and when he can’t goes and starts screaming and abusing the girls.
Things take a turn for the worse when dead bodies begin to pile up as the girls run for their lives trying to find out who the killer is.
Without question, this was far better than Unfriended. Though, some of the people I saw it with disliked the Candy Crush-esque transitions utilized, I didn’t find them bothersome. It didn’t necessarily add anything to the movie. It wasn’t nearly as smart or artistic as it was meant to be, but I wasn’t removed from the plot when the games would pop up here and there.
One aspect, I could’ve done without was the pretentious element. We Need to Talk About Kevin had similar problems. Both are great productions, but they have no reason to use the visuals they do other than to silently declare to the viewer, “I’m a very smart artistic person.” It’s transparent and affected in the worst possible way.
In #Horror it’s as if the designers wanted it to be something MORE than just a horror movie about bullying. They tried to use Stanley Kubrick’s style of all white decorations in certain scenes and then tried a little bit of David Lynch’s spontaneous madness, by having portraits move that aren’t really moving and bizarre and “scary” masks worn for the sake of it being in the movie. The difference is that the work of Kubrick and Lynch is done with a genuineness lost here.
My only other gripe is the title. I don’t like when music puts hash-tags on their CDs or albums and I don’t like movies doing it either. I’m sure the filmmakers will swear it’s titled as such due to the content of the movie and because it fit. It’s called #Horror because of how many people will find it via Twitter because of the name. It’s what I call Dick Advertising.
Otherwise, I would suggest the movie. It’s dark, twisted, has great dialogue and believable characters.
Scared Stiff Rating: 6.5/10
