Stephen Susco's sequel is standalone, so directorial debut isn't related to Leo Gabriadze's 2014 original.
Can laptop gimmick be sustained?
Rebecca Rittenhouse - Serena
Betty Gabriel - Nari
Colin Woodell - Matias
Chelsea Alden - Kelly
Andrew Lees - Damon
Stephanie Nogueras - Amaya
Connor Del Rio - AJ
Alexa Mansour - Erica Dunne
Twenty-something Matias is working on app Papaya, designed to help him communicate better with deaf girlfriend Amaya.
Friends Damon, AJ, DJ Lexx and lesbian couple Serena and Nari are soon connected on a Skype video call.
On Norah C. IV's Facebook page (laptop's original owner), user is pestered by somebody called Erica.
After revealing he didn't buy, but stole laptop from a cyber café, Matias begins to chat with Erica (really Norah), with comms quickly switching to message board The River.
Somebody not only realises that Norah C. is Charon (aka The Ferryman) spelled backwards, but also recognises area to be part of the dark net.
Jesus, that place really Styx.
Charon talks about receiving payment for a video, involving trephination.
We don't have to google definition, as film does it for us.
Accessing Untitled folder on desktop, Matias checks out 'contributions' containing x amount of videos, with some showing inference of torture.
Last file shows intruder kidnapping a snoozing girl, revealed to be Erica Dunne.
Amaya calls Matias, but she's taking a shower. Roommate Kelly fills in and is soon knocked out by a hooded figure.
Charon IV demands tech back or girlfriend dies.
The Circle (composed of numerous Charons), gatecrash Skype call and post a Youtube video, showing Lexx being pushed off a tall building.
Following hoax 911 call, AJ is shot dead by the cops.
Serena is given the choice who lives between her mother and Nari.
Decision is made for her, as both die, as does she.
Back in London, Damon is hung, with fake suicide note left.
Amaya is lured inside a deserted factory, and presumably will star in another video.
Members run a poll to decide if Matias should live.
Erica wakes in Matias's flat and before video goes dead, removes cork plugging hole in head.
Vote is unanimous and Charon van mows ass down.
Camera slowly zooms out, showing audience's POV is actually from a Charon's computer.
System failure
Cyber horror is initially engrossing and skillfully executed.
But like Matias's laptop, scenario regularly crashes.
At least Laura Barns' vengeful ghost had motive, but real world villains are entirely vacuous.
Basically, it just doesn't fucking work.
Copy and paste job of Zach Donohue's The Den (aka Hacked) is nasty, but not as good.
Ignoring first half hour or so (which is genuinely interesting), remainder is more monotonous than watching a games console download gig happy update.
Next in genre is Searching.
Will it find me?
Maybe.
Can laptop gimmick be sustained?
Rebecca Rittenhouse - Serena
Betty Gabriel - Nari
Colin Woodell - Matias
Chelsea Alden - Kelly
Andrew Lees - Damon
Stephanie Nogueras - Amaya
Connor Del Rio - AJ
Alexa Mansour - Erica Dunne
Twenty-something Matias is working on app Papaya, designed to help him communicate better with deaf girlfriend Amaya.
Friends Damon, AJ, DJ Lexx and lesbian couple Serena and Nari are soon connected on a Skype video call.
On Norah C. IV's Facebook page (laptop's original owner), user is pestered by somebody called Erica.
After revealing he didn't buy, but stole laptop from a cyber café, Matias begins to chat with Erica (really Norah), with comms quickly switching to message board The River.
Somebody not only realises that Norah C. is Charon (aka The Ferryman) spelled backwards, but also recognises area to be part of the dark net.
Jesus, that place really Styx.
Charon talks about receiving payment for a video, involving trephination.
We don't have to google definition, as film does it for us.
Accessing Untitled folder on desktop, Matias checks out 'contributions' containing x amount of videos, with some showing inference of torture.
Last file shows intruder kidnapping a snoozing girl, revealed to be Erica Dunne.
Amaya calls Matias, but she's taking a shower. Roommate Kelly fills in and is soon knocked out by a hooded figure.
Charon IV demands tech back or girlfriend dies.
The Circle (composed of numerous Charons), gatecrash Skype call and post a Youtube video, showing Lexx being pushed off a tall building.
Following hoax 911 call, AJ is shot dead by the cops.
Serena is given the choice who lives between her mother and Nari.
Decision is made for her, as both die, as does she.
Back in London, Damon is hung, with fake suicide note left.
Amaya is lured inside a deserted factory, and presumably will star in another video.
Members run a poll to decide if Matias should live.
Erica wakes in Matias's flat and before video goes dead, removes cork plugging hole in head.
Vote is unanimous and Charon van mows ass down.
Camera slowly zooms out, showing audience's POV is actually from a Charon's computer.
System failure
Cyber horror is initially engrossing and skillfully executed.
But like Matias's laptop, scenario regularly crashes.
At least Laura Barns' vengeful ghost had motive, but real world villains are entirely vacuous.
Basically, it just doesn't fucking work.
Copy and paste job of Zach Donohue's The Den (aka Hacked) is nasty, but not as good.
Ignoring first half hour or so (which is genuinely interesting), remainder is more monotonous than watching a games console download gig happy update.
Next in genre is Searching.
Will it find me?
Maybe.
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