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Friend Request
Unfriend
2016 92 min Germany, South Africa R 16+
★4.6
Horror, Thriller
Director: Simon Verhoeven
Trailers
Description
Enjoying college life as a popular student, Laura shares everything with her more than 800 friends on Facebook. But one day, after accepting a friend request from a social outcast named Marina, Laura’s life is cursed...
Budget:
$9.9M
US Gross:
$3.76M
Worldwide:
$10.98M
Starring
Alycia Debnam-Carey
Actor
William Moseley
Actor
Connor Paolo
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 1 nomination total
Key opinion
Unfriend is a polarizing social-media-themed horror film that succeeds for some as an entertaining, fast-paced thriller while failing others due to its reliance on tired genre clichés. While the premise of digital obsession resonates with modern audiences, the execution is frequently criticized for its inconsistent logic and over-reliance on cheap supernatural scares.
| Theme | The film functions as a timely exploration of social media reliance and the dangers of curated online personas. | |
| Acting | The performances from lead actresses Alisia Debnam-Carey and Liesl Ahlers effectively ground the film's central character archetypes. | |
| Score | The score provides an atmospheric, intense, and high-quality layer of dread that elevates the tension. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is heavily criticized for plot holes, reliance on forced occult tropes, and illogical character behavior. | |
| Emotion | The scares divide opinion, with some viewers finding them effective and visceral, while others dismiss them as predictable 'boo' jumps and childish gimmicks. | |
| Originality | The originality of the film is contested; some see it as a fresh take on modern digital isolation, while many others perceive it as a derivative, uninspired rehashing of established genre formulas. |