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Friend Request

With every generation comes a means of communication, a link between friends. In the 80's kids would hang out together by knocking on each others door (STAND BY ME, CLOWNHOUSE), in the 90's there was the telephone (RINGU, SCREAM) and now we have social media. Along with UNFRIENDED, now comes a new wave of teen horror films that use the likes of Facebook and Twitter to spread the word of urban legends.

 

For anyone without a grasp of social media may be socially inept to understand the principles of the new format of terror but as with all things, the slasher genre needs to change with the times and as much as we like the golden age of horror, homages and throwbacks can only keep the genre going so far and it is with such words that we welcome FRIEND REQUEST.

 

A socially awkward young girl, Marina (Liesl Ahlers) befriends a popular girl, Laura (Alycia Debnam-Carey) and hopes for a close bond to form between the two but as Laura's friends delve into the history of the loner girl, their temperament dissolves leaving ruining the friendship and ultimately leaving the troubled Marina once again alone. But some girls should never be left alone as she begins to show Laura what loneliness feels like.

 

FRIEND REQUEST is a by the book slasher but one that is just what the market needs. While the plot threads and characters are straight out of THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, the Facebook plot devise and supernatural happenings are effective and reflective of todays horrors. The paranoia of being connected socially leads to a chain of events, and ultimately deaths, of those closest to Laura adding this to the cluster of slashers that blend supernatural with the classic sub genre akin to FINAL DESTINATION and THE RING.

 

There's no new ground broken here but for a throwaway slasher with an interesting take on the social media macguffin, then there are worse ways to spend a Saturday night. Just don't click accept on the next friend request.

Director: Simon Verhoeven

Released: 2016

Running Time: 92 minutes

Age Rating: 15

 

Reviewer: Martyn Wakefield

RATING


Plot: 3
Fear: 4
Gore: 2


R3/5​

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