Chatroom

Chatroom is an excellent film about the vast and monstrous power of the internet. However, I would be cautious with classifying it in the horror genre :); it’s more appropriately categorized as a psychological drama with thriller elements. I don't know how to put it exactly, but the overall experience and the final (actually quite continuous:)) gesture of approval is perhaps not so much directed toward the script (whose sophistication and excellent gradation – and not least the idea itself, which is excellent – I cannot deny) or the direction (which I have no reservations about), but rather the applicability to real life, the alarming state of dependence on the internet afflicting the young generation, which is gradually losing awareness of the normal world and confiding its most intimate feelings to imaginary friends. It is true that the characters in this film are perhaps overly naive, gullible, and easily manipulated, which can be justified by their young age, their lack of life experience, or the fact that a chat room is the ideal means for them to escape from the "mean world that doesn't understand them". Therefore, they consider their virtual life untouchable at the moment and trust it (them) implicitly. Yes, I know I'm not coming up with anything new:)), but everyone knows that there are perverts, antisocials, and maybe even a much worse bunch on the internet. Rather, I would like to point out that this film shows in great detail how far this initially innocent and casual chatting can go. With its testimonial value (moral resonance, message) and the great Aaron Johnson, it's easily suffices for about 80%. (02.01.2011)