SMILEY (2012)

[indianasmith]

I just finished watching this rather interesting cyber-horror film and found it quite intriguing.
Certainly the title character is one of the most interesting horror memes to emerge from film in
several years, even if the vehicle is a little flawed at times.

I'll just give you some set-up without too many spoilers, and you can make up your own minds:

Ashley is a college student who is recovering from an episode of bipolar disorder triggered by her mother's suicide.
She has gradually gone off her meds under medical supervision and seems to be coping with life quite well, so she
goes off to college.

At a party for a bunch of college internet pals, she is introduced to the cybermyth of Smiley.  It goes like this:

Find a stranger on an anonymous chat site that you don't care for.
Then close your eyes, and imagine him or her being murdered. Once the image is locked  in your mind,
type three times into the chat session: "I did it for the lulz."
In a matter of moments, the person will be stabbed to death by a horrific figure with sewed-shut eyes and a
hideous, smiling face.
Ashley witnesses such a slaying on a video chat at the party - and is immediately assured that it is ALL fake.
Smiley isn't real.  He can't be . . . or can he?

There is only one way to find out for sure.

Yes, it is formula-driven in places, and yes, some of the characters are rather one-dimensional.
All that being said, I found this little film pretty chilling in places - not only because of Smiley, but because
of the grim message it sends about human nature.

I highly recommend ths one to all my BMDO buds!

Tomorrow's rental:  SINISTER.

[ulthar]

Sounds reminiscent of CANDY MAN.  Is it more than just a cyber-retooling of that one?

[indianasmith]

Yes, it is.  It's a pretty interesting film with - dare I say it?  An original ending.