Friend Request

A socially isolated college student, Laura, befriends a popular girl, Marina. When Marina dies by suicide, Laura is plunged into a spiral of grief and paranoia. She soon discovers a sinister digital entity connected to Marina's social media that begins to haunt her, isolating her further and driving her towards a terrifying fate.

Friend Request received generally negative reviews from critics, who often cited its predictable plot and uninspired scares. Audience reception was mixed, with some appreciating the modern take on technology-driven horror, while others found it formulaic and lacking in originality.

• Praised for its timely themes of digital isolation and cyberbullying.
• Criticized for relying on familiar horror tropes and jump scares.
• Seen as a serviceable but ultimately forgettable entry in the social media horror subgenre.

Google audience: Google users found the film's premise relevant to contemporary issues of online life, with many appreciating its suspenseful atmosphere. However, a significant portion of viewers expressed disappointment with the predictable ending and the lack of genuine character development.

The film's director, Simon Verhoeven, also directed the 2016 German horror film 'Friend Request' (also known as 'Unfriend'), which shares a similar title and themes related to social media and its dark side.