DO NOT REPLY (2019)

Written & Directed By: Daniel Woltosz & Walt Woltosz

Cinematography: Jan-Michael Losada 

Editor: Colleen Halsey 

Cast: Amanda Arcuri, Jackson Rathbone, Kerri Medders, Elise Luthman, Ashlee Fuss, Ivon Millan, Courtney Henggeler, Nikki Leigh, Savannah Kennick 

Chelsea, a high school introvert, is abducted through a social media app and is forced to look like other girls Brad holds captive. Chelsea desperately attempts to persuade them to escape before they all become victims in his virtual reality filmed murders.

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At first one would think this film looking at the poster would be one of those paranormal or slasher films that comes out in theaters for a week before it is properly put on streaming. Unfortunately, this film doesn’t even belong on streaming. This feels more like a bad cable original 

The film is a little confusing as to does. It wanna be in after school, special warning about the dangers of online predators in the dangers of online relationships without doing the proper background checks and research or doesn’t want to be a horror film about a deranged protagonist, and a final girl.

The film tries to mix, but by the end, it just feels like a rated lifetime movie that is a bit sensationalistic, and while it tries to be exploited, it never goes fall into any of what it hint at either sexual or violence wise, except for one gruesome death

Going into the film, you can pretty much guess what’s gonna happen in the type of film that it is going to be and while the lead is certainly twisted and most of the film plays more like a horror. The last five minutes then seems to want to be a kind of public service announcement.

The film does get into brainwashing Stockholm syndrome, and while it tries to be dirty and gruesome, it never quite thrills or make you really worry about the protagonists.

So that by the end feels like a nice try, but doesn’t truly satisfy anyone because you wonder who is supposedly the audience for this film and it just feels like a paint by numbers setup. From a father-son writing and directing duo.

One would guess this is supposed to be for teenagers, but none of it really comes across as believable, especially in dialogue when it comes to the teenage characters.

Though it is nice to see Amanda Arcuri from DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION have a lead role. One can only wish it was in a better film. Where half the time the audience is confused as to which kidnapped character is which. Since they are made to dress alike and respond to the same name. 

Grade: D