Chatroom (2010) with Trailer

An outdated film about an outdated topic. It baffles me how the films producers, writers and financiers would ever think that this was a good idea. Roping in Hideo Nataka (Ringu & Dark Water) to direct would make you hope and/or think that it'll turn out all okay. Unfortunately as the old saying goes, you can't polish turd.

The story is about five young(ish) teens who accidentally meet in the virtual world of chatrooms. All are slightly troubled by their own little problems (though some more than others) and feel a connection with one another and decide to form a tight friendship where they meet and discuss their problems or issues. William (played by Aaron Johnson-Kick Ass) has other things on his mind than sharing his problems. He has a plan to destroy one of them in the real world (as well as the virtual world).

This is a subject matter that the film-makers may well think needs to be brought up and talked about in the media. The topic of cyber bullying hasn't really been tackled on film and I feel that maybe there is a good reason for that. It just doesn't work. The lack of realism and the lack of a good script. The intention is there but they've failed to bring any solution or how to tackle the problem.

The other problem I had is how little the characters are developed. Yeah sure, each character have their own little problems from feeling unloved, crush on a friends sister to feeling misunderstood and jealous of their sibling. They are all painted too thinly to stand out and only a bit of overacting allows for some form of distinction. Aaron Johnson character William, plays a disturbed young man who manipulates the group towards acting out and to eventually convince the others who he see as his candidate for his plan. His motivation? Not really too clear really, he's presented as a boy from a family who are successful and has a brother who is equally as successful and the film seems to make out as if he is put out by all of this. We learn that he has suffered from mental issues from flash backs and an interest in watching someone end their life online. Is this what causes someone to be like a predator to find someone worthy of his macabre obsession? 

The film isn't without some merit. The clay motion sequence are very well achieved and accomplished and the visual representations of chat rooms are bought to life vividly in an never ending hall way of different topics and subjects. It's only let down by the fact that people have moved on from chatrooms. It's a decade or so too late and the film suffers because of it. With so many ideas touch upon within the film, none of them are fully explored. A teen who develops sexual feelings for an eleven year old is touch upon but is never really particularly addressed. The film wants to be challenging but doesn't really have an opinion or how the issue should be resolved. Consequences of their actions don't seem to amount to much.

A failed and flawed film which doesn't entertain and can be infuriating. Hopefully all involved can move on from such dire mess and look back at this as a failed project and try to forget it. I for one, am trying to already.

Acting 2/5

Technical Merit 3/5

Narrative 2/5

Entertainment 1/5

8/20