The movie is a terrifying and yet entertaining take on the modern world. The movie portrays the horrors that can occur in our daily lives and also reflects on the current trends of social media. Its main character Kurt Kunkle is a man who is obsessed with fame and tries everything in his power to achieve that. He even goes as far as killing people for his online attention. Many viewers have been left wondering who is spree based on?
The film’s co-writer Eugene Kotlyarenko has not disclosed which real-life case gave him the inspiration for the story. However, some fans have suggested that the case of a Michigan Uber driver who went on a murder spree may be close to Kurt’s story. The actor playing Kurt, Joe Keery, dedicated himself to researching both Uber drivers and social media influencers in order to bring authenticity to the role. Guided by Kotlyarenko, he watched compilation videos of influencers and drew parallels to his own experiences on the platform.
The acting of the entire cast is commendable and the movie has a lot to offer to its viewers. It is an edgy thriller that showcases the dark side of the modern world of technology and also highlights the need to be careful when using any app that provides strangers with access to your personal information. The movie was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival on 24 January 2020 and has since been released in theaters in the USA through RLJE Films.
