Unfriended, a 2015 found footage film, brings the horror movie genre into the 21st century.

The film centers around a group of high school friends on a video chat, one year after a classmate of theirs, Laura Barnes, committed suicide due to an embarrassing video of her in a drunken state going viral online.

Their video chat is interrupted by an unidentifiable sixth party, who they can’t seem to get rid of. The mysterious figure with a faceless avatar appears to be the deceased Laura, who sends the group disturbing messages, and accuses one of them of posting the incriminating video that led to her death.

As time goes on, and “Laura” becomes increasingly cryptic, participators in the chat are gradually turned against one another, as secrets and frightened accusations are dealt out between them in a desperate effort to evade responsibility. As it seems the longer “Laura” goes without redemption, the higher the death toll gets for those who are logged on.

Unfriended is definitely a film for the modern era, trading in the long-used urban legends and chainsaw-wielding murderers, in favor of troubling viral videos and internet killers, who use its anonymity to their advantage. It takes place entirely on the computer screen of the main character, Blaire, whom you find out about not through the usual dialogue   or written exposition, but through her screen personalization and typed words. Yet despite the limited setting, the film does manage to be fairly entertaining and satisfyingly scary.

However, it is not a particularly logical tale. If one has already seen the trailer, he/she could easily ask, “Why don’t they just log off of the computer and call the police?” Throughout the movie, it becomes presumable that the figure whose torturing the group of high schoolers holds a considerable degree of omniscience, and would still be able to harm them.

The characters are fairly cliche, with a clear nerd, jock, popular girl, etc. And seeing as the film takes place entirely on a computer monitor, with little action other than talking and typing, there are a few slow moments.

However, the movie more than makes up for its flaws with its clever and innovative premise, promising delivery, and thoroughly shocking moments. If you regularly favor horror films, and are even looking for a nice contemporary twist, this would be an ideal time at the movie theater.