( image from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4998772/)
BedeviledDirected by Abel Vang and Burlee Vang
Year released: 2016 (Screamfest) 2017 (limited release)
Streaming Platform: Netflix, Amazon Prime (rental fee required) I strolled upon this title while browsing Netflix one cold and a very boring Saturday night. I was the only person awake in a large house in a quiet and dark country neighborhood, and I was on the prowl for a film to take advantage of this desolate setting and scare me out my wits. I quickly scan the Netflix horror movie selection and came across an image of a puppet. The unsettling smile of the movie’s antagonist Mr. Bedeviled (played by Jordan Essoe) did give me enough goosebumps to give this film a try.
The premise of the film centers around a cell phone application called Mr. Bedeviled and as the film’s Wikipedia page describes it, “Mr. Bedeviled is a Siri type app”*. The film constantly throws in your face the dangers behind social media and internet usage by today’s youth. This is not a terrible message to present. There are plenty of studies that will suggest that high amounts of internet usage can result in psychological problems, such as depression, loss of appetite and anxiety*. This goes for internet based games and apps. Think about how many people are constantly checking their phone for new messages, app and game notifications. The feelings of anxiety, addiction and loss of touch with reality seem to manifest themselves into this one app whose goal is to literally scare you to death. We depend heavily on the internet for entertainment, knowledge and connection to the world. It has become nearly impossible for us to not use the internet or any kind of electronic daily and in some ways the film does succeed in establishing its moral.
The film plays on our addiction to the internet well. When the characters Alice (Saxon Sharbino), Cody (Mitchell Edwards), Dan (Brandon Soo Hoo), Haley (Victory Van Tuyl), and Gavin (Carson Boatman) all receive an invite to download a phone app called Mr. Bedeviled they accept it. This is despite the fact that this invite was sent to them from their friend Alice, who just recently died of a heart attack.
Unfortunately, this moral film does have some faults. Mr. Bedeviled is lacking in tension and psychological horror which could have helped execute its message better to this generation of app loving teens. Not to mention that it is a bit dry on gore. There were only a few noteworthy death scenes that delivered the fearful atmosphere that this film desperately needed. The plot also will have you asking a lot of questions to things that just did not add up. That, coupled with some not so memorable performances by our main protagonists makes this film a skip on a night when you are craving some good horror with social commentary. *See References
References for further reading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedeviled_(2016_film)
https://www.reuniting.info/download/pdf/Isfahan.students.p
http://fortune.com/2017/09/14/fda-alcohol-marijuana-cocaine-mobile-app/df (Jesus, now we are going to use phone applications to help battle drug addiction) Advertisements Share this:
