Well, one thing's for sure: the Philippou brothers (Danny & Michael) clearly know their way around when it comes to setting up a spooky atmosphere in modern times. The technology of the 21st century is quite integral to the plot, and the writers cleverly blend this with the present-day-teenager obsessions of dares and pranks, sometimes forgetting how dangerous they can turn out to be. The film starts off with something that's viralworthy, but it soon shifts to the protagonist Mia, suffering from the trauma of her mother's passing, alongside her best friends Jade and Riley. The first 30 minutes, or so, had me double-checking whether it was a horror-comedy: it plays out like a series of YouTube videos, though conceived in a thoroughly cinematic way; a mixture of millisecond jumpscares followed by laughs. I don't want to get into the details of how the brothers execute the first act, but it's really engaging, to say the last.

It's around the 45-minute-mark that things take a brutal turn. Here's that one scene (like the decapitation scene in Hereditary) everyone's going to be talking about for a long time. Not only is it disturbing in its own right, but it also made my eye twitch. The spectacular sound design and practical effects really elevate it to the next level. It's a clear STANDOUT. While the plot that follows carried less of an emotional impact, including the trope of a friendly spirit (ultimately turning malevolent), the staging remains consistently solid. The atmospherics, the lead performances (especially Sophie Wilde), and the special effects (all within a $4.5 mn budget) are appreciable. While the climax works from a crafting standpoint, I wished the storytelling payoff was just as good. I'll keep an eye out (pun intended, for those who've watched) for the sequel!