The Den (2013)

The Den - Trailer,
but I'd say don't watch it.
Just go for the movie.

 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

(Really Liked It) 

Netflix Synopsis: While investigating webcam chat habits, a young woman witnesses a gruesome murder online.  Now she and those she loves are being pursued by the killer.

The Peeps:  Zachary Donohue (director, co-writer); Lauren Thompson (co-writer); Melanie Papalia, David Schlactenhaufen, Adam Shapiro

Quick Run Down:  Tense, Scary, Good

Worth the Watch: Hell Yeah!

Liz is a research student - apparently, at least; it's really not explained - that is applying for a grant to study the new way we communicate with people across the world - through facetime... or interfacing... or web-chatting... or whatever it's called.  Regardless, her idea is to record the innumerable chats she plans to have over a chat website called 'The Den' and use the collected info to explain why we are chatting across the globe to complete strangers but also, and more importantly, WHO we are chatting to.  As she says in the film, "The question still remains - who's out there?", but, as Liz begins her study, she finds that who is on the other end of her cam is not at all the friendly, chatty face she was hoping for.  It's someone much worse.

I really liked The Den, and there are several reasons why.  Barely going a full 80 minutes, the flick is filmed almost entirely through web interfacing, with a little bit of security camera type footage thrown in towards the end.  I initially thought this would be annoying, but I found myself really intrigued 10 or so minutes in because of the dynamics of what was happening on-camera.  You have emails being checked and read, multiple people saying hello or signing off, and others video calling. When these video calls are answered, you are watching two people, of course, but there are often scenes where the two people wind up doing two different things - one has to answer a phone call; another quickly responds to an email.  There's a multitasking element present in the fiction that closely relates to our everyday reality, and, while getting too close to home can sometimes suck the fun out of entertainment, this element in the movie works really well. It provides a constant back and forth for our entertainment/preoccupation hungry minds, and it also sets up a double layer of tension - one for one camera, one for the other.  This only works because the movie doesn't revolve around the 'there's someone behind you and only I can see him!' trope.  (Young as it is, the tactic's already a trope.) Instead, again, you have the multitasking element. Thompson and Donohue (writers) are pumping focus points in from both ends, and you find yourself pulled between two moments of tension or, at least, intrigue. Plus, the unique use of the interface template allows for screens to decrease or increase in size, for multiple screens to pop up, and for POV's to change, all effects that often happen suddenly in the film.  It's a technique that's never been used to this degree before (the entire length of the film) but manages to be really successful in grabbing attention and raising hairs.  There are times when the switching from one person's interface to another's or from one person's, say, laptop interface to their cell phone is disorienting, but this works to the film's advantage because often we, the viewer, find ourselves up against the task of finding our place in the movie - who are we with now? what device are we on? - while also just WAITING for that thing, whatever it might be, to happen to the person we are watching.  It sounds exhausting on the viewer's part, but it's really effective.

'Can I borrow some sugar?'

Another thing that really works for The Den is the antagonist.  He doesn't pussyfoot around; he goes for the jugular. He's not interested in scaring or messing with or confusing - he wants to track, torment, torture, and terminate.  He's sharp too because he hacks - a point that I think works beautifully when married with the dual vision interface commented on above.  So, he's smart, quick, and more interested in hurting than scaring.  It's a villain we haven't seen in a while and its nice to know he's still out there!  But it's also good to know that there are smart protagonists left in horror flicks, as well.  Most of the time, we have to tell ourselves not to question what a character does or we will lose all credibility for them because of their lack of common sense.  In Den, though, Liz makes good, if not - daresay? - logical decisions.  She even does logical THINGS through the course of the film, and this combo makes her struggle much more believable and her peril all the more real.  There are some moments that you have to turn a cataract-covered eye to, but you are willing to forgive them because you still feel for the character, you fear the antagonist, and you are interested in just who and what the hell are going on in 'The Den'.  I will say that, once you get an idea of that 'who' and 'what' towards the end of the film, the tension dials back and things become a more predictable/formulaic.  The first 3/4's of the movie is easily the better part, but the end still carries us through with some good moments.

Finally, some general notes about The Den - there's not a lot of blood but, when you do get some, it's good and vicious.  There are two or three jump scenes but they are only quick scares.  The good horror comes from the tension that Donohue builds and builds through plot, minute events, and Liz's character.  Papalia, as Liz, does a good job too. I've never seen her in anything else, but she holds her own here.  The others in the film are rote but serve their purpose faithfully.  And, lastly, there are some random conversations that pop up during Liz's online chats that get annoying, but I think they are there to make a point - no one's really trying to communicate or reach across the globe for a good conversation via the internet.  Instead, online chatting has just increased the number of opportunities we have to be jackasses in front of other people.  Just my thoughts.

So, if you want to watch a well made, interestingly and tightly put together horror flick that is tense and scary, I'd strongly suggest The Den.  I thought it was really good, and I'm still debating if I should change 'Really Liked It' to 'Loved It!' in my ratings.  But what does my vote matter?  You can make your own decision because the movie's on Netflix!

'Damn - I can't see fuckin' shit outta this thing.'

"Don't open up attachments from strangers.  Ever."