The Impact of Being Terminally Online on Real-Life Relationships
The Invisible Influence of the Internet
In today’s digital age, the Internet has become an inseparable part of our lives. With the entire online world in the palm of our hands, it raises questions about the effect it has on our real-life relationships. How does the constant presence of the Internet impact our connections with others? These are some of the thought-provoking questions raised by the new horror film, “tell me,” directed by Danny and Michael Philippou. Although the movie revolves around the supernatural, it cleverly depicts how the Internet permeates our lives, much like the departed spirits that the characters try to communicate with.
The Plot of “tell me”
At the center of the film is Mia, a teenager who forms a close bond with siblings Riley and Jade after the death of their mother. During a house party, a mysterious ceramic hand comes into play, engraved with cryptic writing. With each utterance of the titular phrase, the hand has the power to summon the spirit of a random deceased individual and even allow them to possess Mia’s body temporarily. The sessions are captured on camera by her friends and shared online, generating a sense of fear and excitement among them.
Exploring the Dark Depths of Online Bullying
While exploring the realm of the supernatural, “tell me” highlights a darker and more realistic horror – the callousness of online bullying. The possession sessions become a source of entertainment for the participants, who laugh and post videos online without considering the consequences. The film delves into the insidious nature of peer pressure combined with the influence of social media, painting a chilling portrait of how online interactions can turn malicious.
- The characters reveal their vulnerable sides during the possession sessions
- Friends become enablers, urging each other to take part in supernatural experiments
- The fear of being ridiculed or excluded pushes the characters to comply
In a twisted way, the movie portrays the possession as harmless fun, as long as the spirits don’t stay for too long or take on excessive power. It draws parallel to the way teenagers sometimes view risky behavior on the Internet, underestimating the potential consequences of their actions.
The Philippou Twins: Internet Creators Turned Film Directors
One cannot ignore the unique perspective that the Philippou twins bring to “tell me” as seasoned creators on the Internet. The directors, who gained popularity on YouTube, have been creating videos since their early teenage years. Their background undoubtedly informs the film’s exploration of the impact and pressure of social media. The characters in the movie mirror the filmmakers’ own experiences, reflecting the challenges and ethical dilemmas that arise in the digital age.
The Weight of Performance and Social Media
When the characters in “tell me” whip out their phones to capture the possession sessions, the weight of social media presence becomes palpable. The protagonists are not only haunted by spirits but also by the pressure to perform and create engaging content. The line between genuine fear and #content blurs, as their friends urge them to capture their terrifying experiences for social media consumption.
tell me goes beyond showcasing the superficial aspects of the Internet, such as likes and comments. Instead, it delves into the psychological impact that performing for an online audience can have on individuals. The movie examines how the pressure to entertain and gain attention affects the person behind the camera.
Diving Deeper into Connection, Grief, and Coping
As the movie progresses, the spirits become more familiar to the characters, intertwining the themes of connection, grief, and coping mechanisms. While initially driven by curiosity and thrill, the possession sessions evolve into a means for the characters to confront their own emotional struggles and form a connection with the departed.
- The possession sessions become a cathartic outlet for the characters’ grief
- They find solace in communicating with the spirits, even if it’s temporary
- The movie prompts us to question how we navigate loss and find closure in the digital age
By delving into these deeper themes, “tell me” invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences with grief and the ways in which technology and the Internet can both facilitate and hinder the healing process.
The Broader Implications of “tell me”
While “tell me” explores the intimate dynamics of its characters’ lives, it also raises broader questions about the impact of being terminally online. The movie’s perspective is shaped by the directors’ own experiences navigating the online world, adding an authentic layer to the storytelling.
The film serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that the Internet is a powerful tool that can both bring us closer and tear us apart. It prompts us to critically examine the role of technology and social media in our lives, particularly in how they shape our relationships and influence our behavior.
Conclusion
“tell me” offers a chilling portrayal of the intersection between the supernatural and the digital age. Through a gripping storyline and relatable characters, the movie addresses the impact of the Internet on real-life relationships. It confronts us with the darker aspects of online interactions, highlighting the pressures of social media and the potential consequences of seeking validation and attention in the virtual realm.
Summary:
In the horror film “tell me,” directed by the Philippou twins, Mia and her friends experiment with summoning the spirits of the dead using a mysterious ceramic hand. These possession sessions, filmed and shared online, reveal the dark side of online bullying and the pressure to perform for social media. “tell me” provides a unique perspective, drawing upon the directors’ own experiences as Internet creators. It challenges viewers to reflect on the impact of being terminally online and how it influences our connections and coping mechanisms. The film serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us to critically examine the role of technology in our lives.
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The children go to do stupid things But what does being terminally online do to real-life relationships when the entire Internet is in the palm of your hand? In that world, how is the real connection?
These were some of the many questions raised by tell me, the new horror film from director duo Danny and Michael Philippou. This movie is not really about Internet, which forms an invisible presence in the background, influencing the lives of the characters. In that way, it’s not unlike the departed spirits that the film’s leads try to contact.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
tell me centers on Mia (Sophia Wild), a teenager who became close to the sibling pair Riley and Jade (Joe Bird and Alexandra Jensen) after the death of their mother. At a house party, one of the trio’s friends produces a mysterious ceramic hand, engraved with cryptic writing. He lights a candle, holds up the hand, says the titular line and the totem pole can bring anyone face to face with the ghost of a random dead person. With another voice command, the hand can even let the spirit into her body for a short time.
While the premise sounds like so many other movies about teens dabbling in the dark arts, each session is filmed as if it were in your stoner friend’s basement in college. One by one, the children are possessed while the others pull out their phones and laugh at how nervous they are. The boys then post the videos online, despite the protests of their friends.
With this framing, much of the film’s horror comes not from a nameless hellspawn, but from the callousness with which peers bully one another, and the fear of losing the family you still have. In fact, for much of the movie, letting a dead person possess the bodies of children almost comes off as harmless fun. Don’t stay possessed for long; Do not drink also a high dose of the underworld, but as long as you’re safe, it should be fine.
Things only start to go off the rails when the spirits become more familiar. This ties into the film’s themes of connection, grief, and coping mechanisms. But what I find most fascinating is how the characters are goaded by the pressure of social media.
While that’s not the focus of the film, it’s hard to avoid, given that the directors got their start on YouTube. The twins have been creating videos since before they were teenagers, and in at least one case, one of them was arrested for a stunt involving drive a car full of water.
It’s hard not to feel that extra weight when the phones come out. The kids are being pressured by their peers to take a hit of supernatural powers that none of them can control. And when they get scared or terrified by what they experience, well that’s #content, baby.
tell me It doesn’t stop at the internet itself: no montage of likes and comments, not even any indication if anyone is watching the videos. The film is more concerned with how the pressure to perform can affect the person who is captured on camera.
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