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Friend Request
German theatrical release poster
Directed bySimon Verhoeven
Written by
Produced by
  • Quirin Berg
  • Max Wiedemann
Starring
CinematographyJo Heim
Edited by
  • Tom Seil
  • Denis Bachter
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures[1]
Release date
  • 7 January 2016 (2016-01-07) (Germany)
Running time
92 minutes[2]
CountriesGermany
South Africa[1]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$9.9 million[3]
Box office$11 million[4]

Friend Request (released internationally as Unfriend) is a 2016 English-language supernatural psychological horror film directed by Simon Verhoeven. The film was released in Germany on January 7, 2016, and received generally negative reviews from critics.

Plot

[edit]

Laura Woodson is a popular campus student with over 800 friends on Facebook. She lives with Olivia Mathison, Isabelle, and Gustavo Garcia, Isabelle's boyfriend. She is close friends with Kobe and is dating Tyler McCormick.

Laura receives a friend request from her classmate Marina Mills. Noticing she has no friends, she accepts and the two begin a relationship as friends, but she is uncomfortable with Marina's obsessive behavior and sees that her Facebook profile is full of negative posts. Marina wants to attend Laura's birthday dinner but Laura lies and says only she and Tyler are going out. That night, Marina sees pictures of Laura and her friends on Facebook, and angrily confronts her the next day. During their quarrel, Laura accidentally reveals Marina's bald spot, a result of hair pulling disorder. She then unfriends Marina on Facebook.

The next morning, it is announced that Marina committed suicide. Laura feels responsible but tries to forget about it until Marina uploads a video showing her burning a sketch of Laura before hanging herself. The video is somehow posted on Laura's own page and she is unable to remove it or delete her account. Marina adds Gustavo as a friend. He is then terrorized by a demonic spirit and has his face smashed by an invisible entity. Isabelle discovers him and is sent to the hospital. A video of Gustavo's apparent suicide is posted on Laura's page, damaging her reputation even further.

Laura and Kobe break into Marina's dorm room and find an old class photograph from an orphanage. Laura visits the orphanage and discovers Marina's real last name is Nedifar, and she was tormented by two boys when she was younger. The boys were murdered, with their faces mutilated and swarmed by black wasps, the same way Gustavo died. Her mother had been part of a commune, rumored to be a demonic cult, until someone set it on fire. Her mother, then pregnant, was horribly burned and rendered brain dead, so doctors performed a C-section to deliver Marina. Kobe does research on black mirrors, which they keep seeing, and learns that they were mostly used by witches.

Isabelle becomes Marina's next victim. A video of her killing herself is posted on Laura's page. Olivia is attacked and, after being possessed, killed herself. Laura and Kobe go in search of the place where Marina committed suicide to destroy the black mirror she died in front of, as that is what she used to become an evil spirit to torment Laura. Kobe, realizing he is the next victim, becomes deranged, and stabs Laura, hoping to kill her and save himself.

She escapes and learns that Marina killed herself in a nearby factory. Tyler finds Laura, but Kobe kills him. After Laura reaches a dead end, Kobe gets killed by the swarm of wasps. Laura finally finds Marina's burned corpse and, after staring at her laptop, a demonic Marina lunges at her.

In the epilogue, Laura, dressed in a hoodie, looks at a few girls the same way that Marina looked at Laura in the beginning, implying that Laura has been possessed by Marina.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Originally titled Unknown Error, the film was later renamed to Friend Request internationally, to avoid confusion with the 2014 film Unfriended.[5] In Germany, the film is titled Unfriend, since Unfriended was released as Unknown User in Germany.[citation needed]

Filming

[edit]

The film was shot in Cape Town at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Though the film was produced by German director Simon Verhoeven and German production companies, the largely English-speaking cast required the film to be shot in English. Filming ended in March 2014.[6]

Release

[edit]

The film was released in Germany on 7 January 2016, 20 April 2016 in the United Kingdom and in the United States on 22 September 2017.[7]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

Friend Request grossed $3.7 million in the United States and Canada and $7.5 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $11.3 million, against a production budget of $9.9 million.[4]

In North America, the film was released alongside Kingsman: The Golden Circle and The Lego Ninjago Movie, and was initially projected to gross around $5 million from 2,569 theatres in its opening weekend.[8] However, after grossing just $750,000 on its first day, weekend projections were lowered to $1.5–2 million. It ended up grossing $2 million, finishing 7th at the box office, and passing Victor Frankenstein for the lowest opening gross for a film playing in over 2,500 theatres.[9]

Critical response

[edit]

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 17% based on 77 reviews, with an average rating of 3.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Friend Request's attempts to update old-school teen horror for the digital age do not, sadly, include memorable characters, fresh scares, or novel storytelling twists."[10] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 31 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[11] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.[9]

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film for being "visually stylish and imaginative" but criticised it for becoming less interesting as the film went on.[12] Jessica Kiang of Variety was impressed by the practical effects, but criticised the way the film had little to do with the "technology that it ostensibly exists to critique".[13] IGN's William Bibbiani gave it a score of 2.5/10, calling it "a sincere, and sincerely inept motion picture, and that combination makes Friend Request the exact opposite of scary. It makes it unintentionally hilarious."[14] Jeffrey M. Anderson of Common Sense Media gave it 2/5 stars, writing, "This horror movie begins with an intriguing idea – exploring the pitfalls of social media – but quickly succumbs to routine setups and payoffs typical of most uninspired ghost stories."[15]

Ally Wybrew of Empire gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising Debnam-Carey, who "[stood] out [amongst] otherwise mediocre performances" in contrast to the poorly written character of Marina. Wybrew went on to criticise the clunky lines, overenthusiastic score, and the protracted final act.[16] The Observer's Mark Kermode also gave it 3/5 stars, writing, "Despite an overreliance on loud bangs, director Simon Verhoeven pulls off a couple of chills, even as dialogue such as: 'Unfriend that dead bitch!' keep things snarky rather than scary."[17]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Friend Request

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Friend Request (released internationally as Unfriend) is a 2016 English-language supernatural psychological horror film directed by German filmmaker , focusing on the perils of isolation and online interactions. The story centers on Laura Woodson, a popular college student played by , who accepts a friend request from the socially awkward (Liesl Ahlers), only to her after an awkward encounter, leading to a series of horrifying events targeting her inner circle. Co-written by Verhoeven alongside Matthew Ballen and Philip Koch, the film was produced by Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion, SevenPictures Film, and Two Oceans Production, with principal photography taking place in , , at locations including the . Released internationally in 2016 and in the United States on September 22, 2017, by , Friend Request explores themes of digital dependency and through a demonic online entity. It features a supporting cast including William Moseley as Tyler, , and , and runs for 92 minutes. Despite its topical premise updating teen horror for the era, the film received mixed-to-negative reviews, earning a 17% approval rating from critics on based on 76 reviews, with the consensus noting a lack of fresh scares and memorable characters, while audiences gave it a 28% score. Commercially, it grossed $10,975,390 worldwide against an estimated budget of around $10 million.

Narrative

Plot Summary

Laura Woodson is a popular college student with over 800 friends on Facebook. She receives and accepts a friend request from her socially isolated classmate, Marina Mills, who has no other online connections. Marina quickly becomes obsessive, flooding Laura's feed with bizarre animations, personal videos, and constant messages, overwhelming Laura and her friends. Tensions escalate when Laura, embarrassed by 's clinginess during a public gathering, unfriends her on in front of her group, leaving with zero friends. Devastated, initiates a video call with Laura and proceeds to commit herself above a fire in a ritualistic manner, burning her body while staring into the camera, an act witnessed live by Laura and her horrified circle. The supernatural haunting begins shortly after, as Marina's profile—supposedly inactive—starts posting disturbing content, including live videos of Laura's friends meeting gruesome ends. Friends begin dying in horrific ways broadcast through the profile, such as being attacked by a swarm of wasps in an elevator leading to his head being smashed, slitting her own throat after possession, Olivia shooting herself, and others succumbing to stabbings and further insect attacks orchestrated via online manipulations. As the body count rises and her friend list dwindles, Laura investigates 's past, uncovering a traumatic involving her mother's involvement in a demonic , a destructive , and ritualistic elements that granted supernatural power through a cursed online presence tied to a "" laptop. In the climax, Laura and the remaining survivors track the source to Marina's burnt-down family home, confronting the malevolent force in a desperate bid to end the curse by destroying Marina's possessed . The film ends with a twist: after seemingly succeeding, Laura is revealed to have been possessed by Marina; she returns to campus friendless, with zero friends on her altered profile, staring blankly as if ready to repeat the cycle.

Themes

The film Friend Request centers on the theme of and its devastating real-world consequences, portraying how online rejection can escalate to tragic outcomes, as seen in the character Marina's following her unfriending by Laura. This motif underscores the psychological toll of digital interactions, where seemingly innocuous actions like declining a social invitation manifest as profound emotional harm. A recurring motif is digital isolation, contrasting superficial online popularity with genuine emotional loneliness; Laura's extensive network of over 800 Facebook friends highlights her curated social facade, yet reveals shallow relationships that fail to provide real support during crises. Marina's portrayal as a social outcast with no friends amplifies this theme, illustrating how social media exacerbates feelings of alienation rather than alleviating them. The narrative explores social media addiction and pervasive through supernatural hauntings that appear as viral posts and relentless notifications, trapping characters in a cycle of compulsive checking that mirrors real-life dependencies. This is evident in Laura's inability to disconnect, where the digital realm invades her physical world, symbolizing the inescapable monitoring inherent in platform algorithms and user interactions. Supernaturally, the film represents online permanence as an entity, with Marina's profile persisting beyond and resisting deletion, emblematic of irreversible digital footprints that haunt users indefinitely. Her posthumous video spreading virally reinforces how online content endures, outliving its creator and perpetuating trauma. Subtly, Friend Request comments on performative identity, where characters curate their lives for likes and validation, rendering them vulnerable to exploitation; Laura's idealized online persona crumbles under scrutiny, exposing the fragility of self-presentation in a likes-driven culture. This draws from anxieties surrounding Facebook's dominance and emerging scandals, critiquing how platforms prioritize engagement over user well-being.

Cast

Principal Cast

Alycia Debnam-Carey stars as Laura Woodson, the central protagonist—a popular psychology student whose seemingly perfect life spirals into terror following a rejected social media connection. Her performance anchors the film's exploration of digital isolation, drawing on her established screen presence from portraying Commander Lexa in the dystopian series The 100 (2014–2016). William plays Tyler McCormick, Laura's supportive boyfriend and one of the first to suffer the supernatural repercussions of the online curse. brings emotional depth to the role, building on his recognition as , the eldest Pevensie sibling, across film trilogy (2005–2010). Liesl Ahlers portrays Marina Mills, the enigmatic goth outcast whose obsessive online persona drives the horror as the film's primary antagonist. As a South African actress born in 1991, Ahlers delivered a breakout performance in this, her first major international feature. Connor Paolo appears as Kobe, Laura's resourceful, tech-oriented friend who assists in unraveling the digital mystery at the story's core. Paolo contributes savvy intensity to the ensemble, leveraging his prior experience as , the introspective brother in the teen drama (2007–2012).

Supporting Cast

portrays Olivia Mathison, Laura's closest confidante and a key member of her social circle, whose shocking electrocution death early in the film intensifies the group's paranoia and fractures their bonds. Morgan, an American actress best known for playing Debbie Pelt in the HBO series , effectively conveys the warmth and vulnerability that make Olivia's fate particularly devastating to the ensemble dynamics. Sean Marquette plays Gustavo Garcia, the affable DJ and friend who hosts the pivotal party scene, providing comic relief and normalcy before his gruesome blender-related demise heightens the horror for the surviving group. Marquette, recognized for his role as young Matt in 13 Going on 30, adds levity to the friend group's interactions amid rising terror. Brooke Markham embodies Isabel, another loyal friend whose skepticism toward the supernatural threat leads to her fiery death, further eroding the collective trust and isolation within the circle. Markham's performance underscores the everyday bonds that the curse systematically dismantles. Sam Strike depicts Jason, the tech-oriented friend who aids in uncovering the digital origins of the curse, contributing to the group's desperate attempts at resistance before his own demise. The Australian actor, notable for his work in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and the film The Man Who Invented Christmas, brings a sense of urgency to the ensemble's collaborative efforts. Minor roles bolster the film's atmosphere, such as Kieren Van den Bergh as Tim, a partygoer in the chaotic social scenes, and Anke Van Wyk in a brief appearance as the coach, emphasizing the broader campus environment that amplifies the protagonists' vulnerability. Shashawnee Hall appears as Detective Cameron, offering a brief investigative perspective that contrasts with the group's internal panic.

Production

Development

The screenplay for Friend Request was written by alongside Matthew Ballen and Philip Koch, drawing inspiration from the emerging wave of social media-centric horror films that gained traction after the 2014 release of . Initially titled Unknown Error, the project underwent a title change in to Friend Request for its international release and Unfriend in , a decision made to distinguish it from the similarly themed and avoid market confusion. The film was produced by Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann through Wiedemann & Berg Film, along with SevenPictures Film and Two Oceans Production, with an allocated budget of $9.9 million to support its psychological elements and international production scope. Simon Verhoeven, directing his first major horror feature, sought to merge with tech-thriller conventions, emphasizing social media's vulnerabilities and the superficial nature of online friendships through a narrative infused with classic motifs and visual puzzles reminiscent of 1970s and 1980s genre films by and , as well as the atmospheric dread of The Ring. Development coincided with Facebook's explosive user expansion to over 1.1 billion monthly in 2013 and heightening public concerns over digital-age isolation and connectivity risks. To broaden its appeal for a global audience, casting efforts prioritized English-speaking performers, securing talents such as in the lead role of Laura alongside William Moseley, , and .

Filming and Post-Production

Principal photography for Friend Request took place in , , concluding in March 2014, where the served as the primary location to depict the film's American setting. The production utilized various sites around to stand in for the metropolitan area and surrounding countryside, adapting the South African environment to mimic a U.S. university atmosphere. Visual effects work, including computer-generated supernatural elements such as ghostly apparitions and digitally manipulated videos, was handled by the German company Scanline VFX. Additional online interface designs, recreating elements like profiles, were created by the Berlin-based Horror Workshop. occurred in under the oversight of the film's companies, with emphasizing the screen-life horror by integrating live-action footage with simulated digital interfaces to heighten the online terror. The original score was composed by , incorporating electronic tracks to underscore the film's digital themes, including the prominent cue "." The soundtrack was released on January 8, 2016. Sound design elements, such as eerie digital distortions and alert tones, contributed to building tension around the social media interactions and supernatural occurrences.

Release

Theatrical Release

The film premiered in Germany on January 7, 2016, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was released in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2016, also by Warner Bros. The U.S. limited theatrical release occurred on September 22, 2017, handled by Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures following their acquisition of North American rights. Marketing efforts highlighted the film's social media horror elements, with trailers released online starting in November 2015 to build anticipation ahead of the European rollout. Posters incorporated Facebook-like interfaces, depicting friend request notifications and profile screens to evoke the digital theme. The film generated early buzz at international markets in late 2015, including sales activity on the eve of the , though it did not screen at major festivals. In the United States, the film received an R rating from the of America for horror violence, disturbing images, and language. The UK version was classified as 15 by the for strong bloody violence, threat, and injury detail. To distinguish it from the similarly themed 2014 film , international releases often used the title Unfriend in markets such as the UK, , and .

Home Media

In the United States, Friend Request was released on DVD and Blu-ray on January 9, 2018, distributed by Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The edition included standard audio and video specifications but no additional special features such as behind-the-scenes content or deleted scenes. Digital availability began earlier, with the film offered for purchase and rental on platforms including , , and Vudu starting December 19, 2017. It later debuted on subscription streaming services like in April 2018 and around the same period. Internationally, the home video release in the came on September 19, 2016, via Warner Home Video in both DVD and Blu-ray formats. In , where the film premiered theatrically on January 7, 2016, the soundtrack by was released that year. As of 2025, Friend Request streams for free on with ads and remains available for rental or purchase on major platforms such as , , and ; no 4K UHD upgrade has been released.

Reception

Box Office

Friend Request earned a worldwide gross of $10,975,390 against a of $9,900,000. The film performed better internationally than domestically, with $7,216,312 from overseas markets compared to $3,759,078 in . In , the film opened to $2,002,863 across 2,573 screens during its September 22, 2017, debut weekend, placing seventh at the . The per-screen average of approximately $778 reflected limited audience interest and strong competition from major releases like Kingsman: The Golden Circle and the blockbuster It. Its domestic run totaled $3,759,078, hampered by a delayed U.S. release nearly two years after its international premiere, which diminished promotional momentum. Internationally, drove the majority of revenue, led by strong showings in ($2,407,754 total) and the ($2,107,091). The film's January 2016 debut in provided an early boost, contributing significantly to its global tally before the North American rollout. Other markets like ($881,821) and ($375,810) added to the international haul, underscoring the film's appeal in horror-saturated European territories.

Critical Response

Friend Request received largely negative reviews from critics, who praised its atmospheric integration of elements but criticized its lack of originality and depth. On , the film holds a 17% approval rating based on 76 reviews, with an average score of 3.6/10. The site's critics' consensus states: "Friend Request's attempts to update old-school teen horror for the digital age do not, sadly, include memorable characters, fresh scares, or novel storytelling twists." On , it scores 31 out of 100 based on 18 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable" reception, with critics mixed on its visual style but panning it for reliance on clichés. Key reviews highlighted the film's predictable nature and superficial handling of its premise. Mark Dujsik of awarded it 1.5 out of 4 stars, describing it as "predictable tech-horror" that fulfills genre expectations without innovation. In Variety, Jessica Kiang called it a "competent but anonymous horror," praising the tech integration for creating tension but faulting the underdeveloped characters and formulaic plot. Frank Scheck of noted its effective use of interfaces to build unease, particularly in the strong opening sequence, but lamented the derivative scares echoing films like The Ring and . Common praises centered on the film's atmospheric depiction of as a horror conduit, with reviewers appreciating how it leverages digital interfaces for suspenseful moments, such as viral videos and online interactions turning deadly. The opening sequence was frequently cited for its gripping setup, effectively hooking viewers into the tech-driven nightmare. Criticisms overwhelmingly focused on the film's lack of originality, with many pointing to its echoes of prior social media horrors like Unfriended, resulting in a clichéd of online curses and ghostly revenge. Underdeveloped characters were a recurring complaint, as the served more as horror fodder than relatable figures, diminishing emotional investment. The abrupt ending drew ire for resolving the plot too hastily, leaving loose threads and undermining the buildup. Audience reception was more favorable than critics', with an rating of 5.2/10 from over 28,000 users, where some appreciated its B-movie fun and straightforward scares despite the flaws.

References

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