Chatroom ☆☆☆

What I am learning over the years is exactly how extraordinary some young actors truly are. Take Aaron Johnson, known for his portrayal of John Lennon in Nowhere Boy, but famous because of his relationship with director Sam Taylor Wood, with whom he has two children, and a 22 year age gap.

He copes with this notoriety whilst also giving performances of actors twice his age. He has a strength and ability not many young actors truly possess, and in Chatroom he blows all other performances out of the water.

Chatroom is an intriguing concept, the director is better known for Japanese horror films and here he brings the same disturbing quality. It follows five teenagers who take part in an Internet chatroom, but the film gives the forum its own physical body - an actual room. You get to see the teens discuss their issues, either as part of the group, in private discussions, or in their own rooms on the Internet.
You also see them in real life, how the Internet is replacing a real social life in some way, or glimpses into why they have resorted to the web to talk.

Aaron Johnson plays an incredibly troubled young man called William, the creator of the room 'Chelsea Teens' where the five meet, who has a famous author mother and a past that is slowly revealed to be steeped in depression and suicidal thoughts. Imogen Poots (28 Weeks Later) is Eva, an aspiring model with more successful 'friends', a privileged lifestyle, and a fascination with William and his less than conventional approach to life, be it his enthusiasm or his tendencies toward violence. Hannah Murray (Skins), Matthew Beard (One Day), and Daniel Kaluuya (Black Mirror) make up the rest of the group as Emily Jim and Mo.

The film revolves around William's insane quest to destroy the life of Jim, a boy who has admitted to the group of a crippling depression after abandonment by a parent. To William this is weakness, a weakness he himself suffers from and actively hates. At first the group are a support network, but it soon becomes clear what William's motives are.

I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone, and I also don't want people to believe the IMDB rating score of 5.2/10 as I think this is unfair as the story is a harrowing but inventive tale of depression and teen suicide.
There are scenes of self-harm and suicide, but they are not gratuitous.

The acting is very good. Johnson is superb and embodies the tortured soul of William in every facial expression and hand twitch. The rest of the teens, though not quite of Johnsons standard are nevertheless convincing, especially Matthew Beard as the put upon Jim.
The brief glimpses of the families of the teens are also very good, William's parents are scared both of and for their son, with good reason.

As for direction, as said before Hideo Nakata is better known for The Ring and other horrors but this does not prevent him bringing some of the qualities of the genre to this thriller. There is suspense and shock, graphic visuals and truly disturbing rhetoric. It is a tale of how the Internet can purport feelings of depression and escalate and influence child death.
The film is based on a play by Enda Walsh (Disco Pigs) who adapted it for the silver screen. I can see how interesting it would be in a theatre set up, however I think it works brilliantly as a film.
Seeing an Internet chatroom in a physical way, and not just the Chelsea Teens also sex chatrooms, ones that advocate violence, and suicide rooms, is a powerful image. Proving how little we know of each other, but also how much sometimes we are willing to reveal to strangers.

I think this film sends a powerful message about reliance on the Internet for human contact, but it does not give any answers. It does not say "STOP! The Internet is bad!" but nor is it saying everyone should be on there. What I took was an advocacy for moderation, to use what is positive and to avoid the negativity which is in in abundance. To create friendships online that could lead to real life relationships is a positive thing, but it is also constantly under attack from those who mis-use the medium.

I liked the film, it was powerful and has sincere message. The performance of Aaron Johnson is sublime, and the story incredibly disturbing. For those who enjoy exploring the darkest depths of humanity.