Horror Week: iMurders

There is something fascinating about online culture and the way it allows one to disappear into a cyber-world, become a different person, and interact with others on a plane of existence that isn't total fantasy, but also isn't anything close to reality.  With each passing year, our online lives become more and more compelling aspects of our existence.  This is, undoubtedly, what inspires filmmakers to make movies like iMurders.

Unfortunately, films about online culture almost always fail, largely because the technology of social media moves so rapidly that by the time a film is released, it is already behind the times. (Has anyone watched The Net recently?  Didn't think so.)  In addition, audiences are so intimately familiar with the technology involved that suspension of disbelief becomes that much more difficult to attain when the narrative moves into realms of unreality.  The audience spends its time thinking, "A computer can't do that," instead of getting wrapped up in the narrative.  This is largely the case with iMurders, a movie about a group of chat room attendees who are being systematically killed off in what they believe is only an online murder mystery game.

The plot summary sounds very much like a technology-inspired slasher flick (and some of the gorier sequences suggest this is the case), but the multiple red herrings, plot twists, and emphasis on character indicate the movie is more of a psychological thriller.  The filmmakers themselves, however, seem unsure of what type of film they want to make.  As a result, they are unable to fully take advantage of an excellent ensemble cast who, for the most part, deliver solid performances for the most part.

The film's multiple characters live in different parts of the country and only interact online; as such, the actors rarely have a chance to play off one another.  This, combined with the lack of coherent overall tone, creates a quilt-work labyrinth of scenes that fail to connect with one another, making the film's somewhat complex narrative even more difficult to follow.

iMurders is an independent film shot on (one assumes) a miniscule budget, but it is unclear if the film's visual failings are a result of budgetary limitations, or poor choices on the part of the filmmakers.  The movie is essentially all master shots without the accompanying coverage.  Far too many scenes playing out as 'oners', with both actors sharing the frame without any shot-reverse-shot coverage inserted.  Relying on master in this manner is a cheap way to shoot a movie, since it saves the crew from having to do multiple setups, but it also gives the film a stagey feel that is resistant to the sort of audience identification a thriller absolutely requires in order to be effective.

iMurders stars Frank Grillo & Terri Colombino

iMurders has screened at various festivals and recently won Best Picture at the Chicago Horror Festival, so it seems there is an audience for the film out there.  If you are an indie movie fan looking for a thriller produced outside of the Hollywood big budget corporate system, you may consider this film worth checking out.  Most viewers, however, will likely find revisiting the X-Files episode "2Shy", or the Millennium episode "The Mikado" (both of which covered similar subject matter over a decade ago) a more rewarding experience than watching this film.

iMurders was released on October 13 and is available on DVD in stores across Canada and the U.S.

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