March 28, 2024

Unseen 2023 Movie Review

Unseen
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Unseen 2023 Movie Review

Modern-day cyber thrillers are tricky to get right, with it being difficult not to rely on their gimmick fully. Unseen, which tells a story entirely from a FaceTime between two strangers, does rely heavily on its gimmick but still manages to develop its characters and situations enough to deliver an enticing tale of suspense, even if things feel repetitive. Unseen takes a while to get started, but once it does, the film is a nail-biting ride that knows when to hit the audience in the heart.

Directed by Yoko Okumura from a script by Salvatore Cardoni and Brian Rawlins, Unseen begins when Florida gas station attendant Sam (Jolene Purdy) dials the wrong number. When that number calls her back, Sam answers. On the other end is Emily (Midori Francis), a young woman who attempted to redial 911 while escaping an attack by her ex-boyfriend. Emily is missing her glasses and can’t see, and when Sam wants to hang up, Emily begs to FaceTime, wanting Sam to be her eyes to get out of the desolate forest. When Sam agrees, a suspenseful game of life or death begins.

The central idea of Unseen really doesn’t work in many ways. The whole concept of one stranger helping save another’s life on a phone is full of plot holes. For instance, it seems more sensible for Sam to try to contact the police, and when Emily first calls the police in the first few minutes of the film, they are supposedly tracking her. It feels like the situation could be sorted out way quicker than it plays out in the film, and the filmmakers purposely prolong the problems for the sake of the film’s runtime.

Luckily, Sam and Emily’s relationship holds the film together. The character development of the women is very effective, making the viewer believe in the connection they form in real-time. By the end, there is a realization that makes Sam’s choices feel more authentic. Purdy and Francis both shine, but it’s Purdy who produces a captivating and emotional performance that will pull on fans’ heartstrings.

The middle of the film feels like a slog, but the second half introduces a new conflict between Sam and some angry customers (one played by the impeccable Missi Pyle) that helps increase the film’s entertainment value. Watching these two explosive situations play out side by side in different states is highly engaging, making the film stand out. Unseen also benefits from some fantastic use of bright colors and fun, stylized editing.

Unseen features a concept that would fail in different hands, but the filmmakers manage to create a ton of emotional weight and suspenseful sequences within a very minimalist plotline. The film does falter at times and lose momentum, but a new unforeseen problem always arises quickly, keeping the film fresh. Overall, Unseen is an ambitious experiment that succeeds more times than fails.

Unseen 2023 Movie Review