Unlike similarly themed projects though, like Spree or Deadstream, #chadgetstheaxe (yes, the hashtag is part of the title, so you got to give it points for having its social tag already built in) opts to focus its time on a multitude of vloggers, allowing Travis Bible’s on-line scarer to divide its time between a multitude of influencers, which, in turn, allows us as an audience to experience the terror in a prolonged capacity.
Similar to how the “found footage” subsect became a horror genre on its own accord – spurred on by such micro-budgeted successes as The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity – the social media vlogger is now becoming something of a genre mainstay also; whether we like it or not, the “influencer” hasn’t quite been eradicated, yet.
The Chad of the title (played by Spencer Harrison Levin) is a prank-centric personality who teams up with a series of other influencers for what they see as the ultimate live-streaming experience – a night in a supposedly haunted house. Steve (Michael Bonini), another personality who has a similar following to Chad, and “Spennifer”, the combined couple brand of Spencer (Cameron Vitosh) and Jennifer (Taneisha Figueroa), are also along for the ride, and, initially, Bible’s film spends a little too much time with them as a collective.
Background information and a little exposition never hurts, but they aren’t always the most tolerable characters to spend time with, and #chadgetstheaxe presenting its on-screen imagery with constant comments and celebrating their juvenile behaviour wears thin quite quickly. Thankfully, almost as if Bible is aware that we ultimately want to see them in a sense of peril – I mean, Chad’s potential fate is right there in the title – once they’re in the haunted house setting and a series of unexplained actions start taking place, the film leans more into its horror inclinations and, for the most part, executes them with relative precision.
With such a simple premise, Bible is right to only let the film run at a neat 84 minutes. And though the aforementioned on-screen comments are quite distracting, they’re also (unfortunately) the most accurate depiction of these social media-driven times. When Steve and Chad parade what appears to be a dead body, they’re taken aback with the sensitivity of their watchers who scold them and threaten police action; when Spencer and Jennifer have a couple’s argument, it’s broadcast for all to see as people take sides on who was in the wrong; and when each character starts to disappear, there’s both concern and doubt cast, with many wishing ill on the group for putting themselves in such a situation to begin with. Regardless of each character’s flaws – and, as mentioned, their antics wear thin – wanting death to fall on them is harsh, but it’s a sign of the times we live in, something that Bible clearly knows all too well.
Though #chadgetstheaxe overall can’t quite make good on appearing as fresh as it hopes, once it gets over its initial opening hurdle of the characters playing up their personas for their followers and lets them showcase their true fears and temperaments in the face of an unknown, unseen danger, it becomes a serviceable horror flick with just enough unsettling atmosphere to cater to its audience – primarily those that would watch clips on Instagram or TikTok over the proper experience of intelligent terror on the big screen.
As much a commentary on our current climate of social media exposure as it is furthering the many explorations of what the horror genre is capable of, #chadgetstheaxe may be potentially spoiling itself with its telling title, but, for the right crowd, the journey getting there will be enough to stop scrolling for.
3 stars
#chadgetstheaxe is now available to rent or purchase on digital platforms. To find out more about the film, visit – https://thehorrorcollective.com/film/chadgetstheaxe
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