Ever felt like the person you are messaging on an app is a bit too close for comfort? SLASHR takes that modern dating anxiety and turns it into a 12-minute nightmare that will make you want to delete your profile.
If you have about 15 or 20 minutes and your morning coffee is ready, I have something a bit different for you today. Usually, we talk about romance and drama on orvel.me, but SLASHR is a quick trip into horror territory that I think you will really appreciate. It is short, creepy, and hits home for anyone who has ever used a dating app.
The Story
The plot follows a guy named Ashen who heads out to a remote cabin in Big Bear to clear his head after a messy breakup. Like most of us would, he opens a hookup app to see who is around. He starts chatting with a "discreet" profile that doesn't show a face. What starts as a boring conversation quickly turns into a terrifying game of cat and mouse when he realizes the person he is messaging is not just nearby - they might already be inside the house.
The Vibe and Atmosphere
I really liked how this film uses technology to build tension. The sound of the notifications and the smart home alerts for "front door open" or "basement door open" are genuinely unsettling. Amir Moini, who also directed the film, does a great job playing a guy who is just trying to have a quiet weekend but ends up in a living nightmare. Amanda Lehan-Canto (who some of you might know from Smosh) shows up as his friend on the phone, adding a bit of normalcy before things go completely wrong.
The atmosphere is exactly what you want from a slasher. It is dark, quiet, and makes you look at the corners of your own room while you watch. It does not need a huge budget to be effective. It just uses a simple idea that everyone can relate to and makes it scary. It is a great reminder that "discreet" can sometimes mean something much darker than you think.
Definitely give this one a look if you want a break from the usual romantic stories. Just maybe make sure your doors are locked before you hit play.
