The world is shifting. As we progress deeper into the digital age, Hollywood execs are veering from their gatekeeping tendencies and turning their attention to online communities in search of the next big Blockbuster hit. Hollywood opening its doors to content creators is an inventive way to source original content, allowing them to step outside of their insider formula and take a risk on an unknown.
Gone are the days when you needed a friend in the industry to plug you in or the rigorous training of some big-name film school; with the introduction of social media, you can be discovered just by going viral alone. After a millennium of creatives all over the world fighting for a shot at once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, it’s inspiring to know that now anyone can be a storyteller. These five films give us hope.
1. Zola
From the feeds of Twitter comes a story so outrageous it was begging to be translated into a film. Zola is a self-titled story produced by A24 about an exotic dancer’s wild journey to Florida, and "wild" doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of how crazy this story is. What starts as a “golden ticket” career opportunity turns into one woman’s worst nightmare as she learns that her friend’s business proposal is actually a front for sex trafficking.
What ensues is a genre-bending fever dream of sex, violence, and deceit as our protagonist spends the duration of the film trying to fight her way back to freedom. Zola is based on a Twitter thread written by Zola (A'Ziah King) herself. The story went viral in 2015 for its outlandish drama, shocking twists, and lewd content, eventually making its way down the pipeline and earning an option to be filmed. Zola received high praise and even went on to win several awards and a book translation, while also facing backlash for the defamation of some of its characters.
2. Slender Man
The creepy pasta Slenderman has gotten the Hollywood treatment a few times, most notably in 2018’s horror film Slender Man. Sony Pictures released the film at the height of its popularity, and fans were pretty excited to see the nightmarish creature come to life (and with a cast that included Jamie King, who could blame them?) While the film had so much potential, Slender Man was all talk and no horror, with a story that strayed far from the lore of its origins. It's disappointing attempt at paranormal horror was lackluster at best, failing to build genuine suspense and tension while relying too heavily on cheap jump scares and the popularity of its source material.
The creature itself has been reportedly haunting internet users since June 2009, where it was first spotted in an internet forum’s paranormal challenge. What started as a digitally altered black and white image of a tall faceless man lurking in the background of a kid's portrait quickly expanded to other online communities, where the character eventually evolved into the Slenderman we know today.
3. Fred: The Movie
Ok, I’m not going to lie: this one is…pretty bad. Fred: The Movie is proof that not every content creator with a video camera has what it takes to be a filmmaker, and some creative ideas don’t need to leave their YouTube channels. Fred: The Movie is based on the adventures of Fred Figglehorn, a hyperactive teen with the mind of a child, created by YouTuber Lucas Cruikshank.
What was supposed to be one YouTuber’s breakthrough in comedy turned out to be a failed attempt at humor with gut-churning musical numbers and annoying gags that didn’t even work for its young targeted audience (seriously, it literally got rated a 0 on Rotten Tomatoes.) Despite the character being popular online, even appearances from John Cena and Jeannette McCurdy couldn't save this film’s reputation, yet somehow, they managed to squeeze two more movies out of it.
4. Dear David
Dear David is another example of a supernatural story from an online thread that made its way to the horror scene. It tells the story of a man whose apartment is haunted by the ghost of an evil child. The film is based on a Twitter thread created by comic Adam Ellis, the inspiration behind the film’s protagonist. However, this dramatized retelling fails to do the viral thread justice, adding unnecessary layers to the plot that distract from the tone of its source material. In addition to subpar performances from the cast (including Justin Long), the poor dialogue and added love story make this horror film veer on the side of romcom and feel more like a self-serving love letter to BuzzFeed than a supernatural flick.
The Dear David thread made its way through the Twittersphere in August 2017, where it quickly gained popularity due to its allegedly true recount of Ellis’ chilling experiences with an evil spirit that was terrorizing his dreams and slowly made its way into his apartment.
He started appearing in dreams, but I think he's crossed over into the real world now.
— Adam Ellis (@adamtotscomix) August 7, 2017
In addition to being based on a popular Twitter thread, the film itself contains numerous ties to internet culture, with BuzzFeed being a major setting in the film, and the film being produced by BuzzFeed Studios.
5. Light Out
Lights Out is an example of a film whose success is solely based on its online presence. It originally started off as a submission to the Bloody Cuts film festival (a UK horror flick fest that’s based online), where it placed first in the Best Director category. Shortly after, the film was released on Vimeo and YouTube, where its attention grew to new heights, garnering millions of views and getting the attention of Hollywood.
Lights Out made a successful transition to a feature-length film in 2016, marking the directorial debut of creator David F. Sandberg. According to IMDB, it follows the story of Rebecca, a woman who “must unlock the terror behind her little brother's experiences that once tested her sanity, bringing her face to face with a supernatural spirit attached to their mother.” The film is praised for its visuals, thrills, and unnerving imagery, although reviewers argue that it doesn’t compare to the brilliance of its source material. However, that didn't stop Lights Out from earning critical acclaim, and with numerous accolades that include being a box office hit, it's one of the best examples of a movie that got its origins from the internet.