PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I had no clue what to expect from RLJE Films’ Spree and holy shit was that one hell of a crazy and brutal ride. I didn’t expect that much intensity and chaos but Spree delivers on all aspects.
Spree was directed by Eugene Kotlyarenko (Wobble Place, 0s & 1s) from a script co-written by Kotlyarenko and Gene McHugh. The film features an all-star cast led by Joe Keery (Stranger Things), Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live), David Arquette (Scream franchise), Kyle Mooney (Brigsby Bear, Saturday Night Live), Mischa Barton (The O.C.), Frankie Grande (Style Code Live), and John DeLuca (Teen Beach Movie franchise).
Synopsis for Spree
Kurt (Joe Keery) is a 23-year-old rideshare driver for Spree, who is so desperate for social media attention that he’ll stop at nothing to go viral. He comes up with a plan to livestream a rampage as a shortcut to infamy – coining his evil scheme “#thelesson”, he installs a set of cameras in his car and begins streaming his rides. Wildly miscalculating the popularity that would come from his lethal scheme, Kurt’s desperation grows as he tries to find a way to overcome the plan’s flaws. In the middle of all this madness, a stand-up comedian (Sasheer Zamata) with her own viral agenda crosses Kurt’s path and becomes the only hope to put a stop to his misguided carnage.
This film hits home and the reality of our world hard. Everyone is obsessed with social media, their followers, and the desire to be the next big thing. In Spree, Kurt wants nothing more than to be seen. He wants to matter. He wants people to care. He doesn’t want to be alone. At this point, he’ll do anything to get a following and it ends up quite bloody. It’s a crazy story that will make your head spin. Not because it’s wildly unrealistic, but because I wouldn’t be surprised if something like this did happen.
Everyone knows Joe Keery from Stranger Things and he everyone loves his character; he’s a fan favorite. However, Joe truly shows his acting range in Spree and brings something completely new to the table. His character is intense, creepy, and mentally unwell and he delivers this all effortlessly. Also, the fact that David Arquette is in this…. just makes everything better. He’s great. Enough said.
With a film like this, you never know what’s going to happen next. Will he get caught? Is this all a dream? When will enough be enough for him? It’s crazy and there’s just enough bloodshed to make you squirm a little. Both the Blu-ray and DVD have some awesome bonus features that include the director commentary, which I thought was pretty inciteful, and an even closer look at KurtsWorld96 Social Videos.
Final Thoughts
This was one of my favorite films of the year and an eerily realistic look into how obsessed people are with social media and how important it is to have a following in today’s world. RLJE Films will release Spree on DVD for an SRP of $27.97 and on Blu-ray for an SRP of $28.96 on October 20th!
