Disconnect

Took a night off recently, and threw on a film I'd heard about a few weeks ago which ended up being very relative to COMM 2F00. So for some sweet sweet participation marks I decided to write a bit about it.

Disconnect follows multiple timelines, some which converge and others that do not, they all however rely heavily on the internet as a medium of interaction as the basis of each story. The timelines include subplots of cyber bullying, identity theft, and a third involving a reporter getting a story on a male internet stripper which is, in my opinion, doesn't fit as neatly as the other two. Perhaps included for a little sexual tension for Hollywood to better sell the film, and it does ad something of the more seedy underbelly of the internet that some people may not be aware of, which would be intriguing.

Each timeline begins by demonstrating a fracture or disconnect due to the internet medium. As each timeline moves forward and climaxes there is a slow and sometimes subtle (depending on which timeline) breakdown of such digital communication and into more face to face interactions. These interactions ultimately bring the characters back down to earth from the brink that the destructive use, intended or not, of the internet brought them to.

I don't want to spoil too much as it really is a good film. Although most are extreme cases and dramatically portrayed, the threats of cyber bullying and identity theft and other exploitation on the internet are very real. You will most likely re-evaluate your security settings on all your devices after watching, and maybe even contemplate disconnecting entirely.