4.1 Spree

Following Joe Kerry, the 80s former prom king and now babysitter most notably known for his role and portrayal of Steve Harrington. Spree, a Netflix orginal, adapts this modern, horror thriller with a satisfying yet enthralling spin, better suited for more contemporary audiences.

This seemingly modern, voguish style, can often be referred or related to being a certain gonzo, satire style of filmmaking, as we follow teen and social media obsessed Kurt Kunkle. Who in his attempts to seek viral attention and social media fame, uses his job as a rideshare, to broadcast and livestream himself murdering passengers. Although Spree's script and particular style or another other such project similar to this, for that fact might not be best suited or related to any such critical acclaim, Kerry certainly makes the best out of any such material made available to him. While to a certain extent Kerry is able to perfectly disguise any such minor flaws the film might hold. Exhibiting a performance, that although nor career defining, unequivocally holds a magnetic and enjoyable screen presence. Very best befitting to the film itself. With it so very often hard to argue let alone ignore the somewhat invigorating and enthralling bravura filmmaking style on display, with Eugene Kotlyarenko's distinctive and surprisingly captivating style working wonders to elevate what would of been a somewhat mediocre script and performance otherwise, to another layer. Besides from Kerry, other remaining cast performances seemingly only ever diluted Spree further when in comparison to Kerry himself. With Spree's deeper routed meanings, although at times not fully exercised seemingly exhibit and communicate themselves effortlessly, as Kurt can often be seen articulating such a style and drive for attention exquisitely. To such an extent that even Kotlyarenko's style feels somewhat at home, as Spree underlies and poses the all important question what's the extent to which people will go too, to achieve the things the world around them has made them believe they need.

With this similarly relating well into what most potently stood out too me personally, as the films exhibit an extreme yet frightening realistic take on the world and possible influences and intentions of social media. Such beginning sequences allow us to understand more deeply through it's character. As a lack of actual meaningful interactions, sets Kurt aside, offering a personal insight into the protagonist himself and the possible reasonings behind such belittled and psychedelic behavior. Whilst so very often instead, social media is portrayed as a tool, something for which Kurt is able to utilise to enhance his pursuit for viral fame, whilst inadvertently painting a particular mask over our main protagonists head, hiding and discarding his true intentions and motives. With him seemingly simultaneously painting an imitation for his followers also. Showcasing the true power social media has to hide people's true, personal being, a subject seemingly very befitting to the current climate. As such subject matter becomes rather the hallmark for the film in person, leading to Spree being referred and critiqued as 'American Psycho' for the Digital Age.

However despite the fact that the film holds an alluring and intangible distinction, Spree is unable to truly harness the true powers of it's motives and themes. While instead it barely just critiques the surface of what ends up being a much shallower take on the social media culture that surrounds our everyday lives. Although any such lack of meaningful or impactful depth might just be precisely the point, as audiences for a film of this particular genre are much more focused and drawn to Kerry's portrayal in particular. For the actor who has risen to fame mostly notable in television, Stranger Things' sneakily charming Joe Kerry has all such potent spotlight. For which he can be seen handling with such elegant ease,

balancing the characters contradictory aspects, most relevant to piece itself. While still remaining true to the intentions and the deeper meanings at play within the psychopaths mind. Working to such an extent most of any such credit belongs to Kerry himself, as he often was able to subtly portray and seek the real human amongst such conflicting cipher.

Amongst such challenging character intellect however, although so often Kurt's much more crueler instincts can be seen settling in, we're left feeling there's much more left to play out, at very core of Kurt's truly, never foreseen deeper demeanour. With Kerry's performance standing testament for how best he's able to portray such combining emotional turmoil. A strange yet still rather potent combination that synthesizes both his naïve earnestness and calculated cynicism. A challenging yet enthralling combination that mostly works in the films favour, as Kurt seemingly slips into such themes perfectly, using any such opportunity to grow his brand. Whilst such awkwardness only ever seemingly belongs to Kurt's much deeper inner conflict, as it's hard to ever ignore the true loneliness the man himself might be experiencing.

Although it was also mostly nice to see Netflix's science-fiction nostalgia fest Stranger Things, actor Joe Kerry establish himself away from the hit show in person, in a more character leading role. It might for some, be much harder to ignore Spree's somewhat, at times noticeable obstacles. Therefore making it a conflicting experience when trying to find the films deeper score, as critiquing the film becomes much more about a viewers personal experience than what the film maybe was made to do. As Kerry flips the puffy-haired, eyebrow-furrowing 80s heartthrob for a script much more focused on his sweet, captivating persona. With Sprees deeper meanings and enthralling routes suiting this self-consciously edgy and unapologetically violent indie movie, as such an transition lends and credits itself to Kerry. With him able to utilise and re-imagine such captivating charm into disarming and cruel vulnerability for much more sinister purposes. At this point it's become much more harder to like anyone who seemingly disagrees or doesn't like Kerry. If anything such a piece's main takeaway is the incredible and varied range on display, with such a role perfectly and honestly exhibiting Kerry's sheer captivating acting capabilities, for which he can utilise to hold a film's main, leading role. While still being at the very core of the piece in general.

With this appearing to be even more evident when any such moments decide to lean away slightly from Kerry himself, as audiences can only be left to feel slightly more deflated, earning again for any such instances when the screen will once again return to the action. While all surrounding aspects of Spree seemingly collide and fall into place perfectly when in comparison and tasked with befitting to Kotlyarenko's somewhat bravura style of filmmaking. Kerry does his very best to elevate such themes even further from the script, however such is the message that belongs to the film. As such themes and motives soon enough become gradually muddled, feeling a lot more of a missed opportunity than a justified one. However if anything this fun, enthralling horror flick best suits those of the digital age, many of which who like myself are keen and okay with seeing past some of the films blatant flaws. As by the end a much potent and unexpected question is left to answered, as audiences are left to ponder if they really had a part to play in Kurt's destructive, senile behavior. With audiences forced to eventually contemplate their own participation in this murderous display of evil. As if we're made to at least think about if we were Kurt's true accomplices, encouraging him regardless of whether our comments are positive or negative? As long as we're watching Kurt, that's all he and we seem to really care about. As audiences are able and asked to ponder what the true influence and deeper meaning of Spree is after all.

As at it's very core Spree seemingly needed to decide it's truer, deeper intentions. With the end resulting being most action and any deeper routed meanings never are able to reach there true potential. With it occasionally falling into such moments, when all turmoil breaks lose, it still becomes hard not to ignore that such a style of filmmaking should of just been used to befit the time, rather than instead communicate a message or particular theme. As Spree was left really needing to embrace and acknowledge it's much darker demented premise after all. Rather the end result and fact of the matter is any such deeper sense is often either overlooked or let alone ignore, as any such motion to inject some depth into the proceedings doesn't fully coalesce. Although any such shallower issues or meanings might of been not the films main premise, Spree does surprisingly well to bring up and at least acknowledge some of the relevant issues associated with modern day society. As well as the obvious role social media has to play within that. Such issues aren't particularly layered or let alone potently put centre frame, meaning audiences might often have the challenge of seeking any such deeper routed subject matter, that they may so crave. With Kerry in his first major, leading role displaying all his exemplary tricks of the trade, that not only befits but rather suits Spree to perfection. Although such a piece might not contain an proportionate amount of exemplary depth or artistic excellence, Kerry lends himself greatly to this severely stricken and conflicted character. Making the very best out of the material given to him and the very tone that's often needed and desired for such a piece to work. As Kerry becomes not just the hallmark of the piece but rather also it's principle standout, with Spree a fine example of a mini-sub genre that we've seen before and are sure to see many other different re-imaginings of in the future. 3/5 Stars