The Den

Running a brisk 81 minutes, The Den is a found-footage horror flick revolving around a college student (Melanie Papalia’s Elizabeth) who begins studying the habits of webcam users – with creepiness ensuing after Elizabeth finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the exploits of a mysterious online figure. The Den unfolds entirely from the perspective of Elizabeth’s laptop computer and cellphone (and, occasionally, other characters’ personal electronic devices) and it’s clear immediately that the movie benefits from Papalia’s personable turn as the protagonist, as the actress, working from a script by Zachary Donohue and Lauren Thompson, does a nice job of transforming her character into a three-dimensional figure that effectively elicits the viewer’s ongoing interest and sympathy. Filmmaker Donohue does a nice job of incorporating the various onscreen apps and programs, and it’s clear, too, that the atmosphere of mounting dread is heightened by the ongoing inclusion of distinctly creepy elements. And while the movie does suffer from a few lulls here and there, The Den ultimately comes off as a superior found-footage endeavor that’s often as unnerving as it is timely. (The ending, though far from plausible, ensures that the picture ends on an exceedingly high note, as well.)

***1/2 out of ****