#LIKE review: The unpleasant side of social media

In times where social media, social justice, and feminist movements converge, #LIKE comes to remind us to be careful, no matter what.

#LIKE reminds us of how much social media has become a part of our daily lives. We consume it even when we don’t want or need to, and more often than not there are people who cross some boundaries and the consequences can be tragic.

And, sadly, anonymity is on their side, enabling them to hide in plain sight. But there are also people who will not sit down and watch these things happen, and take matters into their own hands, which is what the protagonist of #LIKE does.

Written and directed by Sarah Pirozek, #LIKE follows Rosie, a teenager mourning the first anniversary of her younger sister’s death. When she discovers that the man who stalked and blackmailed her sister into committing suicide continues looking for victims, and with authorities not giving attention to the case, Rosie decides to take justice into her own hands.

#LIKE sounds like a modern Hard Candy, and it is but at the same time it isn’t. While their premises are similar, #LIKE stands on its own thanks to the powerful performances of the two leads (Sarah Rick and Marc Menchaca) and the narrative – both visual and written – which takes you through different emotions and makes you hold your breath all the time (it’s a good thing, trust me. It means it has layers and that’s always appreciated).

This movie will play on your paranoia and the suspense will hit you when you least expect it, all this while exploring the unpleasant side of social media. But not in a way that feels like you’re being lectured or are watching one of those educational videos for kids and teenagers.

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It does it in a way that makes you question your own judgments and the extent of anonymity on the web. That last part is what’s truly scary… that and how authorities will choose the easy “report it but we won’t do anything about it” path.

One thing that will stand out for some viewers is the lack of empathy projected by a few of the characters. Have we, as a society, seriously become numb and cynical when it comes to cyberbullying, sexploitation, and suicide? Sad (and scary) but true, and someone had to say it – or show it, subtly (or not so subtly? you’ll be the judge) in a movie. Thanks, Sarah Pirozek!

The protagonist, Rosie (Sarah Rich) leads us through a journey of pain and revenge, taking us with her through her emotional struggles before, during, and after she executes her plan for revenge. Rosie has a touch of Hayley Stark with a hint of Lisbeth Salander but without hardening her heart. Not your typical girl looking for retribution.

#LIKE will leave you thinking about not only the limits (if any) of social media and how much we share on them (sometimes without even noticing), but also on how our emotions can drive us to judgments and actions that ultimately might make everything worse. A couple of things to think about before going to bed tonight.

In the end, #LIKE is a wonderful combination of visual storytelling, a well-written script, a lead character with layers, and a strong message. If you get the chance to see it, you definitely should.

Would you check out #LIKE? Let us know in the comments.