When Kevin’s curiosity gets the better of him, he ventures onto the dark web—but how safe are we, and how deep does the rabbit hole go? This is director and writer Michael Cooke’s Curiosity.
As technology and AI improve at a frantic pace, some aspects of the World Wide Web remain unchanged. One of these is access to the dark web, which has stayed pretty much the same over the years. The dark web is a hidden part of the internet accessible only through specific browsers designed to protect user privacy, encrypt internet traffic, and route everything through multiple servers. While they can be used for legitimate purposes like bypassing censorship and supporting legitimate marketplaces, these browsers are also used to hide certain nefarious and illegal activities.
Writer-director Michael Cooke, a familiar face on our TV screens, takes the idea of the dark web to its extremes with Curiosity, his second directorial effort. Last year, I reviewed Cooke’s directorial debut Care and Repair, a very entertaining Shallow Grave-esque dark comedy. With Curiosity, Cooke has remained dark but left the comedy far behind, delivering a tight 12-minute short film about digital paranoia. What Cooke proves over the short film’s runtime is that he understands the power of the ordinary, transforming everyday objects into tools of terror through the lens of a seemingly innocent tutorial.
Kevin, played by Hunter Bishop, is a young man lured down a rabbit hole of online intrigue and quickly becomes involved in a sinister experiment that blurs the lines between reality and digital illusion. Cooke’s direction is excellent in its simplicity, allowing the tension to build steadily as Kevin becomes increasingly isolated and consumed by his obsession.
Thriving on psychological aspects rather than jump scares, Curiosity showcases Cooke’s skill as a filmmaker, generating a profound sense of unease with minimal dialogue and a restricted setting. The film’s true horror lies in the creeping dread that seeps into the viewer’s consciousness because, from the very first frames, we know where all this will lead.
Bishop delivers a commendable performance, capturing Kevin’s descent into madness with a raw vulnerability that is both relatable and chilling. His transformation from curious observer to terrified participant is gradual yet harrowing. The costume of the antagonist is sure to raise a gasp.
The cinematography by Kasparas Vidunas employs a gritty, almost documentary-like style, immersing the audience in the raw and disturbing world it portrays. The use of shadows and low-light conditions creates a sense of claustrophobia and unease, reflecting the nightmarish nature of the film’s subject matter. This visual style, combined with the short’s often grainy texture, significantly contributes to the overall feeling of unease and repulsion that the film evokes.
Curiosity isn’t an entirely original idea, and you can predict how the film will end from the beginning, but these issues don’t make the film any less entertaining. Despite a few unbelievable story choices, Curiosity tries to be different, and Cooke has fun exploring the darker side of human nature through the device of our home computers. Fans of psychological horror will love spotting the familiar story beats in Curiosity, which leaves us with a chilling exploration of the digital age that makes you question everything you click.
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