NEW YORK (CNS) -- Mundane computer screens become conduits for terror in "Unfriended" (Universal), a teenagers-in-trouble horror film with a cybertwist.

This silly thriller unfolds in the "found footage" style popularized by 1999's "The Blair Witch Project." Viewers become voyeurs as director Levan Gabriadze shares the "true" story, purportedly as it was seen on the home computers of six high school friends.

Spending far too much time in a video chat room are pals Blaire (Shelley Hennig), Jess (Renee Olstead), Val (Courtney Halverson), Ken (Jacob Wysocki), Adam (Will Peltz) and Mitch (Moses Jacob Storm).

The members of this sextet share a dark secret: they mercilessly bullied a fellow student, Laura (Heather Sossaman). When one of them posted a humiliating video of a drunken, unconscious Laura online, the poor girl committed suicide.

That was a year ago. The amigos are still chatting up a storm when -- lo and behold -- a mystery visitor joins the group, sounding a lot like their deceased victim.

Needless to say, this "Laura" has a few scores to settle, none of them pretty. Try to hang up and stop chatting, Laura warns her persecutors, and someone will die.

"Unfriended" ramps up the mayhem and bloodshed -- as well as a demonic possession theme -- as secrets are revealed and our feckless teens learn the hard way that actions have consequences. Lost amid the ensuing slaughter is a potentially valuable message about the harmful effects of online harassment.

While there are only 82 minutes of this nonsense to endure, chances are that audiences will be longing to hit the "ignore" button well before even that brief period has elapsed.

The film contains gory violence and torture, underage alcohol and drug use, some sexual content, graphic scatological images and pervasive profane and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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McAleer is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.

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CAPSULE REVIEW

"Unfriended" (Universal)

A teenagers-in-trouble horror film with a cybertwist, director Levan Gabriadze's silly thriller unfolds in "found footage" style as six high school friends (Shelley Hennig, Renee Olstead, Courtney Halverson, Jacob Wysocki, Will Peltz and Moses Jacob Storm) converse in a video chat room. The sextet of pals is bound by a dark secret: they mercilessly bullied a fellow student (Heather Sossaman) who subsequently committed suicide. When their victim apparently joins the conversation a year after her death, mayhem ensues, and the teens learn the hard way that actions have consequences. Lost amid all the slaughter is a potentially valuable message about the harmful effects of online harassment. Gory violence and torture, underage alcohol and drug use, some sexual content, graphic scatological images, pervasive profane and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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CLASSIFICATION

"Unfriended" (Universal) -- Catholic News Service classification, O -- morally offensive. Motion Picture Association of America rating, R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.