The Digital Colosseum: Desperation and Depravity in Spree (2020)
Eugene Kotlyarenko’s Spree (2020) is a jagged, neon-soaked satire that captures the anxiety of the attention economy with visceral intensity. At its core, the film is a cautionary tale about the erosion of the self in the pursuit of digital validation. By blending the "found footage" subgenre with the aesthetics of livestreaming, Spree creates a claustrophobic portrait of a man who views his own humanity—and the lives of others—as mere content for an indifferent audience. Spree (2020)2020
The film follows Kurt Kunkle (Joe Keery), a desperate rideshare driver who has spent a decade failing to become a social media influencer. His solution to his stagnant "follower count" is a murderous plan he calls "The Lesson." Kurt turns his car into a mobile death trap, livestreaming the poisoning and mechanical execution of his passengers. Keery’s performance is central to the film's success; he imbues Kurt with a terrifying "nice guy" vacuity, mimicking the upbeat, manic energy of popular YouTubers even as he commits atrocities. The Digital Colosseum: Desperation and Depravity in Spree