Written and directed by Joshua Butler VLOG is an “extreme-horror film about a real-life webcam girl whose online murder is not what it seems.” The “real-life webcam girl” being Brooke Marks who, as advertised, has a real pay-to-view video blog. The film was originally released as a web series in 2008 and caused some sort of sensation as reality and fiction collided when it was reported that Brooke Marks had died and a vicious video of her murder was posted on the web. Of course this was all a publicity stunt. One that didn’t work too well since this is the first I’ve heard of it.
Following the live broadcast of Brooke’s murder the first half VLOG goes back in time to show a series of vlog posts where Brooke attacks vlog culture, a boyfriend with telephone addiction, a boyfriend with a rubber ducky, morning breath, haters and a variety of other vapid subjects. The horror aspect of the film kicks in when the subjects of her various rants are killed off one by one and the killer, being the sharing type, is kind enough to send Brooke footage of the murders. These killings are extremely gory and leave nothing to the imagination. Throw in some incompetent policemen and a twist and you’ve got VLOG.
Gorehounds will probably get a kick out of the blood and guts aspect of the film but beyond the carnage there isn’t much to keep VLOG from drifting off into oblivion. If you want to see a terrifying film about the dangers of the internet you’d be better off watching Megan Is Missing or revisiting Hard Candy.