The Digital Colosseum: Desperation and Depravity in Spree (2020)

In conclusion, Spree is a disturbing reflection of a world where the "like" button has become a metric for existence. It suggests that when the desire to be seen outstrips the capacity for empathy, the results are inevitably sociopathic. By the time the credits roll, the film leaves its audience with a chilling realization: Kurt Kunkle is not an anomaly, but a logical extreme of a culture that demands we broadcast our lives at any cost.

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.