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The official trailers made this film look hilarious, so I was excited to see it. I love unintentional comedies and I know movies based on creepypasta are always doomed to fail (ex; the film "adaptation" of Marble Hornets). I was fully ready to turn my brain off and enjoy a 2-hour idiot extravaganza with this film.

Instead, Dear David commits the cardinal sin of bad cinema; It's intensely boring. It's wholly lackluster. The pacing is a complete slog, even on 2x speed. The film makes Adam Ellis look like a complete tool (I'd assume the real Adam Ellis is probably an ok guy since I don't know him personally, obviously). It has a handful of silly moments that did make me chuckle, but it's mostly just slow, pretentious, out of touch, and painfully inoffensive.

Avoid this one. It's not even ironically good.

Set in 2017, Adam Ellis (Augustus Prew) is a visual artist working at Buzzfeed who produces comics for the site. As Adam's boyfriend Kyle (René Escobar Jr.) heads off to visit his mother who's undergoing surgery much to Adam's disinterest, Adam engages in vitriolic exchanges with various Twitter trolls until an account called Dear David begins following him which repeatedly tries to goad him into asking it three questions. As Adam is stricken by night terrors of visitations of a boy with a caved-in head, Adam begins documenting the escalating encounters via a Twitter thread that dramatically increases his online reach as his professional and personal relationships suffer increasing amounts of strain.

Dear David is the latest release from Buzzfeed Studios and based upon the 2017 Twitter thread by visual artist and former Buzzfeed contributor Adam Ellis. I'll admit I wasn't all that familiar with the Twitter phenomenon at the time and very much researched it after the fact, and after reading through it, it feels like a case of "you probably had to be there at the time". There's been debate among internet denizens as to whether the thread was real or some sort of internet fiction in the vein of SCP or Mother Horse Eyes, but the thread became notable as a milestone in one of the first instances of an urban legend born from Twitter in a manner similar to the phenomenon of Slender Man. At one point Dear David was positioned to be made as a much larger film at New Line Cinema, but eventually the rights found their way instead to Buzzfeed Studios as a VOD release through Lionsgate. While Internet based horror films have been attempted many times prior, for every success like Deadstream and (to an extent) the Unfriended films, the annals of horror history are littered with the likes of Feardotcom, Smiley, Chain Letter, and the infamously troubled Slender Man film. While Dear David doesn't plumb the depths of this subgenre, it's also not especially good either.

A big issue with Dear David is the establishment of its tone. Rather than play as a completely straight horror film, Dear David swings back and forth between taking itself somewhat seriously while also having a lot of broad comedic (I think) scenes coupled with scenes in the Buzzfeed offices where Justin Long's unnamed boss character plays a very broad archetypical tech company boss who's less a character and more a caricature which is one of a number of elements that never causes these comedic scenes to reconcile with the horror ones. The horror elements aren't particularly well done as despite the initially intriguing setup of some scenes where the Dear David account terrorizes some internet trolls, the movie features the same fundamental confusion as seen in Friend Request where it's trying to be this morality tale but it isn't framed in any way where it really earns it. The inciting incident for example is Adam Ellis responding to a twitter troll with "DIAF or (Die in a Fire" which you can argue is tasteless, but when he's responding to an instigating party is that really something worthy of karmic punishment and not just a descending cycle? That's not to say Adam Ellis is all that likable because he really isn't as he is shown to be selfish, dismissive, and an egotist and if that were part of a richer arc I could see that working but his relationship with Rene Escobar Jr.'s Kyle is so flatly defined you really don't have much reason to care. And if you're expecting this to lead to any kind of satisfying climax, think again as instead we're treated to one of the most ill-advised laughter inducing scare sequences I can recall seeing that made my jaw drop with how stupid it was.

Dear David is the kind of movie where you can see a nugget of a good idea, but it's buried under a tonal mess and sloppy writing. If this had tried to be either more of a black comedy or straight horror story I could've seen it working, but it's not sure handed enough to do both and ends up satisfying neither. In the annals of unimpressive internet horror it's above the likes of Smiley and Feardotcom and I wasn't annoyed at it like the last Buzzfeed film I saw with the gaming-sexism comedy 1Up, but while not awful it's still bad and whatever brief moments I might've enjoyed aren't worth sitting through the entirety of the film.

A horror-movie, with at its core the (over)abundant use of social media, has an attractive 2020's touch to it. The critical edge is well done, we see the main character being absorbed by his cell phone, to the extent of neglecting his friends and even his lover; and we see how his social media company thrives on inventing new trending topics - however extreme or cringing - just to expand their bulk of followers.

But as an intended horror movie it fails. The premise is just too farfetched, and the execution too chaotic to make it really involving. Apart from a few creepy images, that flash by in an instant, there's hardly anything scary going on, and it's hard to get a grip on the supposed narrative. It's some sort of Candyman or Bye Bye Man "saying something three times" thing: in this case asking the supernatural internet troll a question three times, that does the trick of summoning a horrific fate unto yourself. But why this troll haunts the internet, or why Adam is chosen as a target, never becomes clear. The acting was just average. And it didn't really help that the Adam-character was rather sulky and unsympathetic, and not very pleasant to look at.

Anybody that was on Twitter when this story was an active thread, will know it was an intriguing read.

Whilst this movie is "based" on those tweets, Adam Ellis supposedly had nothing to do with it as he left BuzzFeed years ago and according to him, they had the rights to all his work (including this story) If you're unfamiliar with the original story, maybe you will enjoy this non horror, drama based relationship movie. If you want to see the original Twitter feed he has moved it to Wakelet. It truely is a fascinating and creepy read.

This movie just had me questioning who tricked Justin Long into acting in another awful "horror" movie.

Don't pay to see it, wait til it's free.

I assumed Dear David to be a serious horror movie, however it blew me away with it's horrible attempts at being scary! The script is unnatural and tonedeaf, this is not how the internet works and this is not how people talk. Every jumpscare flopped, there was no suspense or tension throughout, very disappointing for a HORROR MOVIE. Despite being produced by BuzzFeed, (a news company that writes about stuff that happens on the internet) it felt out of touch and was as if it was written by someone who doesn't use the internet often. Ontop of that, the story and script made no sense, despite being based off of something that (supposedly) actually happened. And, with as little spoilers as possible, the video game segment was the worst bit of this movie. If I had a single ounce of respect for this movie after any of the previous events, it was gone after the video game segment. All in all, this movie is atrocious, it isn't scary or funny, or even entertaining! Save your money and keep away.

Step 1: Have Buzzfeed be anywhere near it.

Step 2: Be money hungry.

Step 3: Have the most cringe worthy "message/lesson"

Honestly I ADORED the story on Twitter (X) and having LoeyLane read us the tweets and discuss it with us. It was some good times and this movie just upped and ruined it. I HATED Adam in this movie.

What I am most disappointed with is Justin Long. Why would he work for/with BUZZFEED? He could have done some much better with another movie. Maybe he needed the money, but honestly is money worth bruising your reputation?

Find the OG story and read it. This strangers wannabe story isn't it. You can do better.

1. It's a BuzzFeed Studios original film, and BuzzFeed is a putrid pestilence, a blight on Internet's body that fuels the addiction to the "content" and boils people's brains. *a disgruntled Desperate Housewives character GIF*

2. The main character is a chubby, neck-bearded, latte-sipping, overly sensitive yet sarcastic gamer dude in his 30s, obediently serving the corporate by doing a laptop-ridden, "creative" job of drawing infantile, disposable comics. In other words, the very worst caricature of Millennials you could imagine. *a reality show Black woman cackling GIF*

3. The story is contrived, exploitative and unapologetically poorly-thought. *an Ad*

4. The dialogues are written by someone severely lacking real-life communication skills and experience. *an Andy Samberg "Gotcha!" GIF*

5. There's a scene where the main character (an adult man, in case you missed) hides under the blanket. *a Steve Harvey "WTF" GIF*

6. The CGI is ludicrous and amateur. *an Ad*

7. The scariest thing about Dear David is that it might be the last thing someone watched before dying. What a horrible way to go. *a creepy smiling Willem Dafoe GIF*

8. The script fails miserably to blend elements of horror, comedy and drama together, creating an uneven and borderline appalling mess.

9. The whole Twitter killer schtick died in 2014, when there was supposed to be a film called #ikllr, but even the director bailed on it and left it permanently unfinished. *a The Office "It's true" GIF*

10. Dear David is a cringe-inducing, shallow, vapid and downright miserable experience that no one deserves.

Related article: These 27 Twitter Threads Absolutely Do Not Need A Screen Adaptation.

I have to say I'm a little surprised by all the hate I found on the page regarding Dear David.

It's a fun movie, attacking a nice subject, one that isn't overused, has some moral weigth to it and a great ending. I especially liked the fact that it reminded me of In the mouth of Madness, that great paranoia feel, not knowing what is real and what is fake. Thus I feel obliged to recommend this one, because it is a lot better than the latter over hyped horrors that appeared. It isn't afraid to be real, raw and take it to the next level with solid scenes that make your skin crawl, but just a little indeed.

Overall Dear David was a nice experience for me, so I am going to advise any horror fan to give it a go. It's definitely a nice add on to the list and it is worth a view. I think I would have enjoyed this on the big screen honestly, because it relies a lot on tension and not jump scares, thus if the mood and surroundings are good, I think the movie will look a lot better. Also, seeing Justing Long on the screen in a horror is always a bonus!

Cheers!

I was so looking forward to the movie version of this story for quite awhile. Glad I waited to watch it on a 7 day free trial of Starz because I would have asked for my money back if I saw it at the movie theater! And I want my free trial back! Lol..The original story that Adam Ellis put on Twitter (X) 😂) was so much better and creepier than the Hollywood version. I found it by accident and was glued to the entire thread. Read it as it plays out on Twitter because it has so many creepy chills even though we know it's fictional. I even liked the original backstory of David better that the movie version. Just don't even bother with the movie it'll be a complete waste of time.

Maaasaan I picked the wrong night and the wring movie to take my very first gummy on. I've been trying to write this review for 30 minutes and I'm an hour in. But I can barely look away from the TV. It's really good. It's not as bad as people are making it out to be. My hand is going to sleep and it's about to faint. It feels like someone put novacaine in my elbow. It's good. Don't bother with those bad reviews. It's not bad.

Now I can't post because my review is is too short so I'll just keep watching the movie as I type this to take up the rest of the remaining characters that I have remaining.

Look wait. I left but I had to come back. I actually used . Nevermind I forgot. Goodnight.

No pun intended - it may also be more of a listening or "obeying" problem. Also a bully issue ... some people like to do stuff and insult others over the internet. What you may feel is a bit of "fun", is anything but. In this case it also seems to have consequences ... for the bully.

That said, the movie is quite predictable and I understand if some had issues with the movie itself. It is not as engaging as it could be. Justin Long is more a side character (still like him) - but if you feel this is the worst movie of the year, I kind of envy you. In the sense that it means you have not watched a lot of movies and therefor missed way worse movies.

Also good on and for you ... everyone else if you have a free minute for a low budget horror movie.

Hey, Amazon, I want my $6.99 back.

This movie referenced the Dear David thread, but completely out of context with the original posts.

Our protagonist, Adam Ellis (the artist), is gay. He may be in real life, I have no idea and don't care, but this was a PRIDE movie more than anything else.

The introduction has a kid using early era computers to chat under the name Dear David. And...Adam is being haunted by some ghost kid with a head injury. Where's the connection? How is that supposed to make sense?

The Buzzfeed office and employees are stereotypically cool and use all the cool language so enthusiastically that you'll want to back away from your screen in revulsion.

This really was a terrible adaptation of a compelling and scary tale.

So dumb. I will not be able to make it to the end. Boo!

Dear David is another horror film (like Elevator Game) based on an internet meme.

In this case, an old Buzzfeed twitter thread about a man who claims he is being haunted/trolled by a sleep paralysis demon, in the form of a young boy, named David.

Both in waking life...and on the internet.

Having never been a Buzzfeed user- or internet trend follower- myself...this is the first I'm hearing of it.

So I'm of the viewer class who has gone into the movie without being privy to the trend it is based on.

Which makes the whole thing seem like it was funded by Buzzfeed, in an attempt to recapture the attention of the internet, in a way that could garner them the virality that the original story managed to perpetuate.

An elaborate marketing scheme designed to farm clicks...which is all it ever was in the first place, mind you.

And it almost worked.

As I was somewhat enticed to search for Buzzfeed...if only to see if it is actually still relevant.

However, it wasn't enticing enough to overcome my will not to care.

Which kind of gives you an idea about how the movie sits.

Storywise (on it's own), it just comes off as a mediocre psychological horror that is based on "the entity" experience (made famous by the much better, based-on-a-true-story, film, from 1985, of that name).

Only, with the male character, here, experiencing a male form of the entity...presumably, because he's gay.

As men normally experience a gray-haired crone, as opposed to the shadow-like male entity experienced by females.

That being said...that's not to say that this is overtly horrible...or by any means unwatchable.

Just that it's kind of mid, in comparison to it's much better predecessor.

Because the action bits in this don't hit as hard.

While the attempts at jump scaring you just aren't effective.

Though, to be fair...this film is much more psychological in nature.

Focusing on the fragile mental state of the main character- and his subsequent downward spiral- as opposed to a physical investigation into the paranormal nature of the unseen world from which this phenomenon originates.

So...it is of a somewhat different nature, despite being based on a somewhat similar experience, of a very real phenomenon (I'm well aware of because it happened to a friend of mine...and led to a police incident, which I ended up writing a song about).

Which is precisely why it can be exploited by company's like Buzzfeed, whose bottom line is based on creating the next viral sensation...not only to garner clicks...but keep itself relevant.

Which is, unfortunately, what this film feels like it's a desperate attempt to do, in the end.

4.5 out of 10.

I really cannot believe that buzzfeed actually created a film studio and has started producing movies, and I find it even harder to believe that I didn't particularly hate this one either? I truly did think a movie that was based off an old twitter horror story thread by a former buzzfeed employee would've been as bad as that sounds, but it was fairly inconsequential, not really good in any specific way but nothing about it jumped out at me for being bad either, it was just a super mediocre film that didn't hurt to watch in any way but also wasn't especially enjoyable either.

Easily the most interesting part about this movie as a whole is what it is adapted from, which is a twitter thread from former buzzfeed employee and also the main character of this film Adam Ellis. I was pretty invested in the actual story going on in real life when it was happening and might have actually been young enough to not realize how very obviously fake it all was leaving me surprisingly invested in all of it. Obviously now I can pretty easily tell that it was just a cool internet horror story, and it didn't work nearly as bad as I thought it was going to when it got put to film. There's nothing inherently amazing about any of its horror but I also didn't find any of it glaringly bad either, it had some pretty okay jumpscares that were albeit cheap but kind of effective, and some decent effects work that I wholeheartedly did not expect to get out of it, and I am glad that the caved in David head actually looked decent.

Although; the best part of the film for me just has to be the fact that there's a really small role given to one of my favorite actors of all time Justin Long.. he plays the boss of Adam Ellis and I do wish he got much more screen time as everytime his character was on screen the movie somehow got much better. Whether that be just how charming this man is or how funnily he delivered all his lines but it was supremely appreciated to have such a shining light in the sea of meh that surrounds the rest of the film. Long isn't the only talented actor here though, as the main man himself who plays Adam Ellis, Augustus Prew is a really great actor and the performance he delivers here feels so out of place in this mediocre film. He truly does breaths a sense of life into this movie that wouldn't be present without him and the way he plays the character is excellent and by far the best part of the movie, which isn't saying a whole lot but when you have an actually good actor present in a literal buzzfeed movie it's worth noting.

Dear David is not a good movie in my opinion, and if I didn't like two of the actors here and have a somewhat connection to the source material I wouldn't be surprised if I genuinely hated it, but since I do meet those criteria I just thought it was a very eh run of the mill type horror movie that isn't horrid in any specific way but also never great. It's not a movie I recommend watching for yourself unless you're a horror buff, like the story itself, or are just insanely bored out of your mind - as if you're not one of those three things I have a hard time believing you'll come away with any particular enjoyment with it and most likely will hate it. For me though it's just a nothing movie that has some decent qualities at times but never enough to actually make me like it in any significant way, mid I would say.

The real thread was compelling, interesting, and at times, intense.

This film was the opposite of that. I think the actors did the best they could with the material and story given to them, but wow....what a slog.

This movie can't follow its own story to save its life. It doesn't know what direction it wants to go or what to focus on. I've never watched a more disjointed and disappointing film.

Cinematography, acting, score, all ok. But this story....yikes. I wouldn't watch this unless you have copious amounts of alcohol at your disposal. Then you might find something worth watching.

Save your time, don't watch this, go read the real thread.

The story is based off of a twitter story from 2017, the story was immaculate very intriguing and i read it to this day, i watched the movie today thinking they would've done a good job, they could do so much better the whole story is wack i don't mess with the way this movie was put together and i feel like they could've done so much better given how good the story is. Adam ellis should have been a part of the movie, it is his story and he want even in the credits. Overall bad movie sick to rereading the story its better, the story was so thought out and not saying its real or fake because im genuinely not sure but Adam Ellis did such a good job with it and i love his thinking. They did this story really dirty.

"Dear David" suffers from a worn-out premise, making it challenging to enjoy from the start. While some films manage to reinvent or at least enliven familiar storylines, this is definitely not one of them. The movie relies heavily on cheap jump scares, with little to no real tension. The most intriguing aspect, the main character's struggle with sleep paralysis is barely explored, wasting a unique angle.

Unfortunately, the main character is also quite unlikeable, making it hard to root for him and rendering the film unsympathetic overall. The supporting characters are similarly bland and forgettable, with some lackluster performances that don't help elevate the experience. Misplaced comedic elements only serve to further disrupt the film's tone, feeling completely out of place.

While I've seen worse, this movie can easily be skipped without missing much. [4.5/10]

Started kinda neat, with an intriguing setup that captures the unsettling atmosphere of its origins, but "Dear David" gradually veers off track. As the story unfolds, the tension diminishes, replaced by unintentionally funny moments that turn the scares into laughs. By the time the very silly ending arrives, it's hard to take any of it seriously. While fans of the original viral thread may still find some fun in the familiarity, it ultimately feels more like a nostalgia piece than a genuine horror experience, lacking the impact needed to stand on its own. Still not as bad as most people say though.

This film had a promising concept, but it was executed very poorly. The production felt rushed and lacked attention to detail, making it one of the worst films I have ever seen. The acting was subpar, with performances that failed to bring any depth or authenticity to the characters. The storyline was disjointed and seemed to drag on without direction, much like many of today's films that start with potential but quickly lose their way.

From the opening scenes, it was clear that the filmmakers had a decent idea on paper but failed spectacularly in translating it to the screen. The initial premise grabbed my attention with its potential for intrigue and excitement, but the execution was so lackluster that it quickly became difficult to remain engaged. The plot meandered aimlessly, introducing elements that were either never fully developed or completely abandoned. This lack of coherence made it challenging to follow the story, leaving me more confused than entertained.

The acting was another significant flaw. Each performance felt uninspired, almost as if the actors themselves were aware of the film's shortcomings and couldn't muster the energy to give it their all. Characters that should have been compelling and layered came across as one-dimensional and lifeless. There was no chemistry between the cast members, which only exacerbated the already stilted and unnatural dialogue. At times, it felt as if I was watching a rehearsal rather than a finished product.

The technical aspects of the film were equally disappointing. The cinematography was bland, with uninspired shot compositions that did nothing to enhance the narrative or draw the viewer into the story. The editing was choppy, with scenes that felt abruptly cut or unnecessarily prolonged, further disrupting the flow of the film. Even the special effects, which could have been a redeeming factor, were substandard, adding to the overall sense of a half-hearted effort.

It's baffling how this film managed to make it to release. Has creativity in the film industry hit a new low? Are we regressing in our ability to produce quality entertainment? Watching this movie felt like a complete waste of time. The lack of effort and originality was glaringly apparent, making me question the current state of cinema and whether we are simply recycling tired ideas without innovation or passion.

There was a time when films, even those with modest budgets, were crafted with care and a genuine desire to tell a story. Filmmakers would strive to push boundaries, explore new ideas, and bring fresh perspectives to the screen. However, this film is a stark reminder that not all productions are created with such dedication. Instead, it seems to have been churned out with minimal effort, relying on clichés and predictable plot twists that do nothing to engage or surprise the audience.

One of the most frustrating aspects of watching this film was the realization of how much potential was wasted. The core idea had the ingredients for a gripping and memorable experience, but it was buried under layers of poor execution and lackluster performances. This raises a broader concern about the current state of the film industry. Are we so focused on quantity over quality that we've lost sight of what makes a film truly great? It's disheartening to think that movies like this might be indicative of a trend rather than an anomaly.

In the end, this film serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of passion and creativity in filmmaking. It's not enough to have a good idea; it must be nurtured and brought to life with care and attention to detail. Audiences deserve more than just a half-hearted attempt at storytelling. We crave films that challenge us, move us, and stay with us long after the credits roll. Unfortunately, this movie does none of those things.

Watching this film felt like a complete waste of time, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration and disappointment. The lack of effort and originality was glaringly apparent, making me question the current state of cinema and whether we are simply recycling tired ideas without innovation or passion. If this is the direction we're heading, then we have a lot to worry about regarding the future of film. Let's hope this is just a low point and that better, more inspired works are on the horizon.

This movie was so good. I laughed so hard and its not even that funny, but like i started crying from laughing and hit my head on my desk causing my nose to bleed really violently. I feel like this has some merit to how good the story.

Besides from that the twitter @s were like not at all like twitter has @s work which kind of made me sad, but I guess the creator was not as a chronically online as me. I hope they make more movies like this. I think the harassment is about right for twitter standards, but could use more death threats.

This was a good movie. Thank you so much for making this...

There's one thing that disturbs me the most, it's the fact that there's no good horror movies anymore!

I used to watch horror movies a lot, and I was always thrilled when I see a new movie coming out but lately I can't say the same. This one was a random watch and I fell asleep after 40 minutes of watching. It's definitely one of the worst I ever watched! There's 0 sense in this one, people think you just have to create a ghost that haunts you and your house and a few screams and fake blood, and you created a good horror movie.. lol, sorry to disappoint but it's not that easy.

I don't recommend this one 0/10.

Some films are born from original ideas, others from books or urban legends... and then there's Dear David, which comes straight from a Twitter thread. The premise was promising: a horror story based on supposed real events, with a modern "digital terror" twist that could have really worked. But in the end, what could have been unsettling turns out to be a soulless retread.

The movie has its moments-there are a few jump scares that do their job and an atmosphere that initially seems to be building toward something serious. But it quickly becomes repetitive, with a plot that doesn't really scare, intrigue, or hook you in. What's most frustrating is how seriously it tries to take itself, losing what could've been its best card: the absurd, mysterious nature of the original viral story.

The characters don't help. It's hard to empathize with them, and the story, which should build tension, just slowly fizzles out. By the time the ending rolls around, you're left feeling like this was better suited for a short... or honestly, best left on Twitter.

Neither fans of classic horror nor those looking for something different will leave satisfied. It's watchable, sure-but only if you keep your expectations very low. A shame, because Dear David had all the ingredients to at least be an intriguing experience.