The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem (2024) Movie Review

 There's a new wave of documentaries out there that I like to call "Internet Bad" movies. These films try to tackle the complexities of the internet and technology, but often end up feeling like exaggerated scare tactics aimed at older audiences, reminiscent of the classic "Reefer Madness." One of the main issues with these films is that they oversimplify a vastly intricate subject. The truth is, the ever-evolving landscape of technology is too vast for most documentaries to fully grasp, leaving them with little substantial commentary.

One such documentary, "The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem," attempts to explore the impact of 4chan, from harmless pranks to serious consequences like the insurrection. Directed by Giorgio Angelini and Arthur Jones, known for their previous work in the genre, the film manages to be more engaging than many others in this category.

The documentary delves into the origins of 4chan, once a harmless online community, and traces its descent into toxicity. It highlights how 4chan's evolution mirrored that of its predecessor, 2chan, which became politically charged in Japan. Early days of 4chan are nostalgically depicted, with a focus on key figures like Christopher Poole, aka "moot," who played a pivotal role in shaping the platform. As 4chan grew, so did its impact offline, leading to movements like Anonymous and the rise of conspiracy theories like QAnon.

However, the documentary hesitates to assign blame, portraying the unchecked power of 4chan as an inevitable corrupting force. While it acknowledges the choices made by individuals involved, it sometimes feels lenient in holding them accountable. Nevertheless, the film sheds light on how platforms like 4chan contributed to the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, ultimately dumbing down public discourse.

Despite its ambitious scope, "The Antisocial Network" struggles with pacing, as it attempts to cover a wide range of topics in a feature-length format. While it offers valuable insights into the impact of online communities, it occasionally feels shallow due to its frenetic editing and lack of depth.

In a landscape where streaming services often stretch stories into multi-episode series, it's ironic that a documentary with such rich material is condensed into a single film. Nonetheless, "The Antisocial Network" serves as a reminder of the darker side of internet culture, exposing the manipulation and chaos that lurk behind the screen.

“The Antisocial Network” is a documentary that squarely falls into the "Internet Bad" category, focusing on the darker side of online culture. However, it stands out from the crowd thanks to its adept exploration of how things went wrong.

This review comes from the SXSW Film Festival. You can catch it when it premieres on Netflix on April 5th.