5 Brilliant Screenlife Movies and Series That Unfold Entirely on Computer Screens
These projects demonstrate that drama, horror, and detective genres can coexist within a single browser.
Today, computer, smartphone, and tablet screens have become more than just windows onto the world – they are the main stages on which our lives unfold.
Screenlife, a genre in which the entire action takes place on digital devices, perfectly reflects this reality. However, not all projects using this format are equally good – many merely exploit the visual element while neglecting the content.
We've selected five worthy movies and series where the format is not just decoration but the only way to tell the story.
1. 'Web Therapy', 2011-2015
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
Web Therapy is a comedy series about Fiona, an eccentric psychotherapist who offers clients a revolutionary method: three-minute online sessions instead of long consultations.
Fiona often pushes boundaries by engaging clients in comical situations while simultaneously addressing her personal issues.
The satirical plot blurs the lines between therapist and patient, rendering it unsuitable as a how-to guide. However, that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyable.
2. 'The Collingswood Story', 2002
IMDb Score: 5.2/10
It's the beginning of the 21st century. Rebecca lives in a small town and sees no future for herself there. Seeking greater fulfillment, she moves to Collingwood on the eve of her 21st birthday.
Her boyfriend, Johnny, can't follow her, so he gives her a webcam. They decide virtual dates will help them maintain their connection, but Johnny feels he's losing Rebecca.
He decides to give her something special: an online session with a clairvoyant. However, the stranger promises Rebecca a terrible fate and reveals that her new home bears traces of a Satanic cult.
3. 'Staged', 2020-2023
IMDb Score: 8.5/10
Amidst the lockdown, Michael Sheen and David Tennant play hyperbolic versions of themselves attempting to rehearse Six Characters in Search of an Author via video call.
Simon Evans, the director, was supposed to oversee the process. However, instead of following the guidelines, Sheen and Tennant spent most of their time discussing how many bottles of wine they had consumed, local gossip, and the state of the industry in general.
The characters' conversations are lively and wry, and each episode lasts no more than 15 minutes.
4. 'C U Soon', 2020
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
Jimmy met Anu on a dating app and instantly fell in love. Within weeks, he was ready to propose, but his cautious mother asked her hacker nephew, Kevin, to run a background check on Anu first.
The information gathered is unsettling, and Anu's sudden disappearance forces Kevin to conduct a more thorough digital investigation. Together with Jimmy, he pores over social media, hacks accounts, and gathers fragments of someone else's life.
5. 'Searching', 2018
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
After his daughter suddenly disappears, David launches his own investigation. Using her laptop and social media accounts, he immerses himself in her digital world and realizes that he knew almost nothing about her personal life.
He soon realizes that her disappearance is just the tip of the iceberg. Each discovered click, file, and message reveals new layers of mystery, transforming the private search for his daughter into a full-scale investigation.
