Daisy Moriarty (Lili Reinhart) spends her days working a truly dreadful job as an internet moderator. We have all seen at least one traumatizing video online that stuck with us for a long period of time but Daisy’s job is to cull though the internets most disgusting, violent and sometimes grotesque videos.
Daisy and the rest of the staff
are traumatized so often by their job that to company has an on site therapist and a calming room. Ultimately, one particular video is central to the story that sets Daisy and her social life spiralling. In an effort to do what is right and seek justice for the crimes she witnessed, she searches for the man responsible for the crimes committed in the video she had to painfully watch.
Anyone who has had any sort of online bully encounters or online stalkers knows that the police are basically useless because there are too many variables with the internet. Daisy must figure all of that out the hard way as she tries to take matters into her own hands.
The supporting cast of Daniela Melchior, Joel Fry and Jeremy Ang Jones all demonstrate different ways people react to negative emotions that come with the online world and social media; some lash out, some bottle it up and some can handle the heat.
As much as the script sometimes frustrated me, Lili Reinhart is an excellent lead and takes Daisy as far as the script allows her too. She is frustrated, angry and convincing in her efforts to take down the culprit behind the video that is causing her so much pain.
I do wish that certain situations were pushed a bit further but it is still a great commentary on internet culture and all of the negative effects that come with having such a global interface.
American Sweatshop arrives on digital & on-demand Friday, September 19.
3/5
Review by: Stefano Bove