Assassination

In the unsettling town of Salem, high school senior Lily Colson finds herself ensnared in a web of chaos that shatters the innocence of youth. Alongside her three best friends, Bex Warren, and the inseparable sisters Em and Sarah Lacey, they embark on what appears to be a typical night out at a party. Here, sparks fly as Bex hooks up with her secret crush, Diamond, while Lily, under the pretense of enjoying her time with her boyfriend Mark, clandestinely communicates with a mysterious man known only as Daddy. A night filled with exhilaration takes a dark turn when Diamond urges Bex to conceal their encounter due to her being transgender.

The plot thickens as Marty, a laid-back hacker, receives an explosive tip about Mayor Bartlett—a staunch anti-gay politician. This revelation brings forth scandalous images of Bartlett cavorting with male escorts and donning women’s attire, which Marty indiscriminately disseminates to the entire town. The repercussions are swift and severe; during a press conference meant for addressing these allegations, Bartlett’s despair culminates in a shocking suicide. The fabric of Salem continues to unravel as the kind-hearted Principal Turrell becomes the next victim of these invasive hacks, as compromising pictures of his young daughter emerge, painting him as a pedophile. Despite mounting pressure, he stands firm in his resolution to protect his students’ interests.

As police begin their inquiry into these unsettling hacks, an even graver incident unfolds; a vast data leak exposes the private lives of countless residents of Salem. This turmoil leads Grace, a classmate of Lily, to discover that her own intimate images have been shared by her best friend Reagan. In a moment of rage, Grace attacks Reagan with a baseball bat, leaving her comatose. Meanwhile, the identity of Daddy is unveiled to be Nick Mathers, the neighbor whom Lily used to babysit. The explicit images and videos that Lily unwittingly sent to Nick are now public, leading to her public shaming and severing ties with her disgraced parents. As she wanders the streets, feeling forsaken and homeless, she faces further horror when a man in a truck begins to film her, taunting her before attempting to stab her. In a desperate act of self-defense, she manages to subdue him with a shovel and seeks refuge at the homes of Em and Sarah.

A week later, Salem finds itself engulfed in masked vigilante justice, as townspeople take up arms against those they believe have wronged them. Leading this dangerous charge is Nick, who captures Marty and tortures him until he reveals that the origin of the hacks traces back to Lily. Just as they prepare to carry out their deadly plans, the masked mob locates Lily at Em and Sarah’s home and violently breaks in. In the ensuing chaos, their mother Nance makes a valiant attempt to defend her daughters but ultimately succumbs. As Lily and Bex manage a narrow escape, Em and Sarah are apprehended by Officer Richter and his fellow attackers.

In a twist of fate, Nick initially presents himself as a protector to Lily, only to reveal his true intentions of violence when he brandishes a knife, aiming to inflict unspeakable harm on her for the chaos she unleashed upon the community. However, Lily proves to be resourceful when she incapacitates Nick and is confronted with the horrifying sight of Marty’s lifeless body. In an intense showdown, she musters her courage and decisively takes down Nick, discovering an armory of weapons that ultimately aids her in rescuing Em and Sarah from perilous captivity. Meanwhile, Bex faces a vile ordeal at the hands of Johnny, Diamond’s best friend, who wishes to enact revenge for his humiliation. Through a clever negotiation, Bex persuades Johnny to spare her life, while her friends come together to orchestrate a daring rescue, eliminating their attackers as they fight for their freedom.

In a rallying cry, Lily crafts a video to declare her innocence, rallying the town’s victims to stand against their oppressors. The aftermath unfurls as a riot breaks out, exposing the raw emotions and repercussions of the digital warfare that ensnared Salem. In a shocking resolution, Lily’s younger brother Donny—the hidden mastermind of the hacks—is apprehended for his crimes against the community. When confronted by their parents, he expresses his disdainful reasons, stating, “I don’t know, for the lulz.” The film concludes with an eerie yet poignant scene: the Salem High marching band drives through the remnants of their devastated town, performing Miley Cyrus’ anthem “We Can’t Stop,” juxtaposing youthful defiance against the backdrop of loss and destruction.

Last Updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:01