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Characters & Themes

Spree (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 93 min · English
Echo score 58
JustWatch #5,927 19
Directed by
Eugene Kotlyarenko
Starring
Joe Keery, Kyle Mooney, Sasheer Zamata, Mischa Barton, David Arquette, Caroline Hebert

A socially isolated rideshare driver, Kurt, seeks fame by livestreaming a violent spree he calls "#thelesson." Installing cameras in his car, he embarks on a deadly pursuit, intending to go viral and gain notoriety. However, he soon finds that achieving internet fame is far more challenging and dangerous than he initially imagined, leading him into a desperate and increasingly perilous situation.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Spree
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Spree (2020)

Where can you watch Spree? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on AMC+, MUBI and Philo: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Spree Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Spree (2020), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Kurt Kunkle (Joe Keery)

    Kurt Kunkle is an obsessed individual driven by his desire to gain social media fame, leading him down a dark path. His jealousy towards Bobby, a successful internet figure, fuels his psychopathic actions. Despite his disturbing behavior, Kurt embodies the tragic consequences of modern fame and societal indifference.

    • 🧟‍♂️ Obsession
    • 😡 Jealousy
    • 🌟 Fame
  • Jessie Adams (Sasheer Zamata)

    Jessie Adams is a confident and ambitious comedian who challenges Kurt's views on fame and social media. While she initially seems unimpressed by his obsession, she ultimately becomes his adversary. Jessie's courage and defiance in the face of danger highlight her resilience against Kurt's toxic influence.

    • 🎤 Comedy
    • ✊ Defiance
    • 🌟 Authenticity
  • Kris Kunkle (David Arquette)

    Kris Kunkle is Kurt's father, who unknowingly becomes entwined in his son's dark schemes. His desire for connection with Kurt adds emotional depth to the narrative, contrasting with Kurt's violent actions. Kris's character serves to humanize Kurt amidst his horrifying behavior.

    • 👨‍👦 Family
    • 🔄 Conflict
    • 🌪️ Chaos

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:52

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Setting

Where and When Does Spree Take Place?

The setting of Spree (2020): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The movie is set in a contemporary time frame reflecting the present-day obsession with social media fame and the consequences of such desires. It highlights the pressures and repercussions of internet culture without specifying a distinct historical period.

Location

City streets, Rideshare vehicle, Comedy club

The film unfolds across city streets where ridesharing takes place, showcasing the anonymity and dangers of urban life. The rideshare vehicle itself is transformed into a mobile broadcasting studio, becoming a pivotal location for Kurt's sinister activities. The comedy club serves as a contrasting backdrop, where Jessie performs before a live audience, providing insight into the world of entertainment and social media fame.

  • 🚖 Rideshare
  • 🎤 Comedy

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:52

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3 major themes

Spree Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Spree (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Social Media

    The movie explores the pervasive influence of social media on personal identity and ambition. Kurt's obsessive pursuit of fame leads him to commit heinous acts, all in the name of going viral. This dark commentary reveals the dangerous lengths individuals will go to in order to achieve recognition in the digital age.

  • Violence

    Violence is central to the narrative, as Kurt's desperation manifests in his murderous actions against those he envies or sees as obstacles. The film forces viewers to grapple with the consequences of unchecked jealousy and the normalization of violence in pursuit of fame, blending horror with dark comedy.

  • Identity

    Identity plays a significant role as characters navigate their personas in the digital realm. Kurt's transformation from a rideshare driver to a self-styled influencer highlights the blurred lines between reality and online personas. Jessie's struggle against Kurt's toxic influence underscores the importance of authenticity amidst a sea of curated identities.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:52

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Character & theme questions

Spree Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Spree (2020): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The movie takes place in city streets, primarily centered around a rideshare vehicle that serves as Kurt's mobile broadcasting studio. A comedy club also appears as a key location where Jessie performs, contrasting the world of entertainment and social media aspiration with Kurt's violent spree.

  • setting
  • city
  • locations
  • rideshare
Q2

What role does the rideshare car play in the story?

The rideshare vehicle is transformed from a simple transportation tool into a mobile broadcasting studio where Kurt installs cameras to livestream his killing spree. It becomes the central location for his violent actions and his desperate attempt to go viral, symbolizing how technology can be weaponized for notoriety.

  • rideshare car
  • livestream
  • cameras
  • technology
Q3

When is the movie set?

The film is set in contemporary present-day times, reflecting the current social media landscape and internet culture. It does not specify a particular historical era, instead focusing on modern concerns about viral fame and digital notoriety.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • present day
Q4

What is the movie's message about social media?

The film explores how social media fame has become a dangerous obsession, showing that people will commit horrific acts just to go viral. Kurt's obsessive pursuit of internet recognition drives him to murder, illustrating the toxic pressures and deadly consequences of internet culture.

  • social media
  • fame
  • viral
  • internet culture
  • going viral
Q5

How does the film approach violence?

Violence is used as a central narrative device to show how desperation and jealousy can manifest in murderous actions. The film blends horror with dark comedy, forcing viewers to confront the normalization of violence in media and the disturbing lengths people will go to achieve notoriety.

  • violence
  • murder
  • jealousy
  • consequences
Q6

What does the movie say about identity and online personas?

The film examines how characters blur the lines between their real selves and curated online identities. Kurt transforms from a rideshare driver into a self-styled influencer, while Jessie struggles against his toxic influence. The movie critiques how digital platforms encourage inauthentic personas.

  • identity
  • online persona
  • authenticity
  • digital realm
Q7

Who is Kurt Kunkle?

Kurt Kunkle is the film's protagonist, a socially isolated rideshare driver who becomes obsessed with achieving social media fame. Jealous of successful internet figures like Bobby, he embarks on a violent spree called '#thelesson' to go viral, embodying the tragic consequences of modern fame-seeking and societal indifference.

  • kurt kunkle
  • protagonist
  • rideshare driver
  • fame
Q8

Who is Jessie Adams?

Jessie Adams is a confident and ambitious comedian who becomes Kurt's unintended passenger and eventual adversary. She challenges Kurt's views on fame and social media, demonstrating courage and resilience against his toxic influence as she fights to survive his violent rampage.

  • jessie adams
  • comedian
  • antagonist
  • survivor
Q9

What role does Kris Kunkle play?

Kris Kunkle is Kurt's father, who becomes unknowingly entangled in his son's dark schemes. His desire for connection with his emotionally distant son adds emotional weight to the narrative and provides a humanizing contrast to Kurt's horrific actions.

  • kris kunkle
  • father
  • family
  • emotional depth
Q10

What is the significance of the comedy club in the movie?

The comedy club serves as a contrasting backdrop that represents the world of entertainment and legitimate aspirations for fame. Jessie's performances there highlight the difference between earning recognition through talent versus Kurt's desperate path to notoriety through violence.

  • comedy club
  • entertainment
  • fame
  • performer

Movie threads

More Movies Like Spree, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Spree tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Social Media Horror Movies like Spree

Unhinged characters spiral into violence, fueled by a desperate craving for online fame. If the chilling critique of internet fame in Spree resonated with you, explore these movies that also dissect the dark side of technology. These stories feature characters driven to extremes by social media, livestreaming, and the desperate pursuit of online notoriety, often with fast-paced and violent consequences.

  • unhinged
  • anxious
  • cynical
  • chaotic
  • desperate
  • sinister
  • Tone: dark, cynical, sinister
  • Pacing: fast, relentless, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear, fast-paced escalation. A disillusioned or socially isolated character, often an anti-hero, becomes fixated on achieving recognition through digital platforms. Their initial attempts are misguided, leading to increasingly drastic and dangerous acts that spiral out of control, culminating in a public spectacle of violence.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared thematic core: a sharp critique of contemporary internet culture. They possess a dark, cynical tone, high intensity, and a chaotic pacing that mirrors the relentless nature of online content. The emotional journey is one of heavy, unsettling tension derived from a disturbingly relatable desire for fame.

Live-Feed Thrillers with the Vibe of Spree

Stories where violence unfolds in real-time, broadcast for a captive and complicit audience. For viewers who appreciated the real-time, livestreamed chaos of Spree, this collection highlights movies that share its first-person, mediated perspective. Discover similar films where the action is presented through cameras, screens, or live feeds, creating a uniquely immersive and anxious viewing experience that critiques the spectacle of violence.

  • anxious
  • claustrophobic
  • tense
  • voyeuristic
  • chaotic
  • gritty
  • Tone: tense, anxious, bleak
  • Pacing: fast, immediate, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern is defined by its presentation. The story is captured through diegetic cameras—be it security feeds, livestreams, or personal recordings—creating a sense of immediacy and unfiltered access. This technique amplifies tension, reduces narrative distance, and often implicates the audience in the voyeuristic consumption of the violent spectacle.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their formal approach to storytelling, which directly shapes the viewer's experience. They generate a specific kind of anxiety and immersion through their first-person visual style. The shared elements are a fast pace, high tension, and a meta-commentary on observation and media consumption.

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Every angle

Spree (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Spree in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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