Scary Stories: Dark Web 2020

Chloe Whitaker, Savanna Rae, a college student, uncovers a mysterious book of stories tucked away in her attic and decides to resurrect an ancient storytelling tradition by gathering friends for a late-night video call to celebrate the Moonlight Order. She narrates the story of Sara Bogan, now remembered as The Boogeywoman, a woman who endured a tortured life and found solace in telling stories. Chloe includes footage found on the dark web, unwittingly inviting a dark force to descend upon the call and pick off the group one by one… but could it be Sara Bogan herself?

When Jenny, Shannon Leigh Webber and Alyssa, Alexandra Alontaga, disappear from the call, Michael, Bryan Renaud heads on foot toward Chloe’s house.

Found footage segments are interwoven with the main plot and form a eerie collage: a queer Tinder date gone wrong, Date from Hell, with Kev, Colton Adams, and Tuv, Gardy Gilbert; a haunted bridge, Emily’s Bridge; a woman followed by herself, Selfy; and documentary footage, The Pittsford Haunted House. Notably, Emily’s Bridge and The Pittsford Haunted House were previously featured in the anthology Dead Static.

As Michael runs through the city, the dark force overtakes the call and reveals footage of Chloe participating in a ritual, becoming possessed. The friends, Sheena and Jay, attempt to intervene, but Michael arrives at Chloe’s house only to find hundreds of candles laid out for a ceremony, while Chloe remains missing. What the ritual demands becomes clear: a six-person ceremony that can only be completed with a human sacrifice. The tension peaks when Michael enters Chloe’s screen on the call, only to be attacked by Chloe, possessed by Sara Bogan.

Chloe calmly collects The Moonlight Order book and steps toward the camera as the call spirals toward its end. While it bears resemblance to Host (2020), the film is based on the 2019 theatrical play Scary Stories: Are You Afraid?, and its production began before Host premiered.