What Happens in Take This Lollipop?
The complete story of Take This Lollipop, from the first scene to the last, in 152 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
This interactive film begins by requesting temporary access to the viewer’s Facebook account, using the retrieved personal data to customize the experience. The story introduces the Facebook Stalker, played by Bill Oberst Jr., depicted as a thin, creepy man hunched over a keyboard.
As the stalker types, images from the viewer’s own account appear on screen, simulating a real-time search for the user. The character becomes increasingly agitated while scrolling through the discovered information until he successfully locates the viewer’s home using geographic data and Google Maps.
The tension peaks as the stalker is seen driving toward the user’s location, with the viewer’s own profile picture taped to his dashboard, implying an intent to commit mayhem. The film concludes with a chilling image of a blue lollipop containing a razor blade, displayed alongside the viewer’s screenname and the name of the stalker’s next intended victim, sourced directly from the viewer’s friend list.
Take This Lollipop Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Permission Request” to “The Next Victim Is Named”. 8 events name a place, across 3 locations.
- 1
Permission Request
The interactive film opens by asking viewers to temporarily grant the application access to their Facebook account. This request is the gateway to the film's central concept, as the personalized experience cannot proceed without the viewer's permission.
When:Beginning of the film
- 2
Personal Data Integration
Once access is granted, the film begins pulling information directly from the viewer's Facebook page. These personal details are woven into the movie itself, filling in specifics of the story and making the experience unique to each individual viewer.
- 3
The Stalker Appears
The Facebook Stalker is introduced as a thin, creepy man hunched over and typing at a computer keyboard. His unsettling appearance and obsessive typing set the ominous tone for the personalized horror that follows.
Where:The Stalker's computer room
- 4
Private Images Surface
As the stalker types at his keyboard, images taken from the viewer's accessed Facebook account begin to appear on screen. The display of these personal photos creates a jarring sense that the stalker genuinely holds access to the viewer's private life.
Where:The Stalker's computer room
- 5
Searching for the Target
The stalker appears to conduct a search specifically for the Facebook user who granted the application access. His focused typing suggests he is hunting down the exact individual who is watching the film at that moment.
Where:The Stalker's computer room
- 6
Growing Agitation
As the stalker scrolls through the newly discovered information, he becomes more and more agitated. His escalating unease ratchets up the tension as he delves deeper into the viewer's personal details.
Where:The Stalker's computer room
- 7
Home Address Discovered
The stalker successfully locates the home of the user whose profile he has been exploring. This discovery transforms his online stalking from a digital intrusion into a potential real-world threat.
Where:The Stalker's computer room
- 8
Mapping the Route
The stalker pulls up Google Maps and finds directions to the user's home using the geographic data contained in their profile. This moment starkly demonstrates how easily online information can be translated into a physical location.
Where:The Stalker's computer room
- 9
The Dashboard Photo
With the user's profile picture taped to his car's dashboard, the stalker prepares to set out on his journey. The taped photograph serves as a constant reminder of his target during the drive ahead.
Where:The Stalker's car
- 10
The Drive to Mayhem
The stalker is seen driving in his car toward the user's location, apparently intending to perform mayhem upon arrival. This sequence brings the digital threat into the physical world as he follows the route he mapped out.
Where:On the road to the viewer's home
- 11
The Razor Lollipop Warning
At the end of the film, a screen appears displaying an image of a blue lollipop with a razor blade hidden inside it. The sinister imagery evokes classic fears of hidden dangers and delivers a final jolt of menace to the viewer.
When:End of the film
- 12
The Next Victim Is Named
Beneath the lollipop image, the film displays the viewer's own Facebook screenname alongside the name of the stalker's next victim, gleaned from the viewer's own profile. This closing message directly implicates the viewer, making the threat feel chillingly personal.
When:End of the film
Quiz
How well do you remember Take This Lollipop? Test yourself on the story.
