Social media and online communication have become so much the norm over the past decade that it’s not only accepted, but expected, for many people to meet friends and love interests over the internet. A good number of these interactions lead to long and meaningful relationships. There are those exceptions, of course, that unfortunately result in dangerous, and even life threatening scenarios. What Comes Around, directed by Amy Redford and written by Scott Organ, takes a turbulent look at the dark side of what can happen when two strangers meet online.

When we first are introduced to teenager Anna (Grace Van Dien), she’s already deep in the throes of a heavy, near-constant flirtation with Eric (Kyle Gallner), a much older man she met online. Though he lives 900 miles away and is over ten years her senior, this doesn’t deter Anna from being completely infatuated with him as they discuss poetry over video chats and incessant text messages. Her mother, Beth (Summer Phoenix), is too preoccupied with her recent engagement to pay much attention, even though the two still share plenty of sweet mother/daughter moments together to illustrate their close relationship. 

When Eric unexpectedly shows up on Anna’s doorstep on her seventeenth birthday, she’s (thankfully) immediately alarmed and put off, and doesn’t hesitate in letting him know. Despite this, his emotionally manipulative power over her manages to eventually wear her down, and the two take their disturbing relationship to a physical level. When Beth discovers the lurid details of Anna’s new relationship, it sets in motion a twisted series of events that uncovers dark truths for all involved.

What Comes Around is one of those films that pulls the rug out from under you several times, adding layers of depth to both its characters and storyline. With a smartly written script and well-timed pacing, it digs in deep right from the start, burrowing in to hold the viewer’s attention. The performances from the entire cast are stellar, but Van Dien and Gallner in particular provide captivating portrayals of their characters. Van Dien delivers an authentic representation of a young girl who is straddling the line between childhood and adulthood, depicting Anna as someone who is both headstrong and vulnerable. As Eric, Gallner knows exactly when to elevate the creep factor, while also pulling back the veil enough to make him not completely a monster, and more someone struggling with past trauma and betrayal. 

The cinematography and location also deserve to be mentioned, because while they don’t necessarily add or take away from the plot, they provide a jaw-droppingly beautiful backdrop for the disturbing events that take place. It helps to provide a stunning juxtaposition to the sinister nature of the overall message that’s being told.

What Comes Around is a deeply complex story that touches on issues of abuse of power, exploitation, and control. This isn’t a what you see is what you get type of film, but more a multi faceted look at the convoluted ways human relationships can intersect and lead down troubling paths. It’s a disturbing, but honest study of how not everyone is what they seem, and sometimes even ill intentions can have understanding reasons behind why they happen.