Tonight’s viewing: the tonally inconsistent, awkwardly plotted, and yet weirdly compelling: #DeathCipher. Expect #spoilers in my latest #TubiYellingWithKat.

Group shot in poolside clothing: Colt, Nora, a guy from the old cult tapes, Colt’s brother, Emma, and the man in the duck head from other tapes. All appear smiling. The phrase: Help us is in capital letters, superimposed over the image.

From end-credits: THIS PROJECT MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF BIG JAKE'S MATTRESS SURPLUS THE CHIROPRACTIC INSTITUATE OF AMERICAN ORTHODOXY CYBER DAWN FOUNDATION THE AWF

Also from end credits (very end): KEEP CLIMBING THE LADDER

And these. Which only muddies the intent of the filmmaker further: tone, plot, etc. What a ride, #DeathCipher. #TubiYellingWithKat

(From end-credits of Colt and Nora posed with serious faces with their arms around one around, dressed in 1980s fashions. In front of them is a granite countertop with a basket of onions prominently displayed.

Colt and Nora are posed together, holding an onion as if it were an infant, appearing pleased.

In 1980s fashion, Nora and Emma sit on an old couch both smiling. There are others behind them.

In same photo, but now they are holding the sock puppets from the earlier short film. Both are smiling.

And then there’s the after-credits slideshow. A series of stills that grows increasingly more surreal (and unserious) and then really fucking ominous. #DeathCipher

And again I say, assuming I take the poorly named #DeathCipher at face value, regardless of its inability to maintain a consistent tone: what the fuck, movie, what the fuck? #TubiYellingWithKat

An initiation ritual? Respectively? What the fuck, #DeathCipher? What the fuck???? And this music. Red lights. Blue lights. Green lights. Red lights. // 80s cosplay. And now with sock puppets. So Emma and his brother faked both their deaths? Did Colt not know the brother faked his death until now? >

Kind of movie it is vs. what it wants to be as #DeathCipher appears to be. At least from what footage made it onscreen. Also in weird credits, the filmmakers thank the cult’s likely sponsors. // tonally — all over the place. Also when does the credit footage take place? // what the fuck #DeathCipher

Critically, I would say #DeathCipher has tonal issues? But I’m still not entirely sure how well or to what extent the plot held together. // I’m halfway tempted to make a timeline or even a list of characters. Because I do enjoy a good conspiracy thriller. Even one that’s as confused about what >>

>> to this… // what’s that smell? Onions. // oh so he is directly connected to the cult. And Emma faked her own death? // what the actual fuck??? // and the film ends with people who are happy now including our main character (?) // keep climbing the ladder???? // what the fuck, #DeathCipher ????

^ seems not sees #DeathCipher

And now Colt is calling? If he’s a cult rep, he sees kind of sloppy. Or just new, like he said? // #DeathCipher #TubiYellingWithKat

This feels less like a #DeathCipher and more like a Death ARG. Also why is this girl’s digital video so yellow filtered? // well Chris is rude and condescending. // but her isolation does make her perfect cult fodder. // did someone break into her email? Looks like a gmail clone. #DeathCipher

Colt Phillips must be part of this mystery. Our journalist protagonist is attempting to cold-read someone who works at Colt’s old investment firm. Then she asked about Ben Whitley. // oh okay, so this story is why she approached Colt, pretending to be an alcoholic in need of counsel. #DeathCipher

The Feds showed up? Already? // I’m not convinced these two stories are connected. // so far this sounds like an ARG that got out of control. #DeathCipher #TubiYellingWithKat

Arcadia Calling // well now I’m back to this being an ARG? // Emma’s mom is being weirdly pushy. And judgey. If this was a better movie, I might think that the mom is involved in the cult somehow. // Am I accidentally watching a religious movie? Because if so, I want out, NOW! #DeathCipher

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done? // oh that’s some cult shit. // so you have a clean conscience? // or is this whole section just for character development? Did she just call a random hotline out of loneliness? #DeathCipher

(Tense string music building.) #DeathCipher // Look behind you. (Oh hell no! Call 911! Don’t investigate.) // good, her editor has some sense. But she’s not listening. // why is she talking to Colt again? Is this for the story? Because as far as we’ve seen, she doesn’t drink much or at all.

“You look sad.” What the fuck, rando? Maybe there’s malware on her laptop? Cover that webcam with a piece of tape. #DeathCipher

Definitely getting a spaghetti on the wall vibe for which parts of this conspiracy #DeathCipher wants us to focus on… // I’m here for any movie calling chiropractic out for what it is — bullshit. // oh this is some cult shit. Weird man in a duck mask saying non-sequiturs. #TubiYellingWithKat

Run away!!!!! Or is The Freedom Network even related to the central mystery of Emma going missing. // or is our main character just struggling with alcohol. #DeathCipher

So far, not a lot of puzzles for a movie called #DeathCipher. I’m still not convinced Emma would be uploading her videos to a Wordpress site. Maybe the filmmaker is just old.

Yep — that is an ARG, but I’ve already forgotten where she got the dog pic. This is a weirdly vindictive ARG. #DeathCipher // is this a hotline number? // did we skip a step here? This sounds like a hotline for alcoholics? // I guess she’s feeling out whomever Emma contacted. #DeathCipher

This is why I don’t trust chiropractors. #DeathCipher #TubiYellingWithKat

Big Jake’s Mattress Surplus! Oh this is sketch. What #DeathCipher starts here? #TubiYellingWithKat // is this a really low rent ARG?

I guess the grocery guy never got the memo on contactless delivery. Even his voice sounds sketchy. // although the woman driven to a life of solitude and near agoraphobia after a parade of online harassment feels pretty fucking real. // Emma disappeared after getting mixed up w/ puzzle. #DeathCipher

Well I thought I was watching #DeathCipher — what was that weird beginning: looked like really low rent porn featuring woman pouring water on herself. // now this is the bargain basement filmed on digital quality I was expecting. This is giving filmed during the pandemic so far. #TubiYellingWithKat