The Thinning: New World Order
The Thinning: New World Order is a 2018 American social science fiction thriller web film and the sequel to the 2016 film The Thinning.[1] As with the first film, the movie was directed by Michael J. Gallagher and stars Logan Paul as a young man struggling against a dystopian future in which population control is enforced through a school aptitude test. The film released to YouTube Premium after being briefly shelved due to controversies surrounding its star, Logan Paul.[2]
The Thinning: New World Order | |
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Directed by | Michael J. Gallagher |
Produced by |
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Written by |
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Starring | |
Music by | Brandon Campbell |
Cinematography | Greg Cotten |
Edited by | Brian Ufberg |
Production company | Cinemand The Mark Gordon Company |
Distributed by | YouTube Premium |
Release date |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot
Governor Dean Redding is running for the next presidential election. He attempts to get Laina's support for his campaign to mitigate his own controversy surrounding the Thinning. She declines but is later recruited by teacher Ms. Cole and security guard Jack to accept Redding's offer, in order earn his trust and get close to him, with hopes that this will help them end the Thinning for good.
Meanwhile, Blake is presumed dead by the public after he purposely failed the test, but was actually taken to a slave labor facility. He finds Ellie there, and they rekindle their relationship. Blake attempts to run away with Ellie, only to be caught by Mason King.
Kellan manages to crack the Thinning conspiracy and tells Wendy about it but has no evidence. He visits Laina and tells her everything and she believes him. She then calls Joanne Morris and tells her about it. Ms. Cole extracts Corrine and Joey out of the country only to be double-crossed by her co-worker.
As requested by Ms. Coles, Laina gets all the information from Redding's wife Georgina's computer and manages to escape but Jack gets caught. After Kellan died of Joanne, who is sold to Assuru, Laina kills Joanna and then makes it to BNC News where she gives the drive to the editor.
Blake convinces the Worthy (the trustworthy group by the government) to betray them and escape. Blake and Ellie escape outside, and kills the interrupting Mason.
Governor Redding wins the election and becomes President, only for the truth to be told. With full power and authority over the entire nation, Georgina arrests everyone who ran against Redding. Laina, Blake, and Ellie discover that Georgina will end democracy and freedom in the nation. They are arrested as well but is intercepted by Jack who claims to work for FBI. Jack tells them that they will defeat Redding and Georgina and make things back to normal.
Cast
- Logan Paul as Blake Redding
- Peyton List as Laina Michaels
- Lia Marie Johnson as Ellie Harper
- Matthew Glave as Governor Dean Redding
- Calum Worthy as Kellan Woods
- Charles Melton as Cage
- Michael Traynor as Mason King
- Laura Harring as Georgina Preston
- Rome Flynn as Jack
- Jana Winternitz as Ms. Cole
- Amy Paffrath as Wendy Banks
- Presciliana Esparolini as Agent Joanne Morris
- Sydne Mikelle as Heather Forester
- Steven P. Cox as Wade Freeman
- Aria Lyric Leabu as Corrine Michaels
- Marcel Nahapetian as Joey Michaels
- Elizabeth Greer as Senator Elaine Davis
- Jason Horton as Mr. Leonard
- Spencer List as Tyson
- Brooke Nevin as Dr. Langley
Production
Production for The Thinning: New World Order began in November 2017 and wrapped in December of the same year.[3][4] Post-production on the film was temporarily stalled in January of 2018 due to public controversy surrounding a video Paul shot and posted to YouTube featuring a dead body in Aokigahara forest in Japan.[5] A representative of YouTube later posted a statement in October 2018 after it was announced that the film would release during the same month, stating that "The entire cast and crew worked extremely hard to complete this film last year. In fairness to all of them and the fans who have been asking for the sequel, we decided to release 'The Thinning: New World Order.'"[6]
Reception
The film has received negative reviews from The Verge, The Daily Dot, and Common Sense Media, the last of which criticized the film for what they saw as an amateurish execution.[7] In their review, The Verge noted that one of the film's weaknesses was the focus on "Blake's nonstop gauntlet of physical and psychological trauma", as "Paul's YouTube persona is built on relentless enthusiasm, and his capacity for portraying sadness bottoms out around 'concerned bemusement.'"[8] In turn, The Daily Dot noted that "The premise has some potential, but New World Order never finds anything interesting to do with it—and that's the film's fatal flaw."[9]
References
- Saunders, Tristram Fane (2018-10-18). "The Thinning: New World Order - YouTube 'surprise' launches shamed vlogger Logan Paul's sci-fi sequel". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- Evans, Greg (2018-10-17). "Long-Shelved Logan Paul Movie Sequel Launches Today On YouTube Premium". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- Gallagher, Michael. "That's a wrap on THE THINNING: NEW WORLD ORDER! 🎬🥂Brilliant cast & crew! @PeytonList @LoganPaul @_MELTON_ @CalumWorthy are 🔥🔥🔥 #TheThinning". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- Gallagher, Michael. "That's a wrap on week 2 of THE THINNING: NEW WORLD ORDER 🎬 w/ @PeytonList @LoganPaul @LiaMarieJohnson #thethinning". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- "Logan Paul's 'The Thinning' Hits YouTube as Insider Cites 'Good Standing'". TheWrap. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- Spangler, Todd (2018-10-17). "Logan Paul Gets YouTube Reprieve for 'The Thinning' Movie Sequel". Variety. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- Costello, Brian. "The Thinning: New World Order - Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- "Logan Paul's new movie is the zombified husk of a YA dystopian thriller". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- "'The Thinning: New World Order' brings Logan Paul back in lame sci-fi effort". The Daily Dot. 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2018-11-20.