Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A duplicitous young man finds success in the dark world of social media smear tactics — but his virtual vitriol soon has violent real-life consequences.
The Hater is a sharp, prescient Polish thriller that dissects social media manipulation and political disinformation with chilling precision. Its protagonist is a fascinatingly cold anti-hero, and the plot escalates with genuine dread. The film's exploration of online radicalization and smear tactics felt ahead of the curve and remains strikingly relevant. Acting is solid but uneven outside the lead. Cinematography is competent and occasionally stylish but rarely remarkable. The ending is effective if slightly abrupt, leaving some threads dangling without fully landing its moral weight.