Popularity Contest

9 strangers take part in a computer-based social experiment that aims to find the most popular person within the group. The twist that soon comes out -- only the most popular will survive.

A “Tom Furniss” FILM
WRITTEN BY Tom Furniss

9 students take part in a social research experiment that will net them $500. Each sit in their own, tiny white cubicle — just themselves, a computer, and a door to the adjacent hallway with a small glass window cut into it. The participants interact through webcams and a chat room that are continually monitored by the mysterious, computer-voiced man conducting the experiment, simply known as
ADMINISTRATOR. Administrator explains the rules of the experiment — the participants are to interact with one another, then every 7 minutes they vote on who they want to leave the group, and that person must leave. The last remaining person gets a bonus $500. It's a popularity contest

BEN, a mid 20s med student is voted off first due to his nerves and poor set of social skills. But before Ben leaves, Administrator throws the first of many curve balls, this time asking the participants to re-vote, and this time the criteria is... "who do you most want to see die?" The group instead votes for an elderly man, ED. Ben watches on in horror at the video feed of Ed's cubicle as a masked man enters from behind and slits his throat, bleeding him like a lamb.

The experiment is no longer just a popularity contest, but now a survival contest. The rules twist and turn as Administrator governs with increasing mayhem and equal sadism. All Ben and the others can do is play the game and watch on as every 7 minutes another person is killed in a unique, horrific way — all aware that only the most liked will survive.