No. Spree is a fictional work inspired by the real-life case of an Uber driver written by Eugene Kotlyarenko and Gene McHugh.
Spree is a Hollywood fiction movie directed by Eugene Kotlyarenko, starring Joe Keery, Sasheer Zamata, Mischa Barton, and John DeLuca. While it is true that there are actual stories of Uber drivers that have been convicted of murder, there is no "Uber driver killing spree" in real life that resembles Spree's plot.
What is Spree about?
The satirical horror flick Spree tells the tale of Kurt Kunkle, starring Joe Keery, a celebrity-hungry wannabe influencer who is willing to do whatever it takes to get the attention of his supporters. In a plot close to reality, Kunkle, a ride-sharing driver, broadcasts live the killings of his victims to become famous on the internet. Spree depicts the worst possible scenario of what might happen if threats imposed by online influencer culture and mass murder in order to get attention had to come together. However, there is a strong possibility that Spree's events are not limited to fiction.
What does Director Eugene Kotlyarenko say about Spree?
According to Kotlyarenko, the movie's screenplay is based on the actual case of an Uber driver who committed a series of murders. During the question period at the Sundance 2020 Film Festival following the opening of Spree, Kotlyarenko stated that the film came to be after its co-writer McHugh said: “We should take this horrible thing that happened and use it.”
Although the filmmaker did not reveal which actual case provided the context for the film, it is assumed that the case of Jason Dalton, an Uber driver from Michigan, who took part in a shootout and killed six people in Kalamazoo on February 20, 2016, probably inspired the film, but vaguely so. Dalton received a life sentence in 2019, having pleaded guilty to all charges.
How did Joe Keery prepare for the role of Kurt Kunkle?
To successfully represent the part of the deranged and murderous influencer Kurt Kunkle in Spree, Joe Keery has spent hours watching influencers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. For his research on the character, Keery was guided by director Kotlyarenko, who sent him 35 to 45 minutes of influencer videos that inspired Kurt and he went down a rabbit hole.
Kotlyarenko also told Variety that they had looked at content from controversial and prominent influencers/streamers, including Logan Paul, Ice Poseidon, and Ninja, for prepping Keery for the part.
FAQs
Q. When did Spree release?
A. Spree premiered on January 24, 2020, at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was released in theatres and video on demand in the USA on August 14, 2020, by RLJE Films.
Q. Is Spree a found footage movie?
Yes. Spree is a take on the found-footage film genre layered in exciting dark comic realism.
Q. What is Kurt's full name in Spree?
A. Kurt's full name is Kurt Kunkle in Spree.
