The film opens with a young woman, Theresa Cassidy, being tortured and murdered in a dark, decrepit room while being filmed. Shortly afterward, Detective Mike Reilly (played by Stephen Dorff) and Department of Health investigator Terry Huston (played by Natascha McElhone) are assigned to investigate a string of bizarre deaths linked to a website called Feardotcom.
The website features a live streaming video of a woman being tortured and killed in the same manner as Theresa Cassidy. It’s rumored that anyone who watches the video dies exactly 48 hours later, a theory reinforced by the deaths of several individuals who visited the site.
As Mike and Terry delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover a connection between the victims and the website’s creator, a sadistic doctor named Alistair Pratt (played by Stephen Rea). Pratt, who was conducting unethical experiments on human fear, had his license revoked after Theresa Cassidy died during one of his experiments.
Determined to stop Pratt and shut down the website, Mike and Terry enlist the help of a former colleague of Pratt’s, a journalist named Styles (played by Udo Kier). Together, they discover that the website is not just a recording but a portal to a supernatural realm where the spirits of the victims are trapped.
As the clock ticks down, Mike and Terry race against time to uncover the truth behind Feardotcom and put an end to Pratt’s reign of terror. However, they soon find themselves trapped in a nightmarish world of horror and despair, where the line between reality and nightmare is blurred.
In a climactic showdown, Mike confronts Pratt in his sinister lair and battles to free the souls of the trapped victims before it’s too late. With the help of Terry and Styles, Mike ultimately succeeds in shutting down Feardotcom and destroying Pratt’s twisted creation.
However, the ordeal leaves Mike and Terry scarred, both physically and emotionally, as they struggle to come to terms with the horrors they’ve witnessed. As they part ways, they vow to never forget the victims of Feardotcom and to continue fighting against evil wherever it may lurk.
“Feardotcom” is praised for its eerie atmosphere, suspenseful storyline, and chilling visuals. While it received mixed reviews from critics, the film has developed a cult following among horror fans for its unique premise and unsettling imagery.