The Thinning

The Thinning
Promotional poster
Directed by	Michael J. Gallagher
Written by	Michael Gallagher Steve Greene
Produced by	Michael J. Gallagher Jana Winternitz Michael Wormser
Starring	Logan Paul Peyton List Lia Marie Johnson Calum Worthy Matthew Glave Michael Traynor Stacey Dash
Cinematography	Greg Cotten
Edited by	Brian Ufberg
Music by	Brandon Campbell
Production companies	Legendary Digital Media Cinemand Kids at Play
Distributed by	YouTube Red
Release date	October 12, 2016(2016-10-12)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Thinningis a 2016 Americansocial science fictionthrillerweb filmdirected by Michael Gallagher and starringLogan Paul,Peyton List,Lia Marie Johnson,Calum Worthy,Matthew Glave,Michael Traynor,andStacey Dash.The film is set in adystopian futurein whichpopulation controlis enforced through a schoolaptitude test;those who fail it are executed.

Plot

In 2039, due to Earth'shuman overpopulation,theUnited Nationsinstructs all nations to annually cut their populations by 5%. The United States implements the 10-241 or "the Thinning", astandardized testin which those who fail will be executed.

Blake Redding, son ofTexas governorDean Redding, is dating a girl named Ellie Harper, neither of whom study for the exam. Blake passes the exams, while Ellie fails. Blake calls his father in an attempt to free Ellie, but he refuses.

On the day of his last exam a year later, Blake makes a video saying that he willpurposefully fail his examto test his father's loyalty. Redding takes notice of this announcement, and test manager Mason King, also head of theDepartment of Population Control,is ordered to pass Blake regardless of his score. Mason switches his score with genius classmate Laina Michaels, passing Blake at her expense. Suspicious, a teacher named Ms. Birch secretly hands Laina a keycard so she can unlock the doors and escape. Blake cuts the school's power, allowing Laina to escape. That, however, is hindered by the school initiating lockdown. After using the keycard, Laina meets up with Blake.

After a series of escapades with the guards, Laina goes to theserver roomto check the scores, learning that test scores are shuffled, resulting in the wrongful deaths of many students with passing scores. Laina gives it to her friend Kellan, who is acquainted with anews anchor.The power is turned on, and Laina is caught on camera, thus taken to the Thinning. Blake, still in the disguise, attempts to release all the failed students, but is caught by the guards. After photos of the system's misconduct are leaked, Redding reluctantly executes all of those who actually failed, including Blake, by injection. As the lockdown ends, Laina is reunited with her younger sister Corrine as well as Ms. Birch, who has been taking care of Corrine since their mother's death.

Blake and the rest are taken underground, where many people are working for tech company Assuru Global. As Blake slowly wakes up from what was actually asleep drug,he sees a blonde girl working: Ellie.

Cast

• Logan Paulas Blake Redding
• Peyton Listas Laina Michaels
• Lia Marie Johnsonas Ellie Harper
• Calum Worthyas Kellan Woods
• Ryan Newmanas Sarah Foster
• Michael Traynoras Mason King
• Stacey Dashas Kendra Birch
• Matthew Glaveas Gov. Dean Redding
• Robert Gantas Vince Davi
• Kiersten Warrenas Barbara Michaels
• Jana Winternitz as Ms. Cole
• Patrick O’Sullivan as Mr. P. Glass
• Amy Paffrathas Wendy Banks
• Jeff Corbett as Victor Woods
• Laura Harringas Georgina Preston
• Aria Leabu as Corrine Michaels
• Marcel Nahapetian as Joey Michaels

Reception

Adi Robertson ofThe Vergegave a negative review of the film, describing it, in comparison to other films about teenagers forced into a deadly competition, as "remarkable simply for being such a bad take on the formula."

Sequel

Main article:The Thinning: New World Order

On November 17, 2017, Logan Paul announced on his YouTube channel that a sequel, titledThe Thinning: New World Orderwas starting production.

On January 10, 2018,YouTubeannounced that production ofNew World Orderwas put on hold, as part of repercussions instated upon Paul for posting a controversial video in which he visitedAokigahara,a Japanese forest known for being a common place for suicides to occur, and filmed a dead body.This sparked outrage across social media against Paul, forcing an apology from himself and repercussions from YouTube, including delayingThe Thinning: New World Orderand his appearance in the upcoming season of YouTube Red seriesFoursome,but the criticism still continues.

On October 16, 2018, Logan Paul released the trailer forThe Thinning: New World Order.On October 17, Paul premieredThe Thinning: New World Orderto the public.

External links

• The ThinningatIMDb
• The ThinningatRotten Tomatoes
• The ThinningonYouTube