When the bold tendencies of the energetic youth meet the insatiable hunger for social media fame, the two can create a fiery union. In some cases, it can even be fatal. Such an incident happened to a member of Brewman, a group of teenagers who filmed themselves in dangerous situations to the delight of online fans. A BBC-produced documentary, Train Surf Wars: Live or Die, documents the exploits of the group, their motivations for risking their lives and the disturbing trends they represent in our modern, connected world.
The boys jumped from rooftop to rooftop, performed double somersaults over cliff edges and balanced their lithe bodies on Europe’s tallest peak. She combines a love of adrenaline with a desire to build a major social media brand.
But tragedy thwarts those plans and creates a rift between their friendships. One of the teens has died after suffering serious head injuries during a silly stunt between subway station cars.
The boys reject claims that they engage in pointless daredevil antics; they say their physical achievements are the end result of extreme training and preparation. To them, it’s like a sport. Critics and families of the deceased said it was an exaggerated example of self-harm.
Worst of all, this self-harm tendency is running rampant. Copycat train surfing has erupted in the UK following the teenager’s death. Authorities are on high alert and heightened media scrutiny has put extra strain on the group’s already fragile psyche.
While the adults try to make sense of the tragedy and find a way to stop this disturbing trend, the boys and their henchmen continue to find their next adventure stunt. These teens don’t seem equipped enough to deal with their sense of loss or take responsibility for personal responsibility.
Train Surfing Wars: A Matter of Life and Death shows us how the old adage “boys will be boys” has become sinister today.
