Social media is a staple in modern times. It allows us to connect with others from all over the world, share stories and knowledge, and gives us people to spend time. Such as no longer having to eat alone. Now people can find others who will eat a meal with them online. Or for the people who enjoy watching someone stuff ungodly amounts of food into their body. Day after day after day…

In Mukbang by Alyanna Poe, we get to see behind the camera and become intimate witnesses to the lives of Jack, the Mukbang star, and Mia, his former co-star and wife. Once a power couple who created travel vlogs, the pandemic that closed all travel, forced them to stay home. They had to find a new source of income. Videos of Jack eating during their travels were the most popular. So, Jack followed that attention and started creating Mukbang videos.

TO ENABLE

If anyone is familiar with this term, a certain type of image pops to mind—a large spread of unhealthly food being consumed by one individual. The sounds and sights are messy and exaggerated. This is exactly what Jack does. Each meal, each video gives him the attention he desperately craves.

Unfortunately for Mia, she has been demoted to caretaker. She cooks, cleans, and bathes him daily. Like an episode of My 600-lb Life, we are privy to all the uncensored bits she goes through. However, just as the show explains, Mia is an enabler. Touted as an act of love, she is doing nothing but helping Jack kill himself by giving in to his every demand.

Like other enablers, she finds herself trapped in a cycle of love and fear. Mia wants to make Jack happy. Food makes Jack happy. Food is killing Jack. Jack throws temper tantrums if he doesn’t get what he wants. This makes Mia feel guilty. She wants to make Jack happy… and the cycle goes on and on until Jack is wholly reliant on her. But it’s okay because Jack loves her back.

Except he doesn’t. He only cares about getting the admiration of his followers. Keeping them happy, makes Jack happy. They like seeing Jack eat. Thus this cycle goes on as well.

TO OBSESS

When things come to a heated head between Jack and Mia, she decides to leave. Finally stopping herself from being an enabler to Jack. Also being able to focus on herself for once. However, Mia’s presence is quickly replaced by Jack’s number one fan Rochelle.

Being obsessed, Rochelle does cater to Jack like Mia did. However, Rochelle takes it further. She is catering to herself and she wants Jack bigger. No one can stop her, not even Jack himself. This is why internet strangers should be vetted before coming over.

Rochelle pushes Jack to drop all the healthy habits he has been working towards. Even knowing full well that Jack is close to death’s door. But that doesn’t matter. Jack is not a person to her. He is just a means to feed her obsession. When he is gone, she will move on to the next person. This, too, is a harmful cycle.

TO END

Mukbang is not for the squeamish. There is plenty of body horror. Alyanna manages to implant the most horrific images into your head that will make you physically ill (I can’t eat cheese for a while. Thanks Alyanna!) The characters, themselves, are just as horrific. Except for one (I stan Deryk). Each has an overarching character flaw that drives them.

Even at the start of the main characters’ relationships, it’s apparent that Jack and Mia are using each other for their own gains. Whether it was conscious or not, they used their relationship and appearances for attention on social media.

Be weary of the dangers that being chronically online can cause. And who it can bring to the door. It changes a person. In Jack’s case, for the worse. Don’t be like Jack. Take breaks and stay healthy. Otherwise, a plate of mystery meat may be waiting.

Alyanna Poe is a horror author and content creator. Her previous works include Eaten, Void, and Adam’s Murder.