 | Genre: Thriller/Horror |
Unfortunately, the concept gets quite predictable quickly, and the film has plenty of other problems. There are two dislikeable characters, and while they get some comeuppance, other characters get worse and the one that dies is given a huge pity point just beforehand, and other characters defend her negative points. While some deaths are realistic, others are... lacklustre. When a character dies immediately of a heart attack it just feels like a quickly written fix when the writer or director realised their injury was not lethal, let alone immediately so. Heart attacks, however, are not usually immediately lethal. Another character dies of what appears to be pain from being whipped a mere twelve times with a cane.
It is well acted, and much better horror than many more outlandish horror films. I found myself realising that I would, in the same situation, make similar choices and end up in the same inescapable situation. It is more of a thriller than a horror, though, with less 'scares' and threat to the viewer. The murderous millionaires motivation is unclear, and is even questioned by another character, drawing attention to it. Why do this? It seems like a great deal of trouble to set it up, maintaining secrecy in staff and previous winners, let alone dealing with having apparently flown multiple contestants to your house only for them to never be seen again. All for some apparently restrained sadistic pleasure. The attention drawn to his unmentioned motive and the clarification that it is a yearly event just takes a viewer out of the moment. It's an unbelievable scenario.
The other characters do have easily understood and even relatable rationales. Choosing to do the least harm to another, panicking, and just trying to leave for example. Once the only outcome is clear, that only one may survive, more bloodthirsty actions are understandable and its hard to deny that you would not potentially choose to kill too.
But, really, two rounds into the game it is predictable. The escalation is overtly grasping to shock and keep you interested. Much talk is made of unknown options, but they feel known and not tense. Here is the most of the gore, with the eye injury that makes many of the posters visuals. It is, luckily, not shown at all, but is a genuinely tense moment culminating in rushed motion and the camera pulling sideways to the horrified face of another victim.
The ending, it could be said, is apt. The winner leaves, traumatised, and discovers a completely unrelated tragedy. It's an unexpected downer, and to give it its credit it is a good example of situational irony. After all the character has done, it makes the prize meaningless. But, it is also unexplained and unconnected to the game. Apt, what with the lack of motives, explanation or running theme of the game portion of the film. It does bookend the film in terms of tone. A slow paced beginning and end in non-dining room settings contrast the single setting of the majority of the game and rushed pacing of deaths and increased danger.
It isn't that it's an hour and a half of my life that I'll never get back, just that it isn't time well spent in a world with other films. It's a shame that it didn't reach its potential. Hopefully there are other films with similar concepts.
It is well acted, and much better horror than many more outlandish horror films. I found myself realising that I would, in the same situation, make similar choices and end up in the same inescapable situation. It is more of a thriller than a horror, though, with less 'scares' and threat to the viewer. The murderous millionaires motivation is unclear, and is even questioned by another character, drawing attention to it. Why do this? It seems like a great deal of trouble to set it up, maintaining secrecy in staff and previous winners, let alone dealing with having apparently flown multiple contestants to your house only for them to never be seen again. All for some apparently restrained sadistic pleasure. The attention drawn to his unmentioned motive and the clarification that it is a yearly event just takes a viewer out of the moment. It's an unbelievable scenario.
The other characters do have easily understood and even relatable rationales. Choosing to do the least harm to another, panicking, and just trying to leave for example. Once the only outcome is clear, that only one may survive, more bloodthirsty actions are understandable and its hard to deny that you would not potentially choose to kill too.
But, really, two rounds into the game it is predictable. The escalation is overtly grasping to shock and keep you interested. Much talk is made of unknown options, but they feel known and not tense. Here is the most of the gore, with the eye injury that makes many of the posters visuals. It is, luckily, not shown at all, but is a genuinely tense moment culminating in rushed motion and the camera pulling sideways to the horrified face of another victim.
The ending, it could be said, is apt. The winner leaves, traumatised, and discovers a completely unrelated tragedy. It's an unexpected downer, and to give it its credit it is a good example of situational irony. After all the character has done, it makes the prize meaningless. But, it is also unexplained and unconnected to the game. Apt, what with the lack of motives, explanation or running theme of the game portion of the film. It does bookend the film in terms of tone. A slow paced beginning and end in non-dining room settings contrast the single setting of the majority of the game and rushed pacing of deaths and increased danger.
It isn't that it's an hour and a half of my life that I'll never get back, just that it isn't time well spent in a world with other films. It's a shame that it didn't reach its potential. Hopefully there are other films with similar concepts.
