Director: Michelle Iannantuono
Year: 2020
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Plot:
Playing a new video game, a livestreamer starts getting into the terrifying experiences that the different challenges of the game present, but the more he tries and fails to get through the levels, a terrifying secret about the game’s development keeps him streaming to protect his followers.
Review:
This was an intriguing if ultimately flawed genre effort. Among the more likable factors here comes from the far more intense and straightforward storyline that manages to tie nicely into the more renowned style of livestreaming content out there. The whole concept of the game comes across as different challenges he has to pass or else risk the lives of his fans and followers turning in to watch him complete his task, and slowly realizing the stakes of what’s happening if he fails, setting everything up for a rather emotionally charged starting point for what takes place. As the games gradually increase in difficulty and the initially clueless performer gradually catches on to the game’s goal when the brushed-off threats start happening to his followers, the struggle to continue playing keeps things going along smoothly.
More to the point, the variety of games on display makes for a fun time here. When we’re first dropped into the first game, this one gives off the kind of jump-scare factory survival game of being stuck in a puzzle scenario while having to dodge ruthless hordes of enemies trying to kill you, and it comes together rather nicely as a startling series of encounters focus on the race to uncover the meaning of what’s going on before being attacked. The cramped setting and darkened mode of gameplay give way to a variety of different styles, ranging from full-screen role-playing to first-person shooters that place him in the controller’s seat the entire time, leading not just into the enhanced emotional state that he finds himself in but also helps to make the gameplay itself interesting.
However, that also highlights the main issue with the film in that the result of the whole experience rests in watching a person play a video game. It doesn’t deviate from the screen at all, even to show what happens to his followers and fans, which it tries to paint as something devastating, as when there’s no hint of what’s going on, it becomes hard to stay invested in the story. The idea of sitting around watching him go through the different challenges and staying on this for the entire time can be repetitive and monotonous when it never changes up the concept beyond just the types of games being played, which is something that most viewers unfamiliar with this in the first place. Even at the short length, this can make the film a tough watch to get into, and can be what lowers it overall.
Overview: ***/5
An intriguing enough concept more than anything else, this one has enough to like for it not to be brought down as much by its negative factors, even if they are potentially crippling for some out there. Those with an appreciation for this style of genre fare or who are curious about it will want to give it a shot, while those turned off by its approach will want to heed extreme caution.
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