Tuesday, October 29, 2013

WOULD YOU RATHER? (2013)


Directed By: David Guy Levy 
Written By: Steffen Schlachtenhaufen 
Cinematography By: Steve Calitri 
Editor: Josh Schaeffer 

 Cast: Brittany Snow, Jeffrey Combs, Sasha Grey, Eddie Steeples, John Heard, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., June Sqibb, Charlie Hofheimer

Desperate to help her ailing brother, a young woman unknowingly agrees to compete in a deadly game of "Would You Rather," hosted by a sadistic aristocrat.

This film is torture porn dressed up to try and seem elegant even the beginning of the film while trying to set up the main event. Tries to be distracting with artistic over the top camera shots and angles. The same goes for the editing. It's not really needed especially of the filmmakers have faith in their material. It seems they are done to help us forget the claustrophobic nature of the film and What is coming. An obvious attempt to open up the space And location.

The film has a interesting premise If it had more room in which to grow. It could have really been masterful as it plays now. It's a dirty little oddity that unfortunately after awhile becomes predictable. The characters behave and have all the righteous anger, concern and arguments you would expect an behave in the same way. So that none of them generally surprises you. So that after awhile all that becomes Interesting is the gruesome violence. I will give the film credit for creating a interesting parlor trick of a movie with the appropriate dread.

It would have been nice to smooth out some of the films edges. So that it could be a bit more logical and therefore credible. Unfortunately there is none of that here.

While there is a bit of social commentary going on it gets lost in a haze of the Rich superiority of the wealthy characters feeling that They have the right to do whatever they want. Though a dark comedic thriller that is gruesome. It's cruelty sometimes is Truly not needed.

Especially when it comes to Sasha Grey's character who is used heavily then seems to be thrown away or Put in he background explained away with her backstory that seems like throwaway bad drain writing.

I really saw the possibilities in this film. I will admit I liked it more As a guilty pleasure. As this film Is trashy to a certain extent, but I found myself entertained

It's a macabre fun little film. That i hopes get some positive notice in the future

It is rather a haunting film that stays with you after it is over. It is also a film you think of the many ways to improve upon the material once it is over.

It fits with another recent release AMONG FRIENDS. Though this film feels like a much better version of that film. Though similar this one feels more real and inventive

 Grade: C+

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