IN THE NEAR FUTURE, YOU DON’T LIVE TO PLAY… YOU’LL PLAY TO LIVE.
In the near future, prisoners on death row are pardoned if they survive 30 rounds of a hugely popular Internet game where players control other humans. The directors behind Crank (2006) deliver another cheap action thriller, this one echoing The Running Man (1987). The futuristic design is far from original, gamers are portrayed with contempt and the filmmakers waste the potential of the concept. Michael C. Hall gives an overbaked performance as the villain.
2009-U.S. 95 min. Color. Directed byĀ Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor. Cast: Gerard Butler (John Tillman), Michael C. Hall (Ken Castle), Kyra Sedgwick (Gina Parker Smith), Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Amber Valletta, John Leguizamo… Logan Lerman, Alison Lohman, Terry Crews.
