What is the scariest game you can play that could be best adapted to a suspenseful horror movie? Red Rover, of course! However, a close second is the game featured in this movie from IFC Films. The Dissection looks at this movie and sees if you would rather watch this or something else from Redbox.
The Story
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.
The Cast
Jeffrey Combs as Shepard Lambrick. A horror icon who has appeared in films like THE REANIMATOR franchise as Dr. Herbert West, as wellas FROM BEYOND and THE FRIGHTENERS. He also provided the voice of The Question in the JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED series, as well as the voice of Ratchet in TRANSFORMERS PRIME.
Brittany Snow as Iris. She worked on films like JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE, the musical version of HAIRSPRAY, and the remake of PROM NIGHT.
Jonny Coyne as Bevans. Has worked on recent films like GANGSTER SQUAD and THE HANGOVER PART III, as well as LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE.
Sasha Grey as Amy. Appeared on the HBO series ENTOURAGE as herself, as well as in the movie THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE, and voiced Viola DeWynter in the video game SAINTS ROW THE THIRD. Oh, and is a multi year veteran of the porn industry.
The Dissection
Shepard Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs) with his "guests".
The first thing that the movie has going for it is a lot of good actors are in it. Mostly, a lot of good character actors. You have John Heard of HOME ALONE and BIG fame, Robb Wells of TRAILER PARK BOYS fame, Eddie Steeple from MY NAME IS EARL and Robin Taylor, who is probably best known for his role in ACCEPTED. It’s strange to see these people, who are mostly used in comedic films, performing in a serious horror movie, and doing it very well. Everyone in the movie gives a good performance. Jeffrey Combs especially, as it is pretty much his movie. He is the driving force of the movie and serves as the grinning chess master, as he delivers sarcastic lines and comedic understatements when there’s bloodshed around. Combs has perfected the “creepy character” model for years, and it shows here with Comb’s great portrayal of this twisted rich aristocrat orchestrating this horrific event to keep himself amused.
The movie looks good, and it has some interesting contrasts in lights and colors. It also doesn’t rely on big special effects. It’s all contained to just a few set pieces, and for the most part feels crucial to the story. With this movie and the premise, a lot of previous movies and even TV series come to mind. It’s a horror movie, but it’s less a movie that revolves around a monster or slasher or serial killer, but rather one about a sadistic choice. The set up of the movie resembles a less gory SAW or a more elaborate version of the “Button, Button” short story and TWILIGHT ZONE episode. The movie explores the way humanity would sacrifice itself in the face of adversity.
At first.
Iris (Brittany Snow) in the middle of the game.
The thing is, the movie never really ramps up the suspense once it starts. The events from the first round have the same kind of impact right until the last, and it seems to less boil down the desperation of the characters and them crossing their personal line, and more a question of who can handle the most abuse getting thrown at them by Lambrick and his family of terror. In fact, the movie with the most suspense takes place before the game and involves no real death or mayhem. Plus, the death scenes in the film come off as lackluster for the most part, and never escalate. There isn’t a need for a massive geyser of blood or ridiculous carnage, but the movie’s attempt to make the deaths slow, agonizing, and more gruesome to watch doesn’t come off well and make you expect more from it.
Also, side stories in the movie are developed, lead to, and then kind of fall flat. It seems intentional, in flowing with the movie’s premise, but it doesn’t come off well. All these issues don’t affect the main plot, but there’s a guarantee that you’ll be picking apart the issues in your mind after watching. It’s a movie that is enjoyable, but ends up not holding up well on repeat viewings, and with a slightly different story than advertised. It wouldn’t take much to change the plot to something more like classic horror films like THE MAN THEY COULDN’T HANG or THE ABOMINABLE DR. PRIBES. While it is a movie that can be recommended, it’s one that you have to get prepared for before watching.
The DVD and Blu Ray releases of the film contain an extra or two. With a poster gallery (with not that much variation of how they look), a commentary track, and the trailer for this and other films with the IFC Film label. A bit more than the usual, but nothing that you can sink your teeth into.
The Verdict
While the movie set off with interesting premise, it goes in another direction that while still good, it misses the more interesting aspect. It has great acting, especially Combs, and it works really well in all the professional aspects, but the film never really picks up steam or building itself up. It’s on the same level from beginning to end. It is worth a strong rental. It’s a good film, after all. It is not, though, a film that you would watch repeatedly.