I've loved thriller movies since I was a kid. Cape Fear, Rasing Cain and Single White Female are three titles that instantly come to mind when I think of my favorites from back in the day. I found this on Amazon for free, so I thought I would give it a shot.
I read the plot description and was immediately intrested. When movies like this are excited perfectly, they drip with tension. Using a game as the method to drive the plot forward let's you break a few conventional rules. Knowing this, I was prepared for scorched earth truth and what would lead to inevitable escalation.
I was a bit disappointed. Most in the main character, Gian. I just don't buy him as "that guy". In a thriller your main character has to be charismatic, intense and driven. They have have a Svengali type quality. The twisted puppet master that secretly pulls the strings. Gian just kind of walked through this one. When he yells or has a mood shift, I don't get that tingle. When he mocks his victims, I don't feel that strange mix of fear and pity. It felt more like people in a room reading lines.
I really hope the director will give the genre another shot. This movie could have been epic if better executed. It's not the worst thriller I've seen. The characters feel one-dimensional and stiff, and Gian seems better suited for traditional drama, as opposed to a thriller. If you're in the mood for a good underrated thriller, check out Exam.
