Brainscan: Jogo Mortal

A very strange film. If I had seen it as a younger kid, I think I would have been a lot more into it. With a plot about a virtual reality video game in which you get to indulge in people's sickest innermost urges (killing people).

It's a little too violent for pre-teens, yet that's why it would be such a stand out movie at that age. Unfotunately, it's a little too awkward and dumb for anyone over the age of 15 to really get into. The strange mix of the "video game plot", with the extremely voyeuristic murder scenes, and the goofy HOST of the game, "Trickster" who is reminiscent of Howie Mandell's character in Little Monsters, doesn't blend quite so well. The movie overall gives you a very uncomfortable feeling but it's too campy to be one of those "I love it because it's so incredibly hard to watch" movies like Irreversible for example.

The cheesy effects are actually pretty entertaining at least. Recommended for Edward Furlong fans and fans of simply bizarre 90's movies, otherwise not so sure.

This will probably be more suited to a teen audience, but it is good fun throughout. Edward Furlong (T2) plays a horror fanatic who stumbles upon an advert in a horror magazine advertising a CD ROM game called 'Brainscan' He decides to play it but is skeptical, that is until he gets a little more than he bargained for. The idea is good and it holds up for most of the way if not all, but it is good for a rental and will keep you amused for an hour and a half. T. Ryder Smith is good as 'Trickster', a creepy character who emerges from the game.

Brainscan is a fun, shocking, and enjoyable horror film that is one of the most underrated films around. Edward (T2) Furlong stars a troubled teen named Michael who loves horror movies and horror video games. His dad is never around and his mom died when he was a kid. He also likes to spy on his school-mate neighbor as she gets dressed. One day he gets a game disc in the mail for a new virtual reality game called Brainscan. A game in which you commit murders. But Michael soon finds a severed foot in his freezer and all hell breaks loose. Especially when the creepy and bizarre Trickster appears...guiding him to certain terror. This film was a pleasant surprised that had a charm about it. Furlong is believable as the troubled teen and turns in a great performance and T. Ryder Smith is both disturbing and cool as the evil demon behind the video game. Trickster easily steals the show. There is some good deaths and some decent gore. You get some T&A, a lot of hard rock music, a nosey detective, horror movie references, and some solid special effects. The movie seems to fly by and the end is a real treat. A solid horror rental for any horror fan. I have no idea why someone tried to compare this to "In the mouth of madness". Too bad the girl next door wasn't actually cute or attractive.

Brainscan is without a doubt one of the better horror movies to come out in the 90's. Since it isn't attached to the SCREAM money machine, it is often overlooked. Well take my words that this movie is extremely original, well directed and well acted. A good cast makes this movie...and a great movie it is. Do not miss this or overlook it. It should be viewed and then decide for yourself. A rating of 9 out of 10 was given.

A movie like Brainscan is unique. The characters in this film only exist in the time that the movie was made. Brainscan can almost be called a period film today due to its embracing the troubled youth subculture of the early nineties. Ed Furlong of Terminator 2 is a high school student that exposes himself to large amounts of Horror, Hard Rock, and Video Games. When his obsessions become his vices, he experiences the fear of losing control of the only thing he truly possesses; himself. A sinister antagonist called The Trickster drives the plot of the movie and forces the main character (Furlong) to become either a hero or a victim. The movie is well paced and has an entertaining score/soundtrack. This film should be highly recommended to fans of Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy and admirers of Frank Langella and/or Edward Furlong.