Latency

4.2 out of 10 when this review was created.

OK so how many films have the reviewers watched? The low score doesn't equate to the film I have just watched on Amazon. Like a stage play in the one room, most storytelling has been done before but you need to tell it in a new and unique way. The story went along at a good pace and had a start, middle and ending. Plenty of decent action and the headset gimmick was pretty good. I would say the budget was low on this one so kudos for making something unique.

Plenty of movies miss the mark on the entertainment scale and if you are at a loose end looking for something a bit different then just give this some of your time.

After the bad reviews I had read on several websites, I didn't have any faith in this movie.... but until you see it you can't say anything. It's a good drama with touches of sci-fi and horror. The fact that the whole movie takes place in an apartment may put off a type of viewer looking for more action, but in my point of view this fact plays totally in its favor.

The film shows us a very tough mental illness. The fear of the outside world is creepy on its own and as someone who knows what the subject is about, for X circumstances, I can only thank the director and screenwriter James Croke for the respect they show for this disorder.

Two separate mentions deserve the two leads - Alexis Ren as Jen, Hana's (Sasha Luss) only friend and her contact with the outside world is very tender, almost romantic and inevitably tragic. Alexis embroiders it. And what about Sasha Luss in her role as Hana, the woman whose world is based on video games, with a tragic past and a no less sad present. Both of them shine with their own light.

Special mention to the special effects, which fortunately are more effective than gimmicky.

A film full of details that does not deserve such a bad review.

So it's not really a sci fi or a horror movie even though there are some elements of it. Kinda like a lower budget black mirror episode. It's a single location movie but it doesn't look low budget the CGI is good in couple of scene where it is used. The acting is fine also.

The movie deals with a terminally online young woman getting a new technology which links her brain with her computer. Stuff starts happening.

The pacing isn't the best there's some filler here considering there isn't an hour and half worth of plot.

The movie is kinda sad and disturbing. Might be triggering to some people.

Worst movie ever... trust me you've seen it all in that trailer, you'll lose your time if you ever decide to watch it.

I stumbed on the trailer then said to myself that maybe my sons who are gamers will like to watch this, guess what after a few attempts trying to convince them to watch the movie we all sit down (they haven't seen the trailer) and we watch this.

It was incedibly slow to get to any interesting part which most are from the trailer, after 30 minutes I started to skip 10 seconds here then 10 seconds there without missing a thing because nothing was happening! I don't know why they stretched useless parts so often.

Whatever, I told my sons that exceptionally I will take a few minutes to get on IMDb and write a well deserved review. There am I.

"Latency" starts off strong, gripping you with the story of Hana, a talented agoraphobic gamer who finds solace and competition in the virtual world. The film cleverly explores the allure of online gaming for those who struggle with social interaction in the real world. Sasha Luss delivers a captivating performance as Hana, embodying the vulnerability and determination of a woman yearning for connection.

The initial setup is promising. The introduction of the experimental gaming tech that blurs the lines between reality and the virtual world is intriguing. I was hooked, quickly planning out when to sit down with my daughters to watch as I was expecting well crafted moments where the lines of reality truly break down and the horror unfolds.

However, "Latency" loses momentum halfway through. The initial chills and suspense start to dissipate, replaced by a dragging plot that fails to deliver the full-blown mind-bender we were primed for. The scares become predictable, and the exploration of the psychological impact of the technology feels underdeveloped.

Despite the cool-off, the film does hold value as a cautionary tale. It effectively portrays the anxieties that can arise when the virtual world becomes all-consuming, especially for someone already grappling with isolation. The fear of losing control and the blurring of boundaries between reality and game become especially poignant for Hana, who's already dealing with the loss of a normal life due to her agoraphobia.

"Latency" is a film with a strong initial concept and a captivating lead performance. However, its execution falters, lef me wanting more from the mind-bending potential it sets up.