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.

"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.

Based on the low score of reviews, I wasn't expecting much. While more of a psych drama than a horror, it had great moments. The ending definitely felt rushed, and the character development could have used some more work. At the end of the film you are left with more questions about Hana and I definitely think they should have expanded more on her charsgter. The horror elements in the film seemed unnecessary and did not add anything of value to the film. Visually, this film was very pleasing to watch with great CGI and I am a big fan of the set design, I think it told a lot more about the character than the script did. Overall, I liked the concept and things could have been done better but I enjoyed watching.

Loved the concept of a headset ( I'm sure one of these is in development somewhere right now) that allows one to interact with video games with your mind rather than use a controller, like if you play doom you would attack things you see by thinking about it and choosing the weapons by using your thoughts. Pretty awesome to say the least. It would truly change competition gaming to a very high level unheard of in our lifetimes. But this movie goes a bit off the rails as the agoraphobic young girl does a video game competition for a lot of money and her friend bets on her winning to get even more , but her haunting visions take her over and her also dead agoraphobic mother begins to use her and do unspeakable things. She basically turns into a nightmare of a person. Not for the squeamish, some gore, a few really scary bits. I just wish they took it in a more positive direction instead of just another horror movie. Nothing questionable, no nudity or foul language. Not for the kiddos. Enjoy.

"Latency" has a pretty interesting premise, and the viewer is immediately thrown into some virtual action with the main character, Hana. She is a professional gamer who suffers from acute agoraphobia. Shortly after receiving some highly advanced new gaming equipment, strange things start happening, and it seems like the new equipment is trying to control her. As I mentioned, the premise sounded really interesting, and the effects in the opening scene looked pretty decent. Sasha Luss does a good job as Hana, though her accent slipped a few times.

Another thing that felt unrealistic was the portrayal of this absolutely beautiful and flawless woman, who also has an equally attractive girlfriend, played by Alexis Ren, as a professional gamer who spends most of her time playing online games. While it makes sense in terms of her agoraphobia, it was hard to buy into this setup in the movie. I'm not saying that beautiful women can't be gamers, but in this context, it felt unconvincing.

Another issue is that the movie ultimately leads nowhere, with a narrative that is fairly mainstream and predictable. The ending was unsatisfying, with many questions left unanswered and multiple plot points leading into a void. Overall, the result was pretty unspectacular and below average. [4.7/10]