Playtest

I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish. Wyatt Russell delivered a powerhouse performance portraying the extremely likable protagonist. I found the concept to be quite relatable and really well-executed, although it's by no means new. The twists and turns are so effective. The way this episode ends sent shivers down my spine. The setup is a bit longer than it should be, though.

I know this may be an unpopular opinion to have but this is my highest rated, and probably my favourite, Black Mirror episode I've seen so far.

(9/10)

Let me start by saying that I rarely find the need to write physical reviews for many things, but then again that doesn't even matter. There was no doubt in my mind that I needed to inform others about the sheer audacity of this amazing episode.

As a fan of Black Mirror, I was excited to start this season. The first episode was very well-executed and I'm not quite sure what I was going to expect for the second episode.

But let me tell you.

This is one of the most well-made, well-directed, well-acted, truly terrifying, most intense pieces of television/film that I have ever seen. And I've seen some pretty disturbing s***. Nothing compares to what I just witnessed with this episode. Everything was so expertly crafted, that it made the climax that much more satisfying. I don't even know how to begin to process this episode.

I am truly in awe of how much time, effort and dedication the creators put into this show, let alone this singular episode. It is clear that both the writers and directors of this show truly care about phenomenal filmmaking.

Also, shout out to Dan Trachtenberg for directing this episode. As a debut director with 10 Cloverfield Ln, he was a force to be reckoned with. With this entry of Black Mirror, he proves that he won't hold back. Excited to see more from him! Second shout out to Netflix, as the distributor for this season. You guys really know what people want to see!

This episode packed in so much, talk about a thrill ride. After a slightly casual, meandering start it develops into what has to be described as classic Black Mirror. When these episodes hit on a theme or a concept that makes you say to yourself 'that could possibly happen,' they work better, and boy this one is along those lines. With the advancements in gaming tech over the years, why on Earth couldn't something like this happen. Outrageous production values, a terrifying concept, fabulous performances, notably from Wyatt Russell and Wunmi Mosaku (the latter being one of the best British talents we have!) all elements add up to make Playtest a rip roaring ride of terror, 57 minutes you'll not want to miss.

Would you kindly open the door?

As an avid horror fan, I've seen pretty much all there is to see from the horror/thriller genre, I say that proudly, however I would be inclined to say that this is the best piece of horror/thriller cinema I've ever seen. Charlie Brooker absolutely killed this episode, if you pardon the pun, and single-handedly managed to create a better horror text than thousands of famous horror writers before him. Kudos to Brooker and the Director for this phenomenal masterpiece!

Would you kindly watch this episode?

Such an amazingly inside video game reference! I'm surprised that no one else has pointed it out yet.

I'm sure that there are many other insider references that I may not have picked up on, but having the protagonist perform an action by requesting that he kindly open the door is so very satisfying.

Acting from all players is great, no issues here. And the Japanese that is used is actually pronounced very well, even from the non- Japanese actors (something that is still EXTREMELY rare in TV/Movies).

Every episode of Black Mirror is excellent, in my opinion. This one is no exception. Playtest leaves the viewer with a few questions and much food for thought; which is standard procedure for Black Mirror all around. Highly recommend all episodes, and this one simply for the Bioshock reference above. Brilliant!