Stay Alive Review
Posted by Matthew Craggs on 03.27.2006
This game is a little buggy
Jimmi Simpson Phineus Bantum
Frankie Muniz Swink
Sophia Bush October
Samaire Armstrong Abigail
Jon Foster Hutch
Milo Ventimiglia Loomis
Billy Slaughter - Rex
Adam Goldberg Miller
James Haven Jonathan
Hollywood Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment and Endgame presents Stay Alive. Written by William Brent Bell and Matthew Peterman. Directed by William Brent Bell. Rated PG-13 for horror violence, disturbing images, language, brief sexual and drug content. Runtime 85 minutes.
Someone more in tune with the technological community recently told me about a recent event in cyber space. A player of an online first person shooter allegedly passed away in real life. As a sign of respect other players, regardless of their cyber allegiances, agreed to congregate at a spot in the game, without any armor or weaponry, for a moment of silence. A group of players waited in the shadows and picked off the mourning group like lambs to the slaughter.
This anecdote brings up questions about ethics in the online world that would seem ludicrous ten years ago. Sure, this player had allegedly passed away. Does this mean those who attacked the unarmed characters are going to be pushing a giant boulder up a steep hill when they pass away? Who knows. But there are ethical questions that come along with a more immersive video game industry. I hoped, even though I knew it was a long shot, that this B-movie horror thriller may take the opportunity to address some of the social issues that come with this eerily prosperous industry.
Guess what? Didn't happen. Instead we get a bunch of young people getting killed by a video game. Perhaps it was naïve of me to hope for something more from a film which obviously didn't try to be anything. The cast, the crew and the audience all seem lethargic, like they're on Ritalin, only the Ritalin was not totally effective so all involved maintain a nice, healthy amount of shame. All involved know they aren't supposed to be there, but don't care enough to do anything about it.
The plot is simple enough. In fact, it makes me feel a tad useless because it is so straight forward that the promotional poster gives it away. Milo Ventimiglia, better known as the troubled but oh so cute rebel without a cause on Gilmore Girls, is Loomis, a man who is found dead in his home. Meanwhile, Frankie Muniz (who will look and act twelve years old until ten years after he's dead) et al. get a hold of the online game that Loomis was playing when he died, and they decide to give it a play.
Now, here's the tricky part: The players start getting killed off in real life the same way they get killed off in the game. Creepy. Of course, they have to stay alive until they can find out exactly what is going on or else.
Yes, the game has some bugs. And the movie is buggy as well. But as much as I think my precious readership should stay away, there will be quite a few people who will enjoy Stay Alive. The video game buying public is notoriously picky about their favorite pastime, but the less finicky of the subculture will certainly enjoy it. Also note that Stay Alive is rated PG-13, allowing youngsters who may be more interested in what the picture has to offer, an opportunity to see it. And they will probably enjoy it. There are the quick cuts to gruesome things for scares, there are ghostly characters, and there is some impressive enough imagery even if the actors don't seem scared themselves. There is enough a strong performance by Jimmi Simpson, the one standout, who is good in everything. You may or may not remember him from D.E.B.S., which I still think is one of the best movies of the past year and a half, despite its poor reception.
Everyone else should stay clear. Not only will you not enjoy yourself, but your contribution to the box office may have dire consequences. Like Stay Alive 2.
The 411: A bit of The Ring, a bit of Final Destination, and a bit of Hackers, all rolled up into one difficult to swallow pill.
