Would You Rather Movie Review

Would You Rather Movie Review

Would You Rather is a film I stumbled upon whilst trudging through Netflix (as you do) looking for something scary to watch. I don’t think this was a Netflix original and I don’t remember it getting a cinema release, so overall my expectations were fairly low.

Would You Rather is a demented twist on the classic children’s game giving the player two options of undesirable scenarios for them to decide which of the two they would prefer to do. This movie takes that concept to the next level as we see Brittany Snow’s Iris lead a group of strangers, all with something to gain from playing. Iris is the sole carer for her sick younger brother when she is apporoached by her Doctor and his apparent friend with a potential solution of fully funded treatment and rehabilitation. All she needs to do is attend a dinner party hosted by this mysterious ‘friend’ that evening and all would be explained.

After some persuading, Iris attends the party where she is introduced to an intimate group of unsuspecting people, all there off the back of some sort of promise of life improvement. All these people seem in need of something different, yet have an immediately obvious pressure point, a recovered alcoholic, a war veteran and an elderly woman to name a few. After dinner the party gets into full swing as it’s host introduces the parameters of the game we are all familiar with. Only this time whatever you choose, you must do. The choices jump straight to the sadistic, the very first task, the dinner guests must choose between giving themselves a large electric shock to the temples or shocking the person next to them. This immediately makes us aware of the noble and those that have only their self interest at heart as each guest tried to figure out the best way to get out of this game alive. After the first task, the choices only get more difficult and more horrific. Players are whittled down, until only two remain.

Even after a failed breakout attempt, Iris and another kind-hearted character are left face to face across the table with a loaded revolver in between them and a big decision to make.

I enjoyed this film, it wasn’t what I was expecting and regardless of the quality, I like to be surprised, which I was. We’re not seeing anything new here really and the movie is clearly, like so many others, inspired by the Saw franchise. In a world where so many horrors are just about being jumpy or showing as much gore as possible, it was great to watch something more psychological.

62/100