Would You Rather is a movie that was released in the US almost three years ago in 2013 and I really don’t understand why it didn’t become wildly popular. Not only is it intense and horrifying, but it’s quite unique. I’m not going to go so far as to say it’s completely original, however it’s far from a common plot line.
Plot Overview
The story follows main character Iris. In the beginning we learn that her brother is very sick and requires treatments and a bone marrow transplant. As her brother’s primary caretaker, she is responsible but cannot afford any of it.
Desperate, she reaches out to a friend only for him to tell her he has a possible solution. All she has to do is win a simple party game, and the prize will be enough money to take care of her brother, and the very influential host will secure a donor for her immediately.
Right away you can tell that she is uncomfortable with the idea, but of course she agrees as she is out of options for her brother. She arrives at the house on the night of the event, only to be faced with an even stronger sense of foreboding. She learns very quickly that now that she has committed to playing the game, she will not be able to leave as the host promptly shoots the first person who tries in the head.
It is revealed that the game they will be playing is Would You Rather. Seems simple enough, right? Wrong. Instead of making the usual silly decisions between licking peanut butter off someone’s foot or jumping into a cage of tigers (all completely hypothetical of course) the choices they are presented with are frightening and dangerous and there is no way to escape.
Things go alarmingly awry as the game progresses and it’s full of surprises.
My Thoughts
One of my favourite things about this movie is the DOUBLE twist ending. The end of the game is a bit of a twist itself, and just when you think it’s all over, you’re hit with the REAL twist ending.
Aside from keeping you right on the edge of your seat, this movie also does a pretty good job of tugging at your heart strings. In the beginning they really emphasize the relationship Iris has with her brother and you get a good glimpse into just how much she cares about him. Brittany Snow does an excellent job of executing this, even just with her facial expressions. You’re already feeling for Iris and her brother because of the situation they’re in, but seeing this seems to almost make it worse. You’ve gotten to know them personally just a little bit, and you’re sad right along with them.
It doesn’t stop with Iris and her brother though. You learn the backstories of some of the other characters as the game moves forward, and it makes their predicament that much more heart-wrenching.
Characters
I think the characters were very clever and appropriately minimal. Their ages ranged from mid-twenties to a women in her 70’s. This movie is not overrun with characters either, by any means. There are really only a handful of main characters and just as few supporting roles. This gives the movie more of an intimate feel. Rather than keeping track of a ton of people, you’re getting more up close and personal with just a few.
Acting
Overall, I think the performances were exceptionally high-quality. Brittany Snow is wonderful as a sad, vulnerable, yet likable young women caring for her brother. Jeffery Combs is excellent as a charming, yet heartless host who carries out his increasingly violent forms of torture with a smile and a chuckle.
I did feel as though there were some unnecessary comments from the biggest antagonist of the game-players. Sasha Grey plays Amy, a young girl who is angry, violent and jaded. She’s there for herself and literally doesn’t care who lives or dies. She is the only one not participating in the “stick together” mentality the others create. While I think this character is necessary and certainly adds entertainment value and even a little morbid humour, I think they push her stance a little far sometimes. She makes it very clear in the beginning that she’s in it to win it and not going to team up with or support anyone else, and she continues to make it very clear throughout the game which becomes redundant after a while. I mean, we get it, you don’t care about anyone else. This does have less to do with the acting and more to do with the script though. Sasha Grey gives an awesome performance as Amy, but I think her lines could have been a little more refined.
In Conclusion
Overall, this is an excellent movie. Heartfelt characters and an intriguing story right off the bat. The acting is strong and the characters are very clever, and the twist ending holds incredible shock value.
More than once I actually found myself laughing (usually at the host and his carefree style of torture) and then promptly stopped and asked myself what I was doing, because come on, this stuff is awful. In the end though, it is just a movie and the comic relief is welcomed, while still sticking to the morbid and creepy theme of the story.
