Gentzen

Five years before Cronenberg's ExistenZ, Brainscan has a similar, interesting premise (the blend of, and tension between, videogame and reality) but is miles behind in all other departments. Poor acting (Ed Furlong is the epitome of "wudden" here, no wonder he never really went beyond his first break in Terminator 2, Ryder Smith struggles as a camp Trickster, neither scary nor comic, and Langella is stiff in an otherwise superficial part), slow pace (never takes off the ground), unimaginative directing and drab dialogue, all conspire to give this movie a very dated feel today. At every step, it feels forced and bereft of inspiration. For example, it never takes its original idea (the blurring of boundaries between reality and videogame that elicits the hero's subconscious and lets loose his hidden desires) anywhere, since what appears to take place inside the videogame is scripted, shot and acted exactly the same way as when we are back to the real world. Therefore, the tension between the two worlds is never really felt.

In sum, struggling to create an atmosphere of horror or generate any sense of wittiness and humour (as a dark comedy), it is left with nothing but teen cliches throughout and crawls to a formulaic feel-good ending that also feels rushed. At 4/10, you can watch it to the end with an effort. Afterwards, it is best forgotten as a straight to video 90s effort.

Total infantilistic nonsense and crap acting. The B-movie canon that underlines typical post-00s Hollywood action blockbusters: letting 12-year-old glands direct 8-year-old scripts. Or, perhaps, Chinese production money venturing into action culture for US prime audiences based on lessons and prototypes (e.g., about buddy relationships, gender roles, environmental sensibilities etc.) derived from such reliable material as "The Expendables". Whatever the case might be, it's all over the place in every department: casting, acting, script, direction.

Only slightly positive aspect, the monsters (sorry, near-extinction, protected ancient species, I meant) and battles between them (though precious few and far between). Hence, a 4*, for nice, massive, havoc-wrecking predators. At least they (i.e. Their CGI simulations) can act their part.